Clinton Donors Object to Pelosi Comment

UPDATE: It doesn't sound like the letter had much effect on Pelosi's attitude towards the nomination. From her press office:

Speaker Pelosi is confident that superdelegates will choose between Sens. Clinton or Obama -- our two strong candidates -- before the convention in August," Daly said. "That choice will be based on many considerations, including respecting the decisions of millions of Americans who have voted in primaries and participated in caucuses. 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.

UPDATE: The Center for Responsive Politics has calculated the financial heft that the donors involved, and it is substantial. From the press release:

The 20 Democratic bigwigs who wrote to Nancy Pelosi re: superdelegates yesterday have contributed nearly $24 million to Democratic candidates and committees over the last 10 years, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has calculated. They've given Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns about $315,000, or nearly $554,000, if you include contributions to her leadership PAC. By comparison, Barack Obama has collected $34,700 from them for his Senate and presidential campaigns, plus $17,500 to his leadership PAC. And there's no telling how much this group has helped raise for Democrats over the years.

WASHINGTON — Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for saying superdelegates should support the presidential candidate with the most pledged delegates.

No matter what the outcome of the 10 remaining contests, it will be nearly impossible for Clinton to overcome Barack Obama's lead in pledged delegates because they are awarded proportionally based on the outcome.

So it will be up to the nearly 800 superdelegates _ party activists and elected officials who aren't bound by any vote _ to put one of them over the mark of 2,024 delegates needed to win the nomination. Obama has 1,406 pledged delegates to Clinton's 1,249, according to The Associated Press count.

Pelosi, who has not endorsed either candidate as chair of the Democratic National Convention, said during a March 16 appearance on ABC's "This Week" that it would be harmful to the party if superdelegates don't support the pledged delegate winner.

In their letter, 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 also noted the donors "have been strong supporters" of the House Democrats' fundraising apparatus.

"We therefore urge you to clarify your position on superdelegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the national convention in August," they said.

Pelosi stands by her comment, said her spokesman, Brendan Daly.

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"The speaker believes it would do great harm to the Democratic Party if superdelegates are perceived to overturn the will of the voters," he said. "This has been her position throughout this primary season, regardless of who was ahead at any particular point in delegates or votes."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton called the letter "inappropriate."

"We hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it," he said. "Regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, Senator Obama will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives."

In response, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said: "Few have done more to build the Democratic Party than Bill and Hillary Clinton. The last thing they need is a lecture from the Obama campaign."

The letter was first reported by The Washington Post and the political blog Talking Points Memo.

___

On the Net:

http://www.house.gov/pelosi

Comments

[GOP4MoreTears]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been an outstanding leader, Hillary could take some valuable lessons from Nancy's grace, and progressive attitude.

Thank you Madam Speaker.

[SifSkade]

Makes you appreciate the directness and honesty of muggers.

[ibsteve2u]

"They've given Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns about $315,000, or nearly $554,000, if you include contributions to her leadership PAC. By comparison, Barack Obama has collected $34,700 from them for his Senate and presidential campaigns, plus $17,500 to his leadership PAC."

OK, now explain to me how I am supposed to read that and conclude anything other than the obvious: They own Hillary, and they don't want to see their investment go bad?

[Plowboy]

Perhaps we should all take a good look at those Clinton donors, and ask ourselves what country they really support.
It certainly isn't a democratic country.
No.It really isn't.

[madkey]

IF ANY BODY WANTS TO SIGN A PETITION AND DONATE MONEY TO STOP HILLARY CLINTON'S BIG WIG SUPPORTERS FROM STEALING THE POPULAR VOTE AND PLEDGE DELEGATES FROM OBAMA. SIGN ON TO moveon.com WEBSITE THEY ENDORSED OBAMA AND THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED A PETITION AND DONATIONS TO SEND TO POLOSI.

[afgail]

Hillary won the popular vote in Nevada and Texas but Obama got more delegates. And the party is not counting the delegates from Florida and Michigan which Hillary also won. Let the people's votes be the determining factor not the party's screwy rules.

