Dems Fret Over Prolonged Bitter Fight

The Associated Press has noticed concern among Democratic party loyalists over a long, possibly hostile, nomination process:

"Despite Obama's impressive victories in February, Clinton's comeback is based on sowing political seeds of doubt," said Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist and one of nearly 800 party leaders known as superdelegates for their ability to determine the nomination. "In order to clinch the nomination, he must anticipate the worst attacks ever."

Consider that a shot across the bow to the Clinton campaign because Brazile -- like many other superdelegates -- worries that Clinton's only hope for victory is tearing down Obama and dividing the party. Party chairman Howard Dean recently told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he was concerned about the possible impact of a nominating campaign that stretched through the end of the primaries in early June.

Some superdelegates are bracing themselves to intervene on Obama's behalf if necessary.

"If these attacks are contrasts based on policy differences, there is no need to stop the race or halt the debate," Brazile said. "But, if this is more division, more diversion from the issues and more of the same politics of personal destruction, chairman Dean and other should be on standby."

Comments

[research]

Candidates:

Attack McCain!

Prove to us you can beat him.

Stop attacking each other, specially with Lies.

[hillarysupporter]

I thought this was about the "country", not about the Democratic party's agenda. The voters have
sent a Clear message that they want Hillary Clinton to stay in this race. Hillary Clinton has won
several huge states, states that are important in the general election. This cannot be ignored.
Obama isn't a strong enough candidate to beat McCain.

[VA2008]

Maybe you should check the polling numbers...­.....Obama seems to be the only one who can beat McCain. Hillary and McCain think they are better according to Hillary...­......if I didn't know better I would think she was a Republican. You never jump on the other candidate in you own party as she has done......­.using false information. Remember, you reap what you sow and she has to win 62% of every remaining state to beat him. The big states may be important but in last nights wins she only gained approx. 8 delegates.­.....not such a big deal afterall. I will vote for whomever the democratic nominee turns out to be because unlike some folks including Hillary, it's about our country NOT about Hillary who seems hellbent on destroying the Party and making it all about the "girls". Also, it was reported in Texas today that the reason Hillary did so well with "white" men (who usually vote for Obama) is they were Republicans taking Limbaugh's advice to boost Hillary's numbers because McCain can beat her easy! Maybe it's time to read up on the candidates and stop the cheerleading! Hillary couldn't say for sure Obama was Christian even though they have attended numerous prayer meetings in Congress together. She is avasive and has a selective memory....­.no one will damage Hillary but Hillary. Have a nice night!.

[ChezMJ]

It is ridiculous to use a poll today to predict a winner in November. Just 6 months ago, McCain was written off as dead & he is now the Republican nominee. The general campaign hasn't even begun yet!

[Didi47]

VA2008::

yeah, yeah yeah... today the 'new anti Hillary catch phrase" is: She's 'hellbent on destroying the party.... blah, blah, blah.... We heard it at least 1000 times already from the media pundits... trying to sell us more of their anti Hillary hype..
We've also been inundated with she should 'do the honorable thing and quit the race';
for the sake of the party, the people etc..etc..­. The media hypnosis and spin is hard at work, selling this tactic to the voter. Their pathetic biased attempts to sway the public are starting to look like a very bad joke. It would be funny if it weren't almost criminally irresponsible of them to deliberately mislead the public. But there you go... Ethical media no longer exists in the US.

What they fail to mention and you fail to mention is: They want Hillary to quit so Obama isn't VETTED until McCain can get his hands on him!!

As for your Hillary has a selective memory comment...­. errr... you're talking about Obama with NAFTA and Rezko right?

Again, it's time Obama was vetted by the media - so let's get on with it. After all CNN announced the front runner is always the one to be raked over the coals. They've done enough of that with Hillary and given Obama is the 'front runner' let's see the media live up to it's word!

[anythinggoes]

HILLARY AND VP IS SLICK WILLIE

[Halfwit]

Why would you think this is about "country?" Primaries and caucuses are functions of political parties, not functions of democracy or government. The democracy comes in the fall. Right now is ONLY about the party agenda. It is run by the parties and the party rules are the only rules that matter.

[ncvoter]

Actually, the Republicans in Ohio crossed over in droves to vote for Hillary following Rush Limbaugh's advice.

Blogs at both the Plain Dealer and Dispatch are reporting Republican cross-over votes in the Democratic candidate for Senator Clinton on the ground that she would be an easier nominee for Senator McCain to beat.

