Tension In Unity: Clinton Donors Give Obama Cold Shoulder

Clinton and Obama were upbeat at a meeting with top Clinton donors last night. "I know my supporters have extremely strong feelings, and I know Barack's do as well," Clinton said. "But we are a family, and we have an opportunity now to really demonstrate clearly we do know what's at stake, and we will do whatever it takes to win back this White House."

But the people they were there to win over were less enthused, according to ABC News:

One major Clinton donor described it this way: "This felt like when your mom forces you to go visit your Aunt Ida and she has to pinch your cheeks and you're sitting there in an uncomfortable suit and you can't wait to leave."

Another Clinton-leaning person who was in the room said after the meeting wrapped up that there is still "a lot of anger" toward Obama among Clinton's wealthiest fans.

"It was pretty bad," this source said. He said donors were joking that the scene was like "an Irish wake" and that you "could cut the air with a knife" it was so tense in the room.

After the press left, donors pressed Obama with questions about Clinton's role -- including whether he would make her his vice presidential nominee.

After the meeting, Clinton and Obama flew to a rally in Unity, New Hampshire -- their first public campaign appearance together.

Comments

[jadez]

old bill must realize that like grandpa mccain they are both yesterday.

he wont so you see all this self-importance.

period.

[Gatormouth]

Please distinguish between "Clinton Donors" and "Clinton Supporters" Many of the bigger "Clinton Donors" are Corporate in origin. You wouldn't expect them to gravitate to a Populist candidate, would you? Take a look at new increases in Obama's small donors for a truer picture.

[partyofone]

What's with Hillary's demand that Obama help pay her irresponsible campaign debt. She chose to spend more money on a doomed campaign than her supporters were willing to contribute. Is McCain raising money to payback what Romney spent on his campaign? The Clintons are mega-millionaires too. I don't get why someone else must pay Hillary's debts?

[jrterrier]

ok, here is the alternative. hillary continues on the stump holding campaign finance events to raise funds to pay off her primary debt. what do you think about that?

[WendellPerrySociety]

Simple message to Hillary voters - "THROW BARACK UNDER THE BUS IN 2008 AND IF HE LOSES, THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WILL THROW HILLARY UNDER THE BUS IN 2012 OR ANY OTHER VIABLE WHITE FEMALE WHO RUNS IN THE NEAR FUTURE" - get over it, no democratic candidate can win the presidency without the white female vote or --- the African American vote, so unless you want an eye for eye situation where only the rethuglicans win - then get over this and get behind Obama. PS - If you want a scapegoat blame Mark Penn and all of his wacky microanalysis.

[pleeezzze]

Wendell....2012 is NOT what THIS election is about, so please save yourself the trouble of trying to blackmail anyone TODAY !
Actually the Blame for the selection of the nominee, lies directly with the DNC , and if they think it's worth a loss to choose for the voters ,So be it !

[Pupster]

The DNC? I could've sworn the primary voters decided.

Such interesting delusions floating around here...

[jrterrier]

it won't happen. because as the DEM leaders and pundits tell us, in the end, African-Americans are Dems and will vote DEM; after all they won't want to lose the right to have abortions and to have a Republican win the presidency.

at least, that's their reasoning when asked whether hillary supporters will end up backing obama.

[catzoned]

2012 is a bit off to be too worried about when we haven't secured 2008 yet. However, I have read that Hillarys entire political career would get derailed if Obama loses. It's hard to predict the future, especially in politics. Who would guessed that McCain would make a return and actually get somewhere. People can hold a grudge, that much we know is true and sometimes the blame doesn't land where it should.

[SEQUOIABISON]

A non-story, time to move on with the unity message. We have already completed the bickering stage of the democratic primaries we are now in the general election phase where McCain is the enemy not the Clintons.

[partyofone]

Can we end the Bush-Rove-Clinton "politics is war", my opponent is my enemy and must be destroyed, devision and destuction? Obama won the nomination on the high road, and the Clintons lost using Republican tactics. I think Obama can win the White House on the high road, but not by embracing the Clintons and their mean-brand of politics.

[Rmtns]

I guess you missed the panties in a wad from Will Bower and the other Repuglicken ilk.

[jcwtts1]

Hire Terry McAuluife... I know he comes off as funny and loose but he is a tough guy. Get him on board, pay him a consulting fee and tell him to get these jokers in line. Did anyone else see the article where they talk about a permanent shift to the right in the court.... seriously folks the supremes call the tune here. A right leaning court is a dangerous thing.

[catzoned]

Ugh, Terry is one of reasons I did not support Hillary. He helped to sink her ship, especially after Super Tuesday.

[patmancando]

I really don't think the Supremes have very much weight in this election......a principle is a principle, and I for one don't want the Dems. to be as corrupt as the GOPhers.

[smoo]

LISTEN.

