Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean May Intervene In Dem Primary

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid took his comments about the state of the Democratic primary one step further today, suggesting that he and other prominent Democrats would intervene in the race if primary season concludes without a clear winner:

Reid said he would consider writing a joint letter with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) demanding that superdelegates make their endorsements public.

"The three of us, we may write a joint letter [to superdelegates]," said Reid. "We might do individual letters, we are in contact with each other."...

However, when asked by a reporter if he would be forced to intervene if the undecided superdelegates did not make up their minds, Reid replied "I might have to."

This might explain Harry Reid's primary remarks last month that "things are being done" to end the nomination:

Q: Do you still think the Democratic race can be resolved before the convention?

Reid: Easy.

Q: How is that?

Reid: It will be done.

Q: It just will?

Story continues below

Reid: Yep.

Q: Magically?

Reid: No, it will be done. I had a conversation with Governor Dean (Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean) today. Things are being done.

Nancy Pelosi has abstained from such comments, though she has repeatedly suggested that superdelegates should not overturn the will of primary voters, a position that sits well with the Obama camp:

"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."...

"It's a delegate race," she said. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."

Meanwhile, Howard Dean has decided that superdelegates should not wait for the primaries to conclude; they need to state their endorsements now:

An increasingly firm Howard Dean told CNN again Thursday that he needs superdelegates to say who they're for - and "I need them to say who they're for starting now."

"We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time," the Democratic National Committee Chairman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "We've got to know who our nominee is."

Comments

[Cfordy0]

,.....Well now reading this article really makes me feel like something is finally going to be done....because we will be in NEED of SERIOUS HEALING TIME....THESE people have NO IDEAL OF HOW MUCH HEALING NEEDS TO BE DONE....People are already Pissed off..Just to know that some of the PEOPLE would rather vote for a Liar than a Blackman, and that really something that in this Day. n Time.....Nothing is goin to Heal these Wounds ......AND THATS A FACT....IF this Race was based on ISSUES...Healing could Occur....yet its been too much B.S. and the damage is done.......Obama 08..

[Dragon5616]

Now you've done it. Now I'm REALLY pissed off.

[GeoLee]

I believe you meant "have no idea" which means they don't have a clue. Ideal would refer to the best or the goal. I to think part of what you said was correct. But, many people are thinking about many far more important things than a person's race or whether a politicial lies, expecially since lying is standard for politics and a given from any person running for office and I suspect we have heard some from both candidates, but some less flagrant or less easily tracked than Hillary's which have been because she has been filmed for so many eyars while wife of the president. Some see deficiencies of experience or recognition or differences in how they would implement specific policies or programs. My support rests, for example more on health care plans. I don't care if it is a woman or a black man or a POW running as long as one of them presents a viable health program I think will work. Please do not categorize those not supporting Obama as necessarily not basing decisions on well thought out policy and program proposal reasons. Most people I talk with are basing their decisions on exactly that they say they want to do, not on who they are.

[hope]

Meanwhile, I just read that Nancy Pelosi has to surreptitiously and in miniscule increments attempt to provide succor to economically devastated Americans by slipping aid into yet ANOTHER supplemental 108 billion War Bill.

The White House will veto any bill over 108B, the amount they requested.

No pork, no surrender,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio).

Whatever the many faults of Reid and Pelosi, I am reminded that they were at least sufficiently prescient about the Iraq war fiasco to have voted Nay.

And I am reminded that the votes other prominent Democrats helped place both the current leadership and America in this untenable situation in the first place.

[Dragon5616]

Just back off, buddy. Facts just get in the way.

[hope]

Sometimes, the I find the flagrant disregard for Americans by our government so egregious- that I can't help but laugh. Really. The audacity.

Broke, unemployed and their tangable assets devalued (or foreclosed!), the needs of Americans are now 'pork'.

[HumeSkeptic]

Hillary voted for the war so she would have something to do when she becomes Commander-in-Chief. Duck hunting is good, but it doesn't cross the threshold for C-in-C. One should have supported at least one unnecessary war to qualify.

[BlueStateMan]

She supported the war for the sake of political expediency... nothing more, nothing less.

[galters]

Oh, great, we have two worthless Congresspeople and a former governor with a tantrum problem (YEAAAAAAAAH!) trying to accomplish something. This should be interesting.

[AdLib]

Congresspeople throwing tantrums? Don't leave out McCain off that list or he may scream at you.

[WHusseinLA]

Or punch, even.

[neocon43]

Dean has the best scream of all.He should open the democratic convention with that scream and then Kerry can walk up and tell us he is reporting for duty.

[Stevelagain]

I heard Barack today rewriting history.

If He were president he said to the folks of New Orleans he would have flown down the day after and personally directed the effort from a nearby air base.