Read about it here:
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/freefair/articles.php?ID=367

[longislandlol]

Tearing down the party will disenfranchise voters in the party and will bring out Independents to bring John Mccain over the top..

[ncvoter]

Ding ding ding! Hillary is tremendously polarizing.

Some democrats will even vote for McCain if Hillary is the nom, because they want to do
what they can to stop her.

If Hillary gets the nomination, she will already have destroyed the party by then, or at least partly destroyed it.

Letting her win the General Election would do damage to the Democratic Party that could last a decade. That is why some will vote AGAINST her.

[samson24]

I think it's time for Donna to drop out of the pundit race. Anybody who says the process should be stopped so their candidate can win has become unimportant, and has showed their bias. Let the process go on.

[LarBear]

Donna Brazile was the first in the MSM I heard Play the Race Card... She is about as Neutral as to who win's the Democratic Nomination as is Mika Brzezinski, who's Dad and Brother are part of the Obama Campaign..­.

[ChezMJ]

I cannot STAND Donna Brazile and her whining. Thanks to her lousy work for Gore, we have had President Bush. She should issue mea culpas for the rest of her life for that one. Loser.

[uheardme]

Cokie Roberts should drop out of the pundit business. That dried up old bitch has been wrong on just about everything in this election season.

[mrJJ]

Sen Obama should go completely negative on Sen Clinton... Its time to see what kind of Ops-Research group he has. No more kum by ya BS. No petty where are your taxes crap... They wont come out if she filed them jointly with Bill anyway... There will be too much ammo in them.

The Republican Research Ops are going to come out full force anyway no matter who the Dems put out. Might as well test what he has... dont bring a knife to a gunfight. Direct, consise to the point and researchable. Nothing should be left off the table none of that " we can't go there"... BS

[uheardme]

He should throw the sink, the dishwasher, and the fridge at this bitch. Let's talk about her so-called experience. Being MARRIED to the President does NOT make you QUALIFIED to be PRESIDENT.

[larry278]

The trolls are having a field day with their absurd, biased comments. As usual the trolls are wrong. Racism & sexism are anti-American attitudes. The Democrats must unite behind the party's candidate to avoid giving the White House to John McCain. It is simple as that. Holding grudges will give the White House to John McCain. That, at the very least, means 4 more years of Republican stupidity ruling the USA. Put down your grudges before you get round shouldered.

[mrJJ]

You unite behind your party's candidate.­. I prefer to choose the candidate I support. I am not a card carrying my party right or wrong voter. If the ground rules change to going negative..­. I say go negative ALL the way. There is no gender or race in a fight... its a battle nothing more nothing less. To heck with not getting down in the mud... The dirtier the better, It will make good practice for the general.

[LarBear]

larry278 You said, "Racism & sexism are anti-American attitudes.­.." So, then the Obama's need to drop out of the Political Race???
Michelle Obama:" I'm completely confident. Black America will wake up and get it....... " So, "Black America" is NOT about Race, or skin color??? HUH? At least 3 times Barack's Campaign has played the Race Card, when NO mention of Race, or skin color was made, or implied... Oprah Campaigned for the "First BLACK President"­... The Obama Campaign has made direct appeals to Race and Skin Color...
Belief in a "Black America, Black Community, Black People" is a Racial and skin color Segregation in my observation and pondering.­.. Done from within, so to speak... Personhood is equally of Godly Nature... Is a "BLACK" Person a Fact of Godly Nature, or a Belief in "Black"??? Is the Spirit animating the Body, Black, White, Yellow, Red, Brown, or any other color??? I asked ME, would I, or do I, color Segregate Spirits??? Would a new born child with black skin raised in China, never exposed to a person with black skin, think, behave and Believe as an "American Black Person"??? Do African's think, behave and Believe, as an "American Black Person"???
SHAME on you, Barack and Michelle Obama... Many People who are Voting were excited about Your Campaign..­. People aspired for Hope, Change and making a Difference­... They really did NOT give a damn what your skin color is... But wait! You Obama's did not simply go along with that... No! NO! NO!!! You Obama's chose to make this Campaign too much about Race and skin Color... "Black People, Black Man, First Black President"­...
Yet Obama ran an add claiming their is only ONE AMERICA... LIARS!

[VA2008]

How vile! Do you really know what you are talking about? Yap, Yap, Yap!

[uheardme]

BIGOT.

[anthonylee]

So your asinine logic has Obama winning because he played the "Race Card"?!??

So all of the white men/women who voted/caucused for Obama just gave him a "sympathy vote"?!?!?