There is a big difference between donors and extortionist.

Clinton"s financial debt is dollar cents to many of these people. This is about who controls the candidate. Here donors and deeply concerned that "they" will not be pulling Obama's strings. Of course they are mad as hell. Unlike us, they really don't care about a whether a democrat or republican gets into office; these HRC donors care only about their "access." Obama is a threat to their access. Surely Bill has much to do with this situation.

Given his past and recent history, Bill probably has had favors and crony deals lined up for the last 2 years. Bill was already good, but after traveling the world in high places "with-out" the attention and formal title as "President" ; Bill Clinton learned the true tricks of the game. All he needed was keys to the Whitehouse. While his wife works and receives all the attention, he would be somewhere cheating not just with woman but peddling influence.

He is no different the Cheny and Bush. After the first hiest, they realized how much more the could have gotten. So all they needed was another shot.

[NOLAMoCity]

Love your post! Period.

[partyofone]

Perceptive analysis, very well stated.

It is also disturbing that the Clintons and their cronies are pulling another fleece by trying to stick Obama with the tab for Hillary's self-indulgent, crony enriching, divisive and failed presidential campaign. She was arrogant and irreponsible in her spending, and should cover her debt out of her own HUGE bank account. Obama should not be distracted for one more minute by the Clintons and their over-sized, very needy egos.

[patmancando]

Do you for a minute don't think a black Illinois legislator, who had a meteoric rise
in politics, doesn't owe a lot of people big time.? He has been pushed, sponsored and paid for by the Chicago Daley machine with it's booster Rezco, Axelrod, Ayers, Wright and even Durbin to enter this race to make sure HRC does not become the next POTUS. He's into the political machine and owes that machine for his viability.

[patmancando]

" these HRC donors care only about their "access."

Clinton's big money donors just may not like the way the 0. campaign was run against Clinton, with the use of the race card, the sexism from the MSM and Obama's surrogates, and the DNC/DNC rules committee/ top position Dems in Congress. They write a letter to Pelosi and crew during the campaign complaining about the Democratic party bias against Clinton. About her debt, if they were not maxed out they would pay it in a heartbeat. It is Obama who needs her big donors to run this 50 state strategy.....he already has had two ads running in red states...........that is gonna take big bucks.........multi millions......more than his small Internef donors can give.

BTW; 0 already has a big list of "assess seeking big donors" who will be there to collect favors.

[JiminNC]

Two people cited are a movement? Two turds ARE a bowel movement so I guess it could be assumed ...

Anyway, give them directions to McDoiks campaign headquarters. Losers of a feather ...

[patmancando]

That's BS and makes little sense!

BTW: What you see in 0 is not what you will get. This is one big con job!

[aicon]

wake up and see that if you are divided you only play into Karl Rove game. If we act divided, they can better manipulate. divided we fail. is that simple. if Clintons supporter don't realize that Obama is going to change much more of Washington, then they deserve another 4 years of Bush.

5$ for gas, no health insurance, Global warming out of control and no end in sight. The war is only mean to be sustained, not won, like Vietnam. Wake up people. or keep paying yourself to poverty.

[several]

This article cites "One major Clinton donor" and "Another Clinton-leaning person" as 'sources.'

And this amounts to "Tensions" and a "cold shoulder"?

Gimme a break the size of New Hampshire.

Why were these 'sources' not named? Why can we not research their history to find out whether they're actually republican operatives sent in to make things seem more 'tense' than they are?

Put on your critical thinking caps folks. "Silly season" is in full swing.

[partyofone]

There are many many other sources citing similar statements from other Clinton loyalists and Bill himself.

Democrats and American citizens generally need to ask why, when we face the most important presidential election in 50 years, so much time, energy, dollars and distraction is being focused on pacifying the Clintons? They have traded on their "public service" to become mega-millionaires. They receive tax supported salaries, benefits and pensions that cover every basic cost and keep them in luxury. They chose to run a strategtically flawed, hugely expensive, badly managed, primary campaign with Rove-style tactics that bitterly divided Democrats at the very time they must be unified.

The Clintons have become a MAJOR liability for the party and the nation. If they really want to serve their nation, they should step off stage and disappear until after November, and ideally, much longer than that.

Enough of the self-serving Clintons.

[patmancando]

"This article cites "One major Clinton donor" and "Another Clinton-leaning person" as 'sources.'

This sure is a lesson in the different set of rules the koolaid drinkers have for 0 and what they have for anything Clinton. You all were so anxious to believe that story about Bill being in a snit and wanting 0 to kiss his arse for his support............ran in a British Rag and had no actual people quoted........just unnamed sources. Do you see how you treat information differently depending upon whether it is pro or con for the Clintons and your beloved messiah.?