[karela]

I'm from Michigan and let me say that we've heard enough about the illegal vote that took place here. The Clintons and their supporters in the Michigan Democratic Party took a gamble that they could beat the system and they lost. They yell about disenfranchising voters, but their game plan is always coming up with new ways to disenfranchise the 50% of Michiganders who say they support Barack Obama. Enough said. Forget about the votes from MI and FL. Next time, try playing by the rules. The Clintons always try sneaky, dirty tricks first and this time they tried to threaten and intimidate The Speaker of the House of the Congress of the United States of America. Last week on Morning Joe, Ed Schultz read a list of quotes from Super Delegates who wished to remain anonymous who said that the Clintons were threatening and intimidating super delegates who wanted to endorse Obama. The quotes included: "You'd be committing political suicide." "We remember who our friends are." (Clintons have a long history of taking revenge--somehow those who disagree don't get funding or re-election.) "Your name will be taken off the President's list." (President Bill Clinton"s list or a new one the Clinton's have already started?) Dirty, Dirty, Dirty!! -------------------------------------NOT THIS TIME!!!-------------------------------

[yotinzepol]

As Chairman of the Dem Convention, she was obligated to practice extreme caution she's not perceived as partisan. She couldn't be an effective arbiter at the convention because she's biased toward a candidate.

It's also galling that she went back on her word in Jan., when she said that superdelegates have to use their independent judgment on who is best to be the Dem nominee and best to become President. And that's what exactly the letter said.

I'm one of those who'll defect because of Dem leadership like Pelosi and Dean. Why can't they just let the entire Democratic Party decide and follow the nominating process and rules of the DNC at the convention?

If the voters wanted Obama, as Pelosi would have it, they would have given him the requisite delegates to secure the nomination. The fact that the voters are split, they want this contest to go on and have every democrat voice be heard to give superdelegate all the elements they need to consider. And every vote includes that of FL and MI, even if they're not seated.

And merely changing the dates by FL and MI doesn't merit the penalty of having millions of voters disenfranchised. The no-campaign punishment was more than sufficient. And the fact all candidates honored their pledge not to campaign made it a level playing field. There's nothing fraudulent about the votes in FL and MI.

Why is democracy so hard? Drawing lots would have been much easier and painless.

[S1m0n]

"Why can't they just let the entire Democratic Party decide and follow the nominating process and rules of the DNC at the convention?"

That's what they're doing!

[rosal]

Ladies and gentlemen, now we have in the Democrat party millionaires that threaten, and bribe in order to crown the queen. How low can we get? Silly me, I always thought our party was decent, fair, and had no resemblance to the Republicans. After seeing Clinton's dirty tactics, this tops the cake. I wonder if is time to change my voters registration. Disgusting!

[ncadvocate]

How can all of you be so stupid!? Haven't you gotten it yet!? It is only because you are obviously an Obama supporter that you would not understand what a "fair playing field" is? What Pelosi basically did was tell the superdelegates to pick Obama and get it over with when clearly the contest is not over. Who knows what this entire election would look like if Michigan and Florida were do-overs! Did you ever consider what would happen if she wins some of the remaining states?! Obama reminds me of "the golden child". Nothing can touch him-not even the truth!

[ntmessage]

The RULES state that the Super Delegates can vote any way they wish and Pelosi is hurting the party by taking sides. These same rules have put the primary into a mess since no clear winner can be decided without the Super Delegates while FL and MI are disenfranchised. Everyone knows the score so she should have kept mum, but since she did not she cannot be considered an objective arbiter to try and resolve issues around an illegitimate primary. In addition, there are reports that Dean is starting to stack the credentials committee as well. All this mischief and shortsighted actions is what has gotten the party in trouble, not the voters, the candidates nor the states.

The DNC must get a clue since if the primary is not considered legitimate they deserve 100% of the blame.

[yotinzepol]

ntmessage, one couldn't have put it any better!

[madkey]

Thats not true, Hillary is behind and the nominee should be the one with the most pledged delegates and popular vote. Hillary can't catch up so she wants the supper delegates to weigh in. How can you people support someone like her. A fraud. Nothing she say is the truth. All she does is lie about everthing and never acknowledge he mistakes or blunders. Shes a mess. By the way. I thought she was so concerned about the voters or Michigan and FLorida to count. What the since of fighting to have those delegates seated if it doesn't work to her advantage she can force the Supper delegates to cast out the voice of the people. Hillary Clinton is who you would prefer to be president. She can fool you poor saps that are easliy persauded with her lies and deception, not me I know what Clinton problem is she didn't expect Obama to have won 11 primaries in the row. Hillary Clinton thought Obama would have been out of the race long ago. She was intending to release her White House Documents , tax returns, and Clinton Library files once she became the nominee but she under estimated Obama. Therefore to look transparent she had to release her White House Documents which exposed her of her lies of experience. Just wait until those tax returns and Clinton Libraries funds are released. Think don't be manipulated, we already have with President Bush

