TPM: Patrick Leahy Calls On Hillary To Drop Out Of Race

[WilliamPitt]

Obama-Supporter Patrick Leahy Calls On Hillary To Drop Out Of Race
By Greg Sargent - March 28, 2008, 10:00AM

Senator Patrick Leahy becomes the first prominent supporter of Obama to explicitly call on Hillary to get out of the race in an interview with Vermont Public Radio:

"There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama. Now, obviously that's a decision that only she can make. Frankly I feel that she would have a tremendous career in the Senate."

Just yesterday, Chris Dodd, also an Obama backer, said something similar, suggesting that party leaders should come together in April and force an end to this.

More: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/obamasupporter_patrick_leahy_c.php

[LakeSamish706]

1. I suspect that she will probably give them all the middle finger.. n/t

[Colobo]

Let them keep the pressure on her.

[cali]

4. He's not really talking to her

He's speaking to the uncommitted SDs and the media.

[Cha]

29. We know her

so well, eh, Samish? :(

[Swamp Rat]

2. Good! Then we can get to work on McCain.

[babylonsister]

3. Blah blah blah, she can't hear him/them!

[ORDem]

13. More like "blah blah blah .. hillary ... blah blah blah ... hillary ... blah blah ...

Sort of like how dogs understand human speech. :)

:dem:

[cliffordu]

56. LOL

[Major Hogwash]

60. Or "Wah wah wah? Wah wah wah wah. Wah wah wah! Wah wah wah wah wah."

~ poor reference to Charlie Brown's teacher.

LoL

[FatDave]

73. It was a perfectly excellent reference (nt)

[bigtree]

5. I don't know that an Obama supporter is going to have the right stuff

to influence Hillary Clinton on this. These things usually only happen when the subject's own allies fold and come to the candidate with their regrets and concern.

[burythehatchet]

16. You'e correct. However, with these satements, she should undestand that she is no going to get

any more support. Therefore, no way to the nomination.

[Cha]

31. So that's good..it's not like she can harbor

any delusions, right?:o

[JackORoses]

21. you're right. Why don't you set a good example and be the first to do so?

[bigtree]

27. I have neither regret, nor concern about her continuing campaign

and, I'm certainly not ready to fold.

[Shakespeare]

28. Leahy is not just "an Obama supporter."

And THAT is what makes his statement today significant.

[bigtree]

35. I don't think Sen. Clinton regards him as anything but, when considering his opinion.

I could be wrong. I really can't imagine moving her off of her campaign at this point with a delegation of Obama supporters. It's just not realistic to me.

[Shakespeare]

37. He's a senior democratic senator. Chairman of the judicial affairs committee.

He is tremendously powerful, and his comments will perk up a LOT of ears among other democratic power-players (many within the Clinton campaign).

This is the closest thing I've seen so far to an "intervention" by party elders.

[bigtree]

40. I'm thinking that Sen. Clinton is probably not appreciating his public scolding

maybe that's just me.

[Shakespeare]

44. LOL. Yes, I'm pretty sure she doesn't.

I don't think it's her approval he's seeking, however.

[bigtree]

47. I thought he was 'calling on her'

If he's not, he's threatening her. I don't imagine that's going to land well in the Clinton camp.

[Shakespeare]

49. He's not threatening her.

You really don't understand politics very well, do you?

[bigtree]

50. Why do you folks always resort to the personal character attacks?

Can't you just make your point and be done with it? You don't know me from shit.

I meant that, if he isn't speaking directly to her in an appeal, he's signaling that he's going to use the clout you outlined to force her out -- by shame, or by influencing the super delegates.

[Shakespeare]

53. That's not a personal attack.

Your responses indicate you don't understand why Leahy is doing what he's doing. You don't have to LIKE what he's doing, but I would hope you'd at least understand it.

He's perfectly within his rights as a party elder to apply pressure since she's digging her heels in in spite of the FACT that it is a mathematical impossibility for her to win.

[bigtree]

57. I don't have to buy into Leahy's reasoning. (or yours)

And, I certainly do not, at this point.

We can disagree without questioning the other's knowledge, experience, or anything else that might come to mind. That's what propels *many of these discussions into arguments.

[Shakespeare]

59. It's not "buying into" anybody's reasoning.

It's simply understanding WHAT he's doing.

And yes, on this discussion board, if you repeatedly display what appears to be a fundamental lack of understanding on an issue you're arguing vociferously, then I can question your knowledge.

[bigtree]

62. you bought it and now you want me to buy it.

. . . as if you have some lock on knowledge.

[Shakespeare]

65. Oh christ.

[bigtree]

67. what, everyone HAS to agree with your opinion?

just because you question their 'knowledge?

[Shakespeare]

70. I'm not asking you to agree with my opinion.

I'm just hoping you'll understand WHY Leahy is doing what he's doing. That's all.

Here, I'll restate from an earlier post:

Your responses indicate you don't understand why Leahy is doing what he's doing. You don't have to LIKE what he's doing, but I would hope you'd at least understand it.

He's perfectly within his rights as a party elder to apply pressure since she's digging her heels in in spite of the FACT that it is a mathematical impossibility for her to win.

[bigtree]

71. he has a perfect right, to be sure

to be dead wrong.

[Mooney]

52. No, you're right, it's going to take a lot more than that.

It's going to have to be the overwhelming consensus of her closest supporters. Otherwise no dice.

[bigtree]

58. That's the way it's done. Sen. Clinton has her supporters right now

. . . to continue.

