Obama Forgets To Ask Donors To Help With Clinton's Debt

NEW YORK — It was all part of a careful arrangement: Democrat Barack Obama would get fundraising help from his erstwhile rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in exchange for his help retiring about $10 million of her campaign debt.

But Obama momentarily forgot his part of the deal at a major New York fundraiser Wednesday night, forcing him to retake the stage after he had concluded the event and said goodnight to the audience.

The Illinois senator spoke to about 1,000 donors in a Manhattan ballroom, all of whom had paid at least $1,000 to attend. Many were Clinton supporters until she dropped out of the race last month.

Obama praised the former first lady as tough and smart. "She wore me out," he said to laughs.

The Democratic nominee-in-waiting then wrapped up his speech and thanked the audience, moving to shake hands along a rope line.

After a minute or so, the music was cut short and Obama returned to the stage.

"This is not the speech part, but it is important," he said sheepishly, urging the group to reassemble.

"Senator Clinton still has some debt, and I could have had some debt if I hadn't won. So I know the drill," Obama said, encouraging donors to use the forms under their seats to make a contribution to help her.

"It's very important to us, and obviously Senator Clinton will be grateful as well," Obama said.

Things went a bit more smoothly a few blocks down Park Avenue, where Clinton introduced Obama at a smaller fundraiser that netted about $4.1 million for the joint Obama/Democratic National Committee Victory Fund.

"Whatever brings us here tonight I hope is understood to be not only unifying but transcendent," Clinton told the 125 major donors.

Obama, in turn, echoed Clinton's call for unity.

"With just half a wing this bird can't fly," he said.

The two flew together to New York from Washingtonfor the fundraising swing and were to appear together at a breakfast Thursday morning. An event to help Clinton with her campaign debt was canceled because of Senate votes in Washington.

Comments

[XME]

I also went to her site and donated on the day they did the Unity rally. I'm sure it's not on the top of his list when it comes to everything he's trying to acheive, but he DID go back and ask folks. I didn't plan to give to her, but I felt she's made a very real effort to work for him, and I didn't expect her to follow through.

[chosenson]

Folks also consider this. If Obama had lost the nomination, we, his supporters would have retired his debt by now.

Clinton had 18 million supporters who urged her to stay in the race. They encouraged her to rack up this $20 million in debt and then abandoned her with that debt. HillaryClinton.com is still an active website with a huge "contribute" button beneath a message asking for relief from her debt. If HALF of the Clintonites (9 million) donated $3 per person - her debt would be wiped out.

What Clinton has not told Obama grassroots supporters is this: how much money has she collected so far, how much more is needed, and to what charity does she plan contribute excess funds in the event that donations exceed her outstanding debt. We are poor working-class people. Hardworking, with bills to pay, children to feed, and pain at the pump.

[leftoflennon]

LOL

He shouldnt help her with a red cent.

[suigeneris]

Is this seriously a story?

[bogues]

I think Sen. Obama is being gracious in trying to help Sen. Clinton retire her campaign debt. I do not understand the anger coming from those who supported her. I think it is a mistake for them to appear together anywhere because, everytime they do, her supporters once again start acting like spoiled children and are hurting the Dem. party. I have no desire to help her retire her debt because she new for many weeks that she had lost the nomination but she kept going, dragging her supporters with her, running up more debt and now she is hurting the party again by more or less blackmailing him into having to raise money for her. She lost, he won and we all have to accept it and work together to get him elected.

[HowietheScreamer]

It's not her supporters... it's Operation Chaos.

[DTGB]

you obviously dont know anything about politics, maybe you should read up on some primary history. Start with how Ted is blamed for Carter's loss to Reagan.

[4today]

true colors? i believe we are beginning to see them....so many experienced good democrats - and you picked the guy with the training wheels. stupid is as stupid does!!

[ouroborous]

Well, you know, I'm not a fan of Obama since the FISA flip flop.

But, in fairness, this was just a simple mistake. I'm not so sure why it's news.

[LucieLee]

You are kidding right? *laugh* This is one of the more endearing qualities about Barack Obama....he is actually human...imagine that! It never ceases to amaze me how the media can take something so trivial and make it a headline. It is demeaning to Obama supporters and donors to even have to consider paying off a debt of a candidate we don't support, and a debt that, this candidate herself has made...even whe it was quite apparent back in Feb. that she wasn't going to be the nominee. And it is equally demeaning to see Hillary Clinton have to grabble to her supporters too.

