Pro-Obama Flier Urges Republicans To Switch Parties To Block Clinton

A campaign flier created by a precinct captain for Sen. Barack Obama urges Nevada Republicans and independents to switch party affiliations "for a day" and caucus in the Democratic primary in order to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The flier, which was distributed in the Reno area, calls on voters to support Obama "if you think a Democrat will win in November and you don't want Hilary [sic]." It criticized Clinton for having "voted for the war when it was popular," and for taking "money from the special interest groups." Her nomination, the piece concluded, "will continue to polarize the country."

The flier was put out by Bob Buchanan, a volunteer organizer for Obama in Reno. Buchanan, who insists that Obama's campaign had no connection to the literature, said he distributed approximately 100 copies of the flier before rewriting it, replacing criticism of Clinton with compliments of Obama.

"If you think a Democrat will win in November and you may have said anyone but Hillary, we would rather focus on Obama," the new version reads, according to Buchanan. "He spoke out against the war when it wasn't popular. He refuses to take money from special interest groups. He would unite rather than polarize the country."

According to Nevada state law, voters can switch party affiliations on the day of the primary to cast their ballots for candidates of another party.

"I want to get them to the polls," Buchanan told the Huffington Post, after confirming that the flier was legitimate. "See, right now you have a number of Republicans not happy with the Republican Party. And most people here are independents. So how do they vote? They might not know they can switch parties. This hopefully will get out the vote."

Buchanan says the decision to create the flier was his own. The Obama campaign, he said, refused to even read the two-page handout. Ben Labolt, spokesperson for Obama, also asserted that Buchanan was operating as an independent agent. "This is not a campaign document," Labolt said, "and our campaign had no knowledge of it before it surfaced in the media."

As for why he changed the tone, Buchanan remarked: "As I reflected on it. I said, 'you know this would not be reflective of Obama, this is not his campaign.'"

Update: Buchanan tells Salon that, in the wake of the backlash against his flier, he could be parting ways with the Obama campaign. "I may have to resign as precinct captain or something," he said. "I don't want to screw his campaign up."

Comments

[blue4ohio]

This "scandal" is on a par with the Miley Cyrus body-double brouhaha; in a word, nonsense. A precinct captain is an Average Joe volunteer who gives their time to support a candidate they feel passionate about. A paid staffer who does the volunteer coordinating can advise the precinct captains with the approved message from the campaign, but they cannot ban these volunteers from doing whatever they want to advance their candidate.

The most the campaign can do now is take the man's title of "precinct captain" away. That might set a good example for the rest of their volunteers about how the campaign wishes to stay on message. Still, I have a soft spot for this man's situation.

How many of us have volunteered on a campaign, and felt that something wasn't being addressed that needed to be? In this case, the precinct captain felt that the Obama campaign wasn't doing enough to reach out to independents and Republicans, when they could be needed in what is expected to be a close contest. I know that many here can probably relate, especially if we remember making suggestions to the Kerry-Edwards campaign to combat the Swift Boat lies.

Many here have said they felt like their suggestions weren't heard. It's likely the campaign was innundated with more suggestions than they could consider. This Obama precinct captain, in meeting similar frustration, took matters into his own hands.

Not the smartest move, but I can certainly understand it. It is worth noting, the flyer doesn't say anything about Hillary that the Obama campaign hasn't said (usually in veiled references in speeches that don't actually name her). Whether you suppport Hillary/Obama, or agree/disagree with the flyer's contents, is it necessary to throw this grassroots-level activist under a bus?

[AnninCA]

Obviously, the press got past Obama's rule about not interviewing the underlings. LOL*

[QueensNYC821]

The liberal is going to convince conservative voters to outst the moderate.

That makes a lot of sense.

And will they vote for him over republicans if he wins the nomination?

[sonofloud]

Finally!!!
Is the media understanding that Obama is just like every other politician?
You can't believe what any politician says during a campaign..­...they promise anything to whatever group they happen to be talking to at the time.
You have to look at their past record and when you do so it's obvious that Hillary is the best qualified candidate.

[Purple Girl]

BLOCK ALL THREE OF THESE SHORT SIGHTED, LEGALLY INEPT AND CORPORATE PRODUCTS!!!
They have all three - one way or natoher helped this admin push it's agenda along.
Iraq War vote,
Continued funding (no need to acct'ing or even a real exit plan)
Patriot Act
Failure to use influnce to push Impeachment of even Cheney
And NO DISCUSSION REGARDING LEGAL ACTION AGAISNT THIS REGIME once in office. they too seem to want to sweep this one under the rug. WHY?
Not out by 2013? Really.
The 'Threat' of Iran (not to US, but to the Saudi's or Isreali's- yeah that's in OUR interest to use our money, resources, reputation & BLOOD to defend them)
Not mentioning the Profiteers and Mercenaries-
sacrificing our soldiers and our entire ARMED SERVICES
Hill, tell US what you've been doing on the Armed Service Com (CON). I'll tell ya right now - your co-worker (CARL)will be out on his ass ASAP

[mcnairbo]

Why isn't this front and center at the top of your blog hypocrites??!

[Iimbalayo]

Sounds like Hillary tactics! Sometimes you got tofight fire with fire!

[seted]

I don't trust Obama, there something about him that just doesn't sit right. All I hear from him and his website are a lot of pretty words that seem to have as much substance as smoke. The funny thing is by saying this on a website that is supposed to be by and for open minded people I and people like me who raise doubt about him will be bombarded by insults the would make a repub blush.

[MRb1000]

If Obama can get people to switch to the Democratic party this is good. Reagan did it with the blue dog democrats. Now Obama can do it. I think is a positive thing happening here.

[Tellmethetruth]

Either Obama has specifically ordered his surragates to strike dirty, even if it means turning turncoats to the Republican party, or he is too weak as a leader to call his dogs off the dirty campaign tactics. Which is it????

[Rubiconski]

ABSOLUTELY!! ALL Republicans SWITCH parties...

.....and VOTE OBAMA '08 !!!!

[Rubiconski]

John F. Kennedy's advisor Sorensen endorsed Senator Obama. He said that Obama exemplifies the type of leadership that this country needs right now.

[NYC07]

I'm sick of these Clinton people spinning this bull about Obama playing "The Race " card. Give me specific statement by Obama where you prove this . The Clinton campaign constantly has it surrogates spread nasty innuendoes and racist remarks ie ( He's Muslim, Attend a Muslim Madrases, Shuck and Jive , Your Cool Black Friend, Making it sound like he’s some drug dealing coke addict )then they claim oh Hillary didn't say it someone in the campaign said it ,were sorry let's move on. Want to bet how long before the next little Clinton Bomb is exploded and they have to make an other phony restriction ?The Clintons play the dirtiest game in town. Just ask the Culinary Workers Union in Nevada how suddenly the Teachers Union which backs Clinton is trying to stop the Caucasus being held in the hotels and casinos . When asked why they waited so long to bring the suit (just 3 days after the Culinary Union supported Obama, they claim ‘Oh we just found out about it”. BULL 3 member who were on the board that approved the hotel and casinos as venues for the Caucasus months ago, are connected to the Clinton campaign and these same people are bring the lawsuit. This is what you get if you vote for Clinton, Business as Usual, Politics with a smell.

[Forest]

If the Repubs needed a 'plant' to derail Hillary, Obama is it, and it seems to be working.

[KISSman]

What's the big deal? Obama has broad appeal and Hillary is unelectable in a general election and that's all this flier is basically saying. This hub-bub is all about nothing since this is not officially from the Obama campaign. This is just more Clinton smear nonsense.