Dems Went Out Of Their Way To Put Clinton's Voice In DNC Platform

Marc Ambinder:

The Obama campaign appointed Michael Yaki, a lawyer and former member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, to be their national platform director.

In a phone interview today, Yaki said that the platform drafters went out of their way to bridge the differences that "divided the Clinton and Obama campaigns," on planks like health care, "we included the voice of Sen. Clinton on the issues that she cared about." Yaki points to the inclusion of phrases like the "Sandwich generation," which Clinton used to refer to adults talking care of both their children and their parents, and "the invisibles," the phrase Clinton used to refer to structural deficits in the economy that rendered Americans invisible to government statistics and government programs.

Read the whole story: Marc Ambinder

Comments

[AbbieXHoffman]

"out of their way".

Whatever you need to tell yourself. Dems didn't go "out of their way". NOT putting her on the agenda would be "going out of their way" to slap 18 million in the face.

[JBS]

Dems Went Out Of Their Way To Put Clinton's Voice In DNC Platform

Good. They should have.

[WFV]

Although I do not see any real problem allowing her input when drafting the platform, needing to 'go out of their way' to appease her need for attention is pretty pathetic. Take her input, but do with it what best suits the vision of the winning campaign.

[mergina]

And they went out of their way to send the WRONG CANDIDATE up against the republican slime machine. Obama is so going to lose this election.

[MRb1000]

Why do we have to go out of our way to satisfy two people that are selfish people.

[MBryant]

As well they should. I've never been a big Hillary backer - but she obviously connects with some constituencies well that Obama does less well - like white rural voters, women, blue collar workers. The parties are marketing organizations, not just for the Presidential nominees but for candidates in many down ticket races. Hillary Clinton helps that marketing effort. ...She has star power and the party must be big enough for many stars (not just the super-nova). I hope Obama doesn't muzzle her or edit her speech. Show the diverse voices and big tent. She should point out where she disagrees with Obama - even where his weaknesses are - but explain that the alternative - a McCain Presidency is a prospect that must be avoided. This will have appeal to some voters who would be put off by a coronation - a four day annointment of the perfect messianic candidate.

[olivia]

Those are the falsehoods her campaign has perpetuated!

Obama connects well with everyone. She took exit poll statistics where she had like 5% more votes in some constituency in some primary and declared him to have a PROBLEM with those people.

Obama is going to be everyone's president.

Every woman I know is supporting Obama.

[MBryant]

"Connects with everyone... ..going to be everyone's President"?

I like the guy too, but maybe Olivia should slow down on the kool-aid..

Yes, we need the votes of those who are not passionate about Obama.
It needs to be change you can be skeptical about too.

[PumaAnn]

Nobody I know would EVER talk to you if they weren't voting for him.

You're scary.

LOL*

[heal57]

..including this woman....and my husband too.

[PumaAnn]

She is less important than her message.

That is her power.

it's NOT Hillary.

That is what those of us love about her message.

I'll never be an O fan. He's too much about him.

I am done, with the Edwards and O and Kennedy men.

I was so ready for someone willing to NOT be important.

She wore pantsuits and wasn't fancy and I loved it.

[MRb1000]

This is not her party. It is Barack Obama celebration. Remember she lost and she need to be a gracious loser. So if Bill and Hillary do not behave they will become a negative foot note in history.

[Seattlelite]

"Hillary should point out where she disagrees with Obama and his weaknesses " --- you must be joking!! LOL -- Oh my god, MBryant don't quite your day job.

[sudzy]

It seems to me that a good number of Senator Obama's supporters have graduated from college and are on their way to successful careers. I am sure they have watched all the debates and are well informed on the issues. They remind me of my generation from the sixties. JFK was running for president. and we were excited about the furure. He was an amazing man, well traveled and worldly due to his father being an ambassador. That being said, I find it astounding that this new generation is unaware of the history of politics. JFK won the presidency with less than 50 percent of the total votes but was one of the best public servants this country ever had. That being said, senator Obama is no JFK. He does not have the experience or the world view that JFK possessed. I find him lacking the ability to run this country. He has no ideas of his own, he borrows them from others. Now if you were really paying attention, you would know this. How does it feel to be voting for Hillary in an Obama disguise?