[lady49]

You know what guys, Senator Clinton has a soft spot in her heart for Senator Obama. Senator Obama made a comment that left him completely venerable to attack--Senator Clinton turned to him and she "started to get him", but she backed off. She choose instead to push her agenda regarding health care.
Penn started pushing her to 'go negative'- : Senator Clinton needs to say to the world-
1) I was WRONG to say that Senator Obama could not meet the threshold for Presidency. He is a brilliant man who loves this country!!
2) I should NEVERhave listened to those advisors who insisted that I suggest that Senator McCain was more capable of being President than Senator Obama.
3) I was WRONG to list historical events which may have given the impression that I was suggesting that something awful should/could happen to him.
then-Former President Bill Clinton should say to the world-
1) Right after the New Hampshire primary, I should have admitted that I was WRONG to suggest that
Senator Obama's voting record could not be distinguished from Senator Clintons'-I should have NEVER called this idea a "FAIRYTALE".
2) my S.C. comments only made matters worse.
3) Senator Obama is a strong patriot who will defend this nation with honor.

Then and only then can the healing process become a 50/50 proposition.
I would remind everyone that we have about 6 weeks to get this together. How much healing time does everybody want??

[closetodemfection]

You know what? She doesn't owe him anything. He's totally disrespecting her. Him "forgetting" to mention her debt and this fundraiser is an outrage.

[olivia]

He doesn't owe her anything. Her debt is hers. The audacity of her belief that he owes it to her to get her debt paid is an outrage.

One would think she would have more pride than that.

[eden4barack08]

By the same logic, he doesn't owe her anything either.

[emmav70]

You know what's outrageous ?

Boasting about 18 million votes and being in debt the same time .

where the hell are you guys ? All 18 mil of you ?

Pathetic !

[eden4barack08]

I agree. When they're just one on one, Obama brings out the best in her, he's so kind to her she actually smiles genuinely. I've seen so many pictures of the two of them, before things got really bad, and she just looks like deep down, she thinks the world of him. She was so ill advised by her campaign. It's a shame.

And agree too, she should publicly say those things, at least in counter the ads the RNC is going to make using all her attacks of Obama. They're probably waiting 'till after the convention to put them out.

[bodo]

Keep on dreaming. Bill Clinton is like an elephant -- he never forgets or forgives. He is totally involved with himelf. He is mad his well-laid plans for a third term in the White House did not work out, and he is mad he has lost his 16-year chairmanship of the Democratic party. Everything is only about him.
Hillary is different. She is a true politician. She will move on and do what is right for her party. Of course they are a power couple who did work well together, but people should never think that makes them exactly the same.

[lthuedk 1]

What if Obama wants assurance from the top that there will be unbridled support from the Clintons?

Otherwise, why pay for sabotage?

http://www.light-to-dark.com/the_clintons.html

[juevosrancheros]

Slow news day?

[olivia]

Some of these articles are manufactured only so that the writer can get their name on the net.

[pitneo]

What we don't seem to realize is Obama is human just like the rest of us. He forgets just like the rest of us. He is not perfect just like the rest of us.

And he was trying to be cordial to Clinton because he's a gentleman. You cannot deny that fact because he's expressed his gentlemanly ways throughout the entire campaign. So he forgot, big deal.

[TroubleNYC]

I'd like the author to explain how he said something "sheepishly".

Bias much?

[LeftLeanWing]

** all of whom had paid at least $1,000 to attend. Many were Clinton supporters until she dropped out of the race last month.
**

Assuming this to be true; wouldn't most of Clinton supporters, who could afford to pay $1000.00 for an event like this, have maxed out on what they can contribute to a her primary campaign already ?


I personally think Obama should help Bob Barr raise some cash too.

[debwarot]

Good point.

[olivia]

Dumb headline. I don't think he forgot - he just got a call from her people.

I think less of him for continuing to pander to them.

[VSamuels]

Once again, the corporate media fails to understand the nuance of what is Barrack Obama. He didn't forget this important fact, it was merely the style of a gifted man who in perfect Columbo form, walks away after acheiving his goal: getting his donors in a fever pitch first; then coming back and using a subtle approach to ask them to do something which they probably do not want to do.

This same corporate media had been playing up the words of some Obama supporters all day, yet they then believe Obama would be able to make a direct appeal first when it is been them who have been driving a wedge story to sensationalize the perceived gulf between Obama and the Clintons. By down playing the matter, Obama was simply taking the wind out of an opportunity for booing when he mentioned the subject; something this same media was hoping to report.

If one reads Obama's books, his behavior is consistent with how he deflates controversy and moves his point across without demanding it. The twits in the media are only equaled by the many twits here pretending to be Obama supporters.