Thus setting the new standard that if your toilet plugs up, the president will show up with a plunger in minutes!

LAUGH. Your boy is screwing up. He personally would direct an effort based on what experience? He's an engineer now? He's starting to sound silly. Maybe that's why they made him take some time off. Back when John Kerry started screwing up badly they pulled him out for a day or two to get his head screwed back on straight too.

So Obama would have ridden over the hill and saved the day. Better to hear about what he WOULD have done since nothing he HAS done is impressive.

[HopeGirl]

Hillary Clinton did not want a single vote to be cast after New Hamphire. Not one. Its why she signed theMI and FL agreements to not campaign and to not count the votes. It was never going to go that far. Her plan was to 'disinfranchize' all voters in 48 states and Guam,

Then a little glitch cam along. Obama gave voters the opportunity to vote for real change. We voted. We don't want her. We want him.

End of the Clinton Era, of the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, the politics of personal destruction and a divided Nation.

Obama...Next President of the United States.

[patapsco99]

It never stops, if you repeat it enough it still doesn't become true. Go ahead Dorthy click you heals three times, maybe you will return from Fantasy land. Look master, The plane, the plane. ohhhh too funny. I am on a roll tonight.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

heals?

[arvada]

are you a meatball?

[HopeGirl]

Bitter...Your table for 1 is ready...back in the corner, by the kitchen, don't the door hit you in the ....ooops sorry to late.

That had to hurt.

[AdLib]

Talk about delusional, your posts are so poor you have to laugh at them all by yourself and compliment yourself for being so "funny".

Pathetic...but it IS funny.

[groucho]

since you're tapped into reality, do some math. she can't win. it's mathematically impossible. so you click your heels and try to wish hillary would put an end to this. otherwise, check out what happened last time the dems has this problem. NIXON WON>go hillary

[neocon43]

Tell us about the Obama real change.Thats the change that will doom him in th general!

[HumeSkeptic]

Huh?

[KarenJW]

The real change will be from BUSH to McCAIN. YEAH THAT'S REAL CHANGE....................
CHANGE THAT WILL FURTHER PERPETUATE THE IMPENDING DOOM OF A RECESSION RIDDEN AMERICA.

[DotsieD]

Just when I thought our democratic society was going to be restored (SIGH).....

[MikeB08]

Politico reports that Reid's office says he was only reiterating what he has said many times before, nothing more. And that Pelosi's office said she has no plans to write a letter. Yet this is still the big headline at Huffpo.

[IntelligentDesign]

Hillary should be required to submit a paper showing how she intends to win the nomination against all odds - if the party elders see merit in her argument then she stays, if they do not then she goes.

[Dragon5616]

And it should be typed, double spaced, and in Times New Roman 12 pt. type.

[BeamMeUpScotty]

Oooooooooh, a letter.

[ClutchCargo]

Don't under estimate these three. They mean business. I wouldn't be surprised if they peppered the letter with words like "heck" and "so is your old man!"

[HumeSkeptic]

Laced with anthrax.

[Dajo]

Dean has the right to intervene. He is the elected leader of our party. Pelosi and Reid have a right to their own opinions but no authority to intervene.
I respect Pelosi's opinins whether I agree with them or not. Reid is a different story. IMO, he is not a good leader. He is too quick to cave in to Bush and the republicans. We need a better leader in the Senate.

[Dragon5616]

Dang. All this time I thought the House Dems elected Pelosi Speaker and the Senate Dems elected Reid Majority Leader. Guess I was wrong.

[GeorgeShieman]

Christine Pelosi, SuperDelegate..,HuffingtonPost blogger:

"Many of us {SuperDelegates}..are elected by the grassroots of the party.., and I cannot imagine going home in November to those people and try to phone bank for someone who did not capture the {pledged delegate}..vote; we were all galvanized by what happened to Al Gore in Florida."

The Clintons told us that they'd have this thing wrapped up after SuperTuesday., believing that they'd have all the pledged delegates that Obama now has. Now that he has managed a much better campaign than the Clintons, a campaign that respected all voters, even in small states and in the caucuses, now the Clintons are complaining about the process.... a process that they helped establish..that they used to their benefit....

If the tables were turned..and the lovable Clintons sat in the position with pledged delegates that Obama sits in now...they would be saying that the math meant that they should be the nominee.
What if the lovable Clintons had won the high pledged delegate count..and twice as many states votes.. and if Obama now said.., "Hey, the SuperDelegates should 'take' it away from them."

Why Bill would be frothing at the mouth..he already is most of the time..and Hillary'd be having an elitest fit...She'd be getting mighty bitter.. ..the Clintons are showing fear..showing that they are desparadoes..desparate. Frankly, their pleadings to bend the rules..is Despicable."