You're funny 'cause you're sad and pathetic. . . . specifically, I'm laughing AT you, not WITH you.

[GLaB]

An Obama partisan doesn't like Clinton's campaign. Color me shocked!

[ginnypoo]

She is already on record as being pro-Obama.­...so, this is her self-serving opinion to help her choice get elected. So, who cares what she thinks...g­et an independant opinion, then I may consider what they have to say, but it you insist on using pro-Obama people then your point is stupidly presented, biased and not worth printing.

[SiobhanOC]

She is not pro-Obama. She has gone out of her way not to take sides. Just because she says something you disagree with doesn't mean she is against the person you support.

[samson24]

Sorry to disagree. Just like Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson. She is extremely Pro-Obama. They don't have to actually come out and say they support Obama, but their words and actions absolutely show that. No one is fooled.

[treadway123]

I completely agree with you. She is against this crap--------and would say so a lot louder if in her heart she wasn't routing for Clinton. Hey, don't blalme her. She's a woman after all and wants to make history. But I'lm a woman close to Hillary's age, and been a republican for years. Ther is something they all have to understand. I jumped ship to vote for Obama, not Hillary. I know how women feel. But of course disagree with most of them. I couldn't vote for Hillary. The problem is I don't want Mccain either! I'm not into the punsihment phase that bot H Hillary and Clinton would put us through. At first I thought Obama to inexperien­ced-------­----------­--but guess what? When I found out that Hillary was going after Obama for Rezca and the Canada thing---------I started digging deep. I found a lot of it was lie's while on the other hand Clinton took 170,000 from a acconteing firm that is under fed investigation for sexual harasment, asualt,and degrading of women in the work place-----­------than had the gull to say she care's about our children and their future. I know understand the importance of her releaseing her tax's,Presidential library supporters,and the first lady papers from the Archives. I didn't know this before--------it was just doubts---now it's trueth. I followed Mccains lobbyist connection for years. I think in general he's a good man---------but you see what I saw years ago-------­------Bush hanking his chains ----------­---------a­nd him wanting this so darn bad that he's began to flip flop instatements and where he was standing on issue's befor e this election race began. He wants to make sure everyon is supporting him, and on board with him to the point he's pandering to them. This I was positive would happen, so I went hunting for a good candidate I could believe in. I found him just to find the Demacrate party doesn't have enough guts to stop Hillary from Helping Mccain take the white house. Just how stupid is this? Gosh I just give up!

[ncvoter]

She just doesn't want to see us lose congress after all that hard work.

Hillary is a surefire down ticket killer, and would cause us to lose congress just as happened
thanks to all of the Clinton scandals.

[KiwisCanFly]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56868

I posted the wrong link in my initial post....th­is is the link that the GOP will use to remind all of the shady Clinton persona. Reason why Rep are voting for Hillary to get Barack out of the running. She will 1. unify the Rep party to come out for McCain and against her and 2. she is easier to fend off than Obama and 3. they will relish fighting her with unmitigated glee.

[KiwisCanFly]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cass-r-sunstein/the-obama-i-know_b_90034.html

The GOP is going to use this to remind everyone why the Clinton's have a shady persona. Rep. voting for Hillary are doing so simply to get Barack out of the running.
So after her devisive political campaign the dam GOP will take the Presidency.

[surfcitysteven]

She does not care either. Typical Clinton BS. She does not care if the democratic party is in shambles when she is done. She cannot win the nomination legitimately so she calls her good friend Karl Rove for strategy advise. The Hillary Lovers don't care either and you know what? The hell with them and the "democrat" party if she gets this nomination. I will take her advise and vote for McCain over the democrat nominee. If we are going to have a fucked up president for the next for years, it might as well be a republican.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Dump both of these DLC-to-the-bone candidates. I'm not interested in making token history by electing the first __________. I'm interested in single-payer healthcare, getting out of Iraq, and squashing the conservative movement like a bug for what they've done to this country over the last seven years.

We really DON'T have to have either Clinton nor Obama as the nominee.

The Superdelegates are free to vote however they want and can change their votes at ANY time. Neither Obama or Clinton are going to come anywhere close to a first ballot majority from pledged delegates alone. If no candidate wins a first ballot majority, then all delegates are freed and the convention is thrown wide open.

I'm ready to sign any petition to draft Al Gore or at least ask the Superdelegates to vote for him on the first ballot so we don't have to have either one of these DLC-to-the-bone candidates of the nominee.

It's not too late. To quote one of the DLC candidates stil in the race, "YES, WE CAN!"