[ntmessage]

Please. This false outrage. Everyone knows what happened here and this fraud and betrayal of the public trust has been perpetrated on the American people by the DNC and no one else is to blame. How can they purposely put on an election were there is no clear winner without the SuperDelegates? That makes it a mess. Now spinning to the opposite side say that the voters speech is not followed if the SuperDelegates do not exercise their right to vote anyway they choose is further hypocrisy especially since they silenced the voters speech in MI and FL.
And stop with all the silly gothca politics when we are talking about fundamental democraic principles that the DNC has violated and no one else.

[karela]

The thing that is so ironic is that if we get to the end after all this and Obama still has the most delegates, votes and states AND if enough Super Delegates choose him to push him the rest of the way over the top------The Clintons will still try to spin it one more time or threaten to sue or threaten each and every super who voted for Obama. . . Or . . .Or . . .Or----------------They only champion the will of the people when the will of the people gives them what they want. The thing that is so scary about the Clintons is that they really really, way deep down, all the way to the center of who they are . . . believe that it is all about them.

[BrooklynLager]

What's happening is that people are trying to spread the notion that the nominee will not be legitimate, no matter who it is.

Who is going to have the most pledged delegates? That is all I care about. (And yes, Florida and Michigan should have a revote).

[ntmessage]

What people are *spreading* is the fact that the DNC primary is already viewed as illegitimate. Obama and the DNC fought against revotes in MI and FL and now they are suing OH!

[kallopolis]

If you want a government run by SPECIAL INTERESTS, the choice is crystal clear: vote for CLINTON.

[loki]

Alright, lets look at the facts first. What is the last thing you can remember Pelosi said, where she didnt END UP doing the COMPLETE OPPOSITE. You know this hag will do whatever she can to steal the nomination for Shillary. Not because she thinks its the right thing, because after she saw the names on the letter, and calculated their total net worth , she smells money and power. How strange is it going to be if the one party that just could destroy us all by removing all hope of change for us, is the democratic party. The way Shillary is going, she could just do it.

[bluesjones63]

Billary's big-money donors are FEARING POWER LOSS. Their ability to contribute BIG MONEY has caused them to dominate Democratic Party decision-making for YEARS: if you don't act according to our wishes, we will NOT donate. After all, money speaks, or at least it did until 2007 when Barack Obama entering the picture.

Barack Obama's campaign has FLIPPED big-money donors' dominance of the DEM party. Obama has PROVEN that average Americans CAN & WILL donate. (Recall Obama's February on-line donations) Additionally, the Obama campaign has proven the WISDOM of Howard Dean's 50 state strategy.

FEAR creeps in; the "kitchen sink strategy is implemented; SuperDelegates are intimidated; the House Majority Leader is threaten.

Remember: "Power concedes nothing without a struggle" (WEB DuBois).

[RobinRocks]

give me a friggin break. use your overactive imagination on something that brings value to the world.

Recall: Rev. Wright for 20 years, Farrakhan, Rezko. Obama is who he hangs with (including lots of ex-presidential candidates whom have ALL lostT)

[EddieMcWords]

No, Robin You give me a break. 2,000,000 donors. What's the average donation? Around $100? Normal people speaking up, I can't think of a better thing for our democracy.

Give it a rest, Rezko, and Wright aren't going to get your lady the nomination. She cannot win the presidency.

Even Clinton News Network is calling this thing over...

[madkey]

Those people cannot speak for Obama. I'ts not his words, and they aren't running for president Obama is. You cant hold Obama for those idiots. Besides even with all that going on the polls show that he passed Hillary in just a week, and Hillary is considered to be more negative than both Obama and Mccain. The polls show Hillary Clinton even losing to Mccain. Want to know why? Hillary Clinton exaggerated and lied about her experience's all of them, she doesn't acknowledge or admit her mistakes, Voting for George Bushes War. Stating that Nafta was good for America, She's not transparent at all. She doesn't care about the American People she running for president because she feels its owed to her or shes entitled to the presidency and will destroy the Democratic Party to do it. So how it that looking out for the American people. You better get on the winning team. Hillary is finished

[BrooklynLager]

Farrakhan has absolutely no relationship with Obama whatsoever.