[FightingIrish]

6. She has, at least temporarily,

the power to name our next president. She would be remembered as a great Democrat and a great American. The longer she lets this drag on, the darker her legacy will be. I hope Leahy is the beginning of an avalanche.

[Coexist]

7. although it sounds offhand, and can be defended as such,

I don't think Leahy was at all casual in saying that.

Do you think it was as deliberate as I do?

[cali]

9. He was serious as death

I heard him this morning.

[Coexist]

18. thank you.

[blogslut]

8. The Batman

has spoken

[Shakespeare]

10. Whoa. That's significant.

Much more significant than Dodd's similar statement. It'll be interesting to see how the media plays this one.

[yodermon]

11. cue the Leahy-haters in 3..2..

[mac2]

12. Why hasn't Leahy called the DC police to arrest the

liars from the WH to come and testify on Capital Hill?

The people and the candidate decide who runs for office...not Leahy.

Are any of them doing their job in DC these days? We have a country that is in a big "mess".

[cali]

17. because it doesn't work that way, genius

try educating yourself on how inherent contempt works. There has to be a floor vote, and Leahy is not ML, just for starters. And Pat has the right to say whatever he pleases. Tough shit to anyone who doesn't like it.

[mac2]

42. Dear fellow genius...if you fail to appear when given a subpoena or

court order they can arrest you and bring you. Congress who have over sight powers can do that. A least when we were a country of laws that's how it goes.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. Go F*** yourself, Leahy!

:)

[Coexist]

19. lol!

[olkaz]

24. Tell us how you really feel.

You shouldn't hold things in.

[totodeinhere]

32. Yes, your type of discourse is really helpful, isn't it.

Especially when you say that to one of the best progressive voices we have had in the Senate in a long time.

[Coexist]

33. that is what Cheney said to Leahy on the floor of the Senate - it is a joke.

it made the national news for a couple days.

[totodeinhere]

34. Yes, I remember what Cheney said.

Now this fence post finally gets it. Sorry.

[Coexist]

36. no need to apologize,

:hi:

I don't think anyone was offended.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. ...

:spray:

[NoodleyAppendage]

15. The Week of the Long Knives.

Hillary is being bled to death with slow and consistent stabbing from Party elders. Good for them. This is about the good of the Party and not the seemingly undying ambition of a power-hungry female jerk-off.

J

[southerncrone]

64. I get the strong impression these days that Bill is the one who wants her

to bes President more than she does. Just my take.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. It is over. The Clintons are channelling the Black Night at this point.

[redqueen]

23. Hahahaha... yup.

[Scurrilous]

22. K & R

:thumbsup:

[DearAbby]

25. K&R

[doublethink]

26. ..........

[Megahurtz]

68. Lol!

[Dr Fate]

30. So the sane DEMS are now coming out of the woodwork. Gore? Edwards? Where aaaare yoooou?

???

[Ichingcarpenter]

46. I think right after Pennsylvania they will start hinting more

It will be a steady drip of SD and major democrats before the primary and then
after the primary a flood if she doesn't get 20% of the vote.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. Well, obviously, Pat Leahy, Chris Dodd, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Richardson, Keith Olbermann

and anyone else who ever might have suggested that the Nomination is not Hillary's divinely mandated entitlement is ***NOT A REAL DEMOCRAT***


...:eyes:

[OzarkDem]

39. Not much of a team there

and Obama still doesn't have enough experience or policy skill or commitment.

[cali]

43. bwahahaha

it's a hell of a team. And more impressive than crooked Murtha. Who to believe? Bigot posters on DU or Pat Leahy? That was easy.

[Warren DeMontague]

45. "Not much of a team there"

That's pretty fuckin' Funny. Do you even know who Pat Leahy is?

And what was Hillary doing while Chris Dodd was out on the floor of the Senate protecting the U.S. Constitution and our civil liberties with his FISA filibuster?

[Umbram]

51. Hillary's folk have abandoned the bus and now run over good progressives with Hummers. (nt)

[bigtree]

41. All of those are Obama supporters

no conflict there

[kiranon]

48. Sen. Leahy voted for Scalia and Roberts to the Supreme Court

Senator Leahy isn't always right - no pun intended. Scalia and Roberts were not good picks for the Supreme Court. At least Leahy voted against Alito. But Leahy would never ask a man to withdraw under these circumstances but women are always supposed to "sacrifice" for something - family, the husband's career, making more money (think nurses and teachers) for the good of the children, patients, country, you name it. I like that Hillary soldiers on. I like Obama also. I was an Edwards supporter and would just as soon see Hillary and Obama fight it out to the end. I am old enough to have seen brokered conventions and to have seen some of the disastrous picks the Democratic party made in the primaries in the past. Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama is the ticket I would like to see.

[Pierzin]

61. Thank God! Beat the Drum, get her out!

It seems Hillary is desperate and appearing in news conferences with former enemys, saying virtually ANYTHING to get votes that she cannot get.
As Keith Olbermann has said recenlty, she is doing more to harm herself than anyone else. Is that what the quest for power does to people? Is she so enamored by power that she's completely blinded by it, losing her soul in the process??

She needs to get out.

[OzarkDem]

63. Gore says let it play out

I'll listen to Gore, thanks. He didn't spend the last two years of the Dem majority in Congress apologizing to Bush.

[cali]

66. And neither did Pat Leahy

Not even close. And Pat Leahy, unlike Gore, has never been a DLC panderer.

[PresidentObama]

69. Hold on, are you calling Gore a DLC panderer?

[JuniperLea]

72. Me too...

And I won't be listening to DUers who insult me about it either.