[happypup]

A good number of Senator Obama's supporters are, like myself, more mature and have experienced the excitement and changes of the sixties firsthand. Many of us are also knowledgeable about the politics of history and find it astounding that you have the audacity to pass your viewpoint off as anything other than a personal opinion. That being said, I would agree that Obama is no JFK. He is, however, everything to today that JFK was in his time. The only question is whether Obama's presidency will be as well remembered as JFK's and that is a question will only be answered 50 years from now. If you were really paying attention and capable of moving past the fact that Hillary Clinton lost the nomination, you would know this. How does it feel to be so stuck in the past?

[dajay]

I rather be stuck in the past with presidents like JFK and BIll Clinton, than watching our future to men like Obama and McCain and Bush, that's for sure.

[Sabreen60]

You aSSuMe too much. I'm a product of the 60's and I am proud to support O-b-a-m-a. That being said, JFK was not saint. He ran women through the WH a mile a minute. However, he was the most inspirational leader that we have had in my lifetime, IMO.

No one else on the scene today has inspired people of all ages as has Sen. O-b-a-m-a. If you want to delude yourself into believing that he is C.linton, then please remain deluded.

[genia]

Well Sudsy....the Kennedy family would disagree with you.....your strong words seems to indicate that you know better then they do ...lol
I'm mature....I'm for Obama.
Hey...my mom is very mature...she's in her 70's...she's for Obama..so is my mother in law.....
want me to go on? I got more.......

[Bettysdad]

The "experience" issue was concocted out of whole cloth long before Mrs. Bill Clinton had announced her candidacy.

It was dreamt up because, her advisors felt, she had nothing else to offer actual Progressives who were fed up with the DLC and her husband's Republican-lite.

It was not meant to be an attack on Obama, as he was not yet in the race.

It's all she got, and she used it smartly to convince a lot of ignorant people that experience matters more than vision.

No one has a better resume than Dick Cheney.

Jesus was a pretty young guy with no experience, but some OK ideas, don't you think?

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"No one has a better resume than Dick Cheney."

yep and and that's a perfect example of how "experience" doesn't automatically mean "better."

agreed with your entire post, but it's that one line that ought to make people think twice.

[yallerdog]

Slick pol is one thing, leadership is another. Kennedy played the 'Aristocrat' to the hilt, Bush the 'Good Ole Boy' and now Obama the 'Rock Star', with a slick PR machine, a acquiescent media and of course the True Believers blind to the obvious contradictions of their hero. But actual experience was missing. What did we get from the first two? nuclear brinkmanship with one and jihad with the other!
Hillary has demonstrated the traits of a true leader: experience, knowledge and understanding - too bad its all about style over substance.

[Jamchinadian]

Yours is an ad hominem attack typical of the wrong wing - which is where you clearly reside. The truth is, both Clinton and McCain tried, clumsily, to copy Obama's approach, to the extent of copying his words and policies. McCain has been particularly shameless in this regard.

Would you prefer McCain's dumbed-down, sexist - offering up his wife to enter a biker strip contest for example, cavalier, smirking, cynical, deceitful style then?

He is not JFK, but he doesn't have to be. He is an intelligent, caring, reflective, innovative leader in his own right. If you prefer the dumbed-down variety, then Obama is not for you.

[yallerdog]

Oh! Obama is doing SO MUCH to please the truculent Clintons. Yeah, right. Obama is to UNITY as BUSH is to COMPASSION.
So bogus.

[dajay]

So bogus. So phony. Such hypocrisy coming out of that guy's mouth and his campaign everday.

I don't know what is worse, listening to him or dopey McCain.

Dumb and Dumber for President

[gapanther]

Dumb and Dumber for President -Hil & Bil arent running anymore!

[olivia]

What do you call inviting them both to speak at the convention? It will be a virtual Clinton marathon. Do you think they would have done that for any of the also-rans?

There is no pleasing you people. He's been far too gracious already. It only makes Clintons take the grace for granted and feel entitled to more.

[WFV]

Agreed. Completely.