[synthfiend]

Personally, I think that Hillary ran up this debt on purpose as one last little FU to Obama for beating her especially when it was damn near mathematically impossible for her to win because she knew Obama would have to help her pay her debt. So I'm not surprised that her donors are exactly the same way. Just to stick it to the guy who beat their girl they won't even help to get her out of the hole. Like attracts like I suppose.

[partyofone]

Can someone please explain why Obama is responsible for helping Hillary with her debt? He has a major campaign to win.

Hillary is a mega-millionaire, who could cover her debt easily. $110 million less $22 million = $88 million. That isn't exactly poverty level. And Bill is raking in more every week.

Hillary has 18 million adoring supporters the vast majority of whom have not maxed out on contributions. Why aren't they helping?

Hillary chose to run up her debt for months, paying huge salaries to incompetent staff and advisors, when it was clear she could not win. Expecting Obama to foot the bill is ridiculous.

It sounds like Hillary is doing what the Clintons do best: SELLING INFLUENCE. She is saying, "I will support Obama if I get $22 million, $10 million of which goes into my personal bank account." Bribery, blackmail, extortion, quid pro quo, dirty politics as usual?

Heaven protect us from the Clintons.

[patmancando]

There are several things that you 0's tend to forget.....0 is the presumptuous nominee, and he is only leading because of S.D.s, and they were put in place to insure the most electable candidate is the nominee. With all the flip-flip-flops in the last week, the gaffes, senior moments, and the teleprompter-less debates and/or Town Halls haven't even started. People are beginning to wonder if what they thought they were buying is real or just a con.

[Oldbuck]

If ABC news told me it was dark I would put on my shades if anyone believes anything that ABC has to say about anything their in bad shape. I would say it not as important to Obama as it is to Clinton he not 20 Millon in the hole.

[Susanfrom29]

Amen. If flag pins are that important to ABC, their concern for the poor Clinton "leaning" donors must be astronomical.

[Rmtns]

Doesn't ABC stand for Always Behind Clinton?

[patmancando]

Oh, but he has a very expensive campaign planned and his big buck donors are all maxed out.....as is hers. Hillary's can't pay off her debt, which they would probably do if they could, but they can donate to Obama. BUT 0's big bucks donors (and you thought your $25 Internet donations financed his campaign?) are maxed out and can't donate anymore to him, but they can to Hillary. I would say in the scheme of things, 0 stands to make big bucks from Hillary's donors if the choose to donate to him.

BTW, he is already running two TV ads in 18 red states, and that takes big bucks.

[WFV]

It's time to leave both the losers in the dust.

Move on now - the cheesy photo op has been accomplished, the call to offset debt has been accomplished, the wardrobe coordinated love fest has been accomplished.

Now it's time to work on the general election and leave the ball and chain (and all their issues) behind.

[monique]

That's right -- just keep it up with the rude, arrogant attitude.

Turn people away from your candidate.

U - N - I - T - Y. Do you understand the concept? Why don't you put a sock in it every time you feel compelled to post such insulting remarks please.

[patmancando]

How silly of you. Al Gore made that mistake, as did Kerry. You don't think Obama needs them in a big way? He knows it!

[genia]

Who cares? Why is anyone giving them credibility by giving these people attention ? Oh well, let's move on....we have a friggin election to win here. Eye on the ball and all that......
They only have a voice if we give it to them.......don't pay them no mind and they will either fall in line or...fade away. They just aren't that large a number. If we give them attention..they will grow in number.
Clinton created this mess......she needs to snap to it and do what she needs to do here. Supporters now feel cheated ?......by who? Barack didn't cheat, Hill did. She fed them this bull about winning the popular vote...NOT True...hello !!
she helped organize republican mischief....she ....just that entire campaign, the kitchen sink....ugh...the cries of sexism..just the entire experience has me so turned off on the Clintons.
Nothing is their fault..ever...I'm sick of it. If there are people who ar now giving Barack a hard time...it's her fault, she shouild try and undo the damage she's done.

[statsguy]

Genia, do you have any evidence that "she helped organize republican mischief?" I am not aware of that, and I think you are just making undocumented assertions because you don't want to believe that two great Americans, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are talking and cooperating now.

"It's her fault" and she "should try and undo the damage." What else is there to do but hold unity events and campaign for him? For someone who is doing what you are asking for, you still seem pretty grumpy. Celebrate, your candidate won! And people are getting along. If Obama and Clinton are getting along, why can't the rest of us?

[StephenJK]

You're full of it. and you have no clue what you're talking about. Do us a favor and stay off these internets and blogs thingies.

[pleeezzze]

...but but but , they read it on hufnpuf , so it simply Must be true !

[Pupster]

You should take your own advice.

[patmancando]

great post!, StephenJK Forgive the Children, they know not what they are doing!

[CallMeDeaconBlues]

Sort of like a tablespoon of ipecac.