The Rev. Wright is Obama's pastor, not his political advisor.

If you want to talk about Rezko, then you have to include all of Hillary Clinton's ex-business partners and donors who are in jail.

[karela]

Yeah. And Hillary hangs with Bill. Did you catch guest on Morning Joe last week reading list of threats and intimidations the Clintons have been throwing at Super Delegates to keep them from endorsing Obama? Big surprise---Same week it turns out they think they can threaten and intimidate The Speaker of the House of the United States of America. Political thugs are so '90's and so not to be tolerated any more. Not This Time. Thousands have already sent contributions to insure that the democratic representatives of congress have funds to finance crucial elections and millions more stand behind them. This time we know that we can take the power back. When we all stand together, we can outdo the fat cats and their demands in return for funds. Apparently, as before, the Clintons don't give a rat's behinder about the democratic party.

[Selbourne]

CLINTON DONORS TRYING TO BUY THE NOMINATION
The corrupting influence of money starts right here. If these people can by financial threats influence the election policies of the Democratic Party, then Democracy is dead in this country.
This is the heart and soul of the Obama movement. More than one million of us have contributed to his campaign in an effort to bring an end to this undue influence. The Democratic party should realize that $20 from each of us will be much more than these guys will give in this cycle.
The one thing that will totally alienate us is the suspicion that the ultimate result is tainted by fat cat money. For that means we will continue to have Goverment of the many by the few rich and powerful.
Obama's pastor was wrong when he assumed that only blacks were harmed by the political power of "rich white men". This abuse of the Democratic process has to stop.

[linchbell]

I am a poor white woman and am tired of being harmed by rich men of any color. Obama's supporters can raise more than that in a week. We don't have much, but we give what we have, and there are a lot of us! Don't worry, Nancy. We will make up for what they don't give, and won't ask for any favors because of it.

[nccp1870]

This is an example of how 2,000,000 smaller donors to the Obama campaign have already begun to reshape the nature of American politics.
The corporate concentration of power has largely been a matter of concentrating access to campaign money. Spreading the financial load over the populace allows our elected officials to represent the majority, use their best judgment, and do what they really believe would benefit the nation. Bravo, Speaker Pelosi!
Voters take note. Here is a case of really "big money" being denatured by "small money." Obama already has opened up how American politics are practiced, and we the people, should rush through that opening to take our country back.

[shockjock]

Absolutely,
They have donated 24 mil over 10 years. Obama has raised over 124 mil in a few months.

And it was beautiful how his campaign responded - "Nancy, don't worry, we have 1.2 million new supporters who will be encouraged to support you and help the house Dems get re-elected."

In other words "F*ck 'em" We've got your back.

I'm off to hit that Donate button one more time. www.barackobama.com

[yotinzepol]

We are talking about principle here not money. They are raising the issue of independence by the superdelegates. Pelosi is fear-mongering by telling the SDs it's harmful to the party if they don't do what she tells them. The the democrats who are raising it on their letter just happened to be large donors. It's like Obama is running for President. He just happened to be black.

[cybersense]

Oh my. Some of these comments get really ugly.

There are so many Obama supporters that have used so much ugly name calling and verbal slapping on this that I wonder why they are even interested in politics in the first place.

Being passionate about who you support is one thing. Being so passionate about who you support that you resort to some of the tactics I see in these posts is way too racial and goes beyond good sense and reason.

[madkey]

Well than you should tell that to Hillary Clinton she says and does worst than that.

[MNDADDY]

Oh, nice spin Obama camp; however; Pelosi changed much in this new announcement. Now she is saying that popular vote can win too. Not just pledged delegates.

Before she said, "Pledged delegate" winner would be only legitimate choice for super-delegates. Now, she is saying, popular vote winner could would be legit too.

[madkey]

Great, Obama has $700,000. more than Hillary Clinton. Thats why she proberly said it. Get on the winning team, if you want to win.

[BrooklynLager]

She actually says nothing of the sort.

This is how you read between the lines: when she says "primaries AND caucuses" that's just a different way of saying the pledged delegate leader should be the nominee. If you just go by popular vote, you render all the caucuses meaningless, because they have turnouts that are a tiny fraction of what you get in primaries.