[Cherlesq]

It's a shame she made it so difficult so one had to "go out of their way" to include her. And, yet it stilll will not be enough for her, and Bill.

[PJay1]

I'm afraid you're right.
It seems like nothing will ever be good enough.

We saw how they kept moving the goal post during the campaign.
Classic narcissistic entitlement.

[Seattlelite]

The Clinton's and PUMA's have made it pretty clear that nothing short of O bowing out and crowing their Queen will be to their satisfaction. And we know that's not going to happen so no there is no pleasing them. They've already managed to ruin this convention with their threats and childish behavior. Instead of excitement surrounding what should be a happy historic convention it's been non stop drama. If the Clinton's or their PUMA's show their A$$es at that convention and ruin it, I'm going to work my A$$ off and spend my dollars to make sure that women never see's the walls of the Senate ever again. They think they have the last word in this story, we'll just see about that.

[joeyp404]

Totally. Given the landslide in which O won the nomination, it's amazing anyone is doing anything for those darn Clintons.

[olivia]

It was not a landslide but it was definitive. It was definitive very soon after Super Tuesday. That's when she should have withdrawn and thrown her support behind her party.

[Seattlelite]

Doesn't matter if he manged it with one vote, fact is he won and Hill didn't. Seems "some" people have a problem with how the election process worked. Which by the way all candidate agreed to how the game would be played. It was only when one candidate and their supporters didn't see a victory by playing in the rules did the rules become a problem.

Problem for the Clinton's is they are just sore losers. And they really need to get over themselves many of us certainly have.

[MizFlagPin]

Once he's elected, they'll begin to fade into history.

[mesut]

as for the wedge....no one will really know why the "black" vote changed. Yet for Sen Clinton to believe she had it because of her husband's presidency requires plenty of confidence.

I wonder if Sen Clinton added women' rights to her platform too late. How better to get women charged afterall there are so many of us "unheard". Sadly, she forgot her run for president was a BIGGER issue. As a black female I'm all for women's rights but don't ask me to jump on a bandwagon with a bigger issue riding it. Sen Clinton becoming president was always the plan. Needing to be heard and respected goes over my head when it deals with my vote. To me, I expect some real issues to be addressed when talking about respect and being heard. My vote is precious because it allows me to be heard. The respect...well that ain't coming with no vote because whichever candidate I vote for is clueless that I did.

[foreffectivegovernment]

mesut: "You said, "... no one will really know why the "black" vote changed."
If you don't know why the "Black" vote changed then Obama is right, you haven't been listening.
Jesse Jackson, Jr. intimidated the Democratic Black Caucus members into changing with threats of running young Blacks against them if they didn't support Obama, James Wyburn announced to the Blacks that Bill Clinton was making racist statements, and Ted Kennedy and John Kerry stated that Obama was a viable Black candidate and they supported him.
I don't have a specific date but these were the events that led to a 92% support of African-Americans for Obama. The Black vote changed because they want to be party to electing the first Black President of the United States because it is "historic" and "cool".

[Sabreen60]

Well my original reply didn't make it. Suffice it to say that you are lying.

[Waltb31]

The AA vote changed to Obama when Bill Clinton made that condescending marginalizing statement in South Carolina, and Hillary marginalized the contributions of MLK Jr. The recent results in Tennessee should tell you that AA's vote for the best candidate regardless of race.
How dare you exibit your condescending biased attitude as an explanation why Hillary lost the AA vote. She was and is a poor, petulant, narcissistic candidate period. The majority of voters, INCLUDING AA's, Asians, Hispanics and AMERICANS recognized that fact; that's why she has been relegated to the trash heap of history.
Either get on board or get out of the way. Either way, Hillary shot herself in the foot and will not be able to recover her political career if she doesn't let go of her obstinacy.
Don't you dare try to say AA's are so simplistic to vote color. Only PUMA's and other "Hillary supporters" do that.

[mesut]

please don't insult me by stating I haven't been listening. I will tell you there was no specific date announced that caused 92% of black americans to vote for Obama. And Sir, believe it or not black americans are not trying to be part of history or "cool" by electing the first black president. Some up to the "supposed events" were actually going