George Shieman [e-mail]

[patapsco99]

yeah whats your point. Pelosi is a rabid liberal.

[Dragon5616]

Yeah, I saw her foaming at the mouth just today. Sheesh.

[shockmagog]

Yes, "flaming" by fascist standards.

[going2ireland]

Christine Pelosi had it right when, in discussing this, she did not just refer to the candidate as "she", but as "they".

[HumeSkeptic]

Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean May Intervene In Dem Primary
----------
I'm more concerned about China intervening in our general election by stopping the production of U.S. flag pins, thereby instantly converting all of us to un-Americans and writing-in Reverend Wright for President.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Heh!

[patapsco99]

Good argument, I will be sure to tell Obama to use that one in his next speech. You Obama supporters are starting to hear the truth because you have no more lies to spout.

[AdLib]

We've stopped reporting what Hillary says?

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

Were you to ever make it into the Obama inner circle we would hear about it on the news.

"Secret Service tackles deranged..."

[HopeGirl]

what lie was that?

I did not have sex with that woman or I landed under sniper fire or I am against NAFTA or I did not know I authorized Bush to go to war or I am only 10 million in debt or I have more popular votes or ....

[Kalima]

That's funny! LOL!

[CarlsV]

LOL

I've converted my fishing lure smelting ability into an emergency flag pin production facility!
.

[HumeSkeptic]

You can never be to cautious.

[HopeGirl]

Before we go to write in Rev Wright, some of us may stop off at Starbucks for a quick latte, low fat, milk with chi tea whatever and while standing in line we will bump into an older white guy with a beard and hoody, making us an accessory to a crime the old guy committed in the 60s.

Anarchy.

[HumeSkeptic]

I just ordered his book. I read about Ayres and I kind of liked the guy. I want to know a bit more about him.

But it looks like that Obama just casually knows him. He is a Distiguished Professor of Education at University of Illinois, Chcago. If you hear the Right Wingers, you would think he is either homeless or sitting in sone prison cell somewhere.

That guy is no terrorist. I wish there were more like him today.

[RussT]

Hillary Clinton should not be forced out of this race! This is a travesty! Democrats who demand that Hillary resign from the race are not true Democrats! We believe in fairness and equality for all! Stick to that credo and support Hillary's right to run until the convention!

How dare they treat this great woman like an old shoe! I condemn them if they do this!

[RedKnuckles]

Why should they treat an old shoe like a great woman? oops sorry...dyslexia...

[AdLib]

Actually, I wasn't treating Hillary like an old shoe. I like old shoes, their comfortable, unpretentious, reliable, are there to serve me and most of all, they know how to run without damaging me.

I see Hillary as more like an old pit bull that has one thing on her mind and will do whatever it takes to get what it wants, even if it means biting the hand that feeds it.

[taylorskid]

Did Hilary believe in fairness when her gang went to court to change the rules in Las Vegas?

Did Hillary belive in fairness when she called Obama an "elitist"?

Did Hillary believe in fairness when she lied repeatedly about 'sniper fire?

There's nothing fair about Hillary and never will be.

[going2ireland]

"How dare they treat this great woman like an old shoe!"

If the old shoe fits . . . . .

[DotsieD]

I totally agree that this should be fair and square and should go to the convention. It shoulod be decided there if necessary, but for the right condidate. It should not be decided by the three top Dems demanding this and that. That is showing the decline of democracy.

[patapsco99]

Actually, all the new polls say Hillary is gaining over McCain in the major battleground states. Obama is losing to Mccain in Ohio. no president has every won an election without winning Ohio. Guess who is beating McCain in Ohio, Hillary!

Who put the dogs out (now picture Pelosi, Reid and Dean on all fours looking through a window at the white house barking to get in.

[BlueStateMan]

The "polls" don't mean squat (just ask Howard Dean & Ned Lamont).

Ohio fudged the results of the '04 tally.

[patapsco99]

looool, haaaaaa, I have never laughed so hard blueman. Why do you even vote if it is all fixed.

[RedKnuckles]

You're following the wrong polls...those with the potential general election matchups are flopping all over the place....stick to the primary polls and keep your sanity..

[going2ireland]

In this campaign year, all the usual norms are out the window. Nothing is going as have been in the past campaign years.

[puffhost]

I can think of a few things more important for them to take a leadership role in then pushing superdelegates. Oh wait, "Impeachment is off the table". Never mind.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

67

[Dragon5616]

Senators

[CarlsV]

And a super majority in the house too.

Time to expand the SCOTUS!

[Star2000dancer]

The Republicans changed the rules in Florida & Michigan. They are 2 big states! They own Florida in the election. It was Florida that got them in office both times. And now they are using it ot create discord amongst Dems. And If these states don't count for us, McCain gets those state, & Dems lose again. Get it? Wer'e being tricked.