[neocon43]

Please draft Al Gore.We will see you in Tennesee!

[KRANKY]

hillary is a PIG!

[sklfcats]

P owerful
I telligent
G reat for this country

[Didi47]

sklfcats:

LOL. Super!

Go Hillary!!

[snowcat]

FUN FACT: Hillary didn't write her books herself and failed to credit her ghostwriters. How dare she attack his words!!

Mahesh Grossman, a ghostwriter for Sen. Hillary Clinton blows the whistle on what it's like working with the former first lady.
"Writing with Senator Clinton is like marrying Zsa-Zsa Gabor," notes Grossman. "You're guaranteed it'll be a bumpy ride and that it won't last long. In just three books, Clinton has gone through five ghostwrite­rs."

Find more here that states what Barack is as a writer! Just words??!:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/22/opinion/main3865576.shtml

[SensibleAmerican]

Donna Brazile is yet another hypocritical racist Afro-American! How this community conveniently forgot why Bill Clinton was so popular amongst them? Why he was the "First Black President"? What has Barack Hussein done for the Blacks apart from being half-black!?! To rally behind a political figure strictly based on his/her race IS RACISM!!! And Racism is alive and well in the hypocritical black community ...

Pathetic ...

[Kim445588]

You are an idiot.

Kim "Hussein"

[LeftVetPatriot]

You know SO much about 'the black community', it's frightening.

Racist fuckwad.

[Plank]

I agree with the concern about the impact of Hillary's negative campaigns. It is short-sided. It may win her a nomination but she will fail in the General election. Many reasons why:
1. Alienating whole states (Red states, small states) and voting groups (blacks, liberals, activists) is not a winning strategy.
2. The bogus experience argument will not work with McCain
3. The bogus experience in foreign policy will not work with McCain
4. Past and present scandals
5. Independents, liberals, blacks and people named Husain will not vote for you
More importantly she wouldn't be able to draw a credible Iraq policy because she VOTED for the war.
Come to think of it, she should be running as a republican.

[Didi47]

Plank:

You say Hillary is alienating whole states? Do you live on another planet? So far she's winning the popular vote my dear.

You mention blacks - well it's clear that 90% of the blacks are voting for color over qualifications. If it had anything to do with qualifications and preference­... the percentages would and could not ever be that high. It's a definite race thing. Ask any statistician. The odds of 90% are impossible without extreme bias. Given the black population was overwhelmingly in Hillary's corner before Oprah went on the campaign and the media fanned the race card... and blacks were being pressured like crazy to stick together..­. there is no doubt whatsoever­... if one is going to tout the race card... what side that is on. As for the liberals and activists.­.. well I think the numbers are pretty even.. but frankly am not sure what YOUR definition of liberals are. I always thought liberals were democrats. And activists.­.. what do you mean... like the Green Party or something?

What bogus??? experience are you talking about. Hillary has 35 years of public experience. She wasn't sleeping under a rock for those years. To deny her experience is simply ignorant.

Past and present scandals. Well my dear. I don't think there is a human being on this earth who hasn't made a mistake in life. Called being a human being. I'm sure you have made plenty of your own in your life path, no? And rest assured Obama's past and present scandals are going to surface whether you like it or not. So I'd recommend you reconsider your sense of outrage... because you're going to have to be just as judgmental and harsh over his past and present scandals aren't you. After all fair is fair.

As for your opening sentence about Hillary's negative campaigns. I don't know what you are referring to. Do you mean the 3:00 am advertisement? What is negative about that pray tell. She's making a valid and important argument and asking exactly the KIND of question the voter should consider. Maybe you're too young or something.­.. but this is the first campaign I've ever seen in my life that has not allowed PERTINENT questions to be asked of a politician. That usually happens in dictatorsh­ips.... not a democracy like the US.

[HowardRoarke]

What crazy math are you using to say she's winning the popular vote? I love you guys who lie and deceive to push your favorite candidate. The ONLY way to put her up in the popular vote is to count Michigan - where he got ZERO votes because he wasn't on the ballot. Castro elections - very nice. Weren't you just complaining about dictatorships?

Are 60% of women voting sex over qualifications? Or is black bias good, but gender bias bad? I've heard you say MORE women should vote for Hillary...

If Hillary has so gosh darn much experience, could you take a moment to actually mention what any of it is? The food channel just fired a chef for embellishing his resume, so its fair to ask EXACTLY what experience we're supposed to credit it her with.

So now you think scandals aren't a big deal? So will you please not mention Rezko again, until there is hard evidence of any wrongdoing (which there isn't).

As for negative campaigning, while I've heard you've been stalking little girls at the playground, here's what I've said in your defense: "No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know"

[ncvoter]

To "Didi47"

Bill, is that you?

[uheardme]

Its clear that white women are voting color and gender over qualifications and integrity.

[CowboyCody]

Running as a Republican? H.R.C. is a Democrat, an one who knows how to win when it gets tough. She's built the constituents in Congress across the aisle, sometimes that means working with the other party as a necessity because there is no super majority in either the House or Senate. Obama has little to no experience in doing that, period. He's got ZIP experience in foreign policy and like it or not, we're stuck in Iraq & Afghanistan and while I am not in favor of the action that has happened, IT HAS and we have to deal with it in an adult manner. To pull out all the troops tomorrow as a matter of TALK (Obama) is just silly pandering, it doesn't work that way.

As a GAY voter, Obama isn't going to support ONE lousy cause to help gays. If anything he'll set us back. His pseudo-talk is all that, and while we're at it....CHEA­P at best. I've never once in my life defected to the other side of the aisle but if he is the choice of the Democratic Party, I'd rather vote for the devil I know (McCain) than the Devil I don't, so color me RED. My demographic group is important to any candidate in this election..­...over 40, with a master's, I also live in Ohio, and in particular the one county (Stark) they use as a bellweather for national elections. The people in OHio will not vote for Obama in a National election, it will go swiftly to McCain.

[Sloane7]

Ohio will go to McCain regardless. Big whoop.

[HowardRoarke]

How's life in bizarro world?

Quick, name some foreign policy experience of Hillary. *crickets*

Quick, name some legislation she's worked on across the aisle. *crickets*

I'll give you both - Obama's Obama-Coburn legislation to disclose the political earmarks publicly, and Obama-Hagel on nuclear proliferation.

What's Hillary really done, other than pretend to have accomplishments?

[HowardRoarke]

Well, if your issues are gay issues, which candidate was involved in the Defense of Marriage act (DOMA) and Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)? That was part of her 35 years of experience.

Obama has come out and said he'd repeal both. Will Hillary undo her husband? She's not commented on that.

Lots of gays have sided with Clinton. Check it out for yourself.

[treadway123]

hey stuid! Obama took the popular vote------­------ohio means nothing over that---------she bearlyl got texas by a inch. So she has 14 states to his 24 states. so don'lt vot for Obama! give it to Mccain. Most of us won't vote clinton! So, give it to Mccain! The republicans love reading articles like your. Obama would rally his base to vote for Hillary if he lose's the popular vote! Your Mrs. Clinton will not! She is mean enough , and cruel enough to stay in there till she tears this party and this country apart. Thats the difference between your canidate an Obama cowboycody. Good luck with liveing with Mccain and the Iraq war for the next 8 years buster! You sure earn it with your hate factor you got going there. My best friends are gay. Most of them support Obama. Although he's not exactly in line with gays------­--------he­'s trying to understand, and he wants to meet the needs of ALL the people of America. Clinton certainly isn't in linle with the gays (far from it) and you need to do some research on her flip flop on this issue from state to state. she really isn't concerned on this subject and comletely avoid it when she can, only ans. when it hits her in the face. Than it's a talk around the subject, never no ans.------­---onlyi if she is cornerned. I want the best for my friends, also! rather they ar gay or straight, black or whitE! Obama will represent us all ----------I'm a republican who jumped ship to vote for him simply because he represents US ALL AS A NATION! She represents those who can get her where she wants to be, and who will line her pocket. Simple as that!

[MNmommy]

I used to really admire Brazile.

Now, I think she needs to sit down and shut the fuck up.

She is partially responsible for starting all the race-baiting after New Hampshire that went on and on.

Let the voters decide. In the end, Obama will still be ahead in all likelihood - there is going to have to be an eventual compromise.

[anthonylee]

Compromise? I didn't know we could "Compromise" and call he or she the "winner"!

While we're at it let's "compromise" in the General Election also. . . .

You should direct your "sit down and shut the f*** up" to Hillary, she can't win the Pledged Delegate count, the Popular Vote or the most states! Anything else is a brokered nominee that sends a clear message of: - FU - small states, FU - general populous of the Democratic Party; we at the DNC know what's best and "sit down and shut the F*** Up" and vote for who we tell you to vote for!

Sounds like a plan to me - It will get Democrats the same result, a Republican in the White House.