THREATENING LETTER DOESN’T SWAY PELOSI
Twenty “top fundraisers” for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent a letter Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rebuking her for suggesting that superdelegates should back the candidate with the most pledged delegates.
In the letter to Pelosi, Clinton’s supporters “said superdelegates ‘must look to not one criterion but to the full panoply of factors that will help them assess who will be the party’s strongest nominee in the general election.’”
The letter made it clear that the fundraisers believe their voice should carry real weight with the speaker. Noting their past financial support, they wrote, “We . . . hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters.”
In spite of the threats from the Clinton-donors, Pelosi stands by her comments. Her spokesman, Brendan Daly said,
“The speaker believes it would do great harm to the Democratic Party if superdelegates are perceived to overturn the will of the voters. This has been her position throughout this primary season, regardless of who was ahead at any particular point in delegates or votes.”
Clinton is behind Obama in both pledged delegates and popular vote. She most likely cannot catch up but hopes superdelegates will overturn the votes of the people and help her win.
Obama’s campaign said the letter was inappropriate.
“We hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it,” said Obama’s spokesman. However, the Clinton team is standing behind the letter saying:
“Sen. Clinton has been vocal in stating that superdelegates should exercise independent judgment about who’d be the best for the party and the country,” said spokesman Phil Singer.
Except… back in November 2000, Hillary said this:
“I have thought about this for a long time,” Mrs. Clinton said at a rally in Syracuse. “I’ve always thought we had outlived the need for an Electoral College, and now that I am going to the Senate, I am going to try to do what I can to make clear that the popular vote, the will of the people, should be followed.”
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She said she wanted “to be on the side of the democratic process working,” and so would support the effort to establish direct presidential elections.
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“I believe strongly that in a democracy we should respect the will of the people.”
The “brazen” move by the donors has “stunned” veteran Democrats for a number of reasons, according to this report.
SOURCES: Clinton Backers Rebuke Pelosi for Stance on Superdelegates, Clinton Wealthy Pals Warn Pelosi on Superdelegates, Top Clinton Backers Threaten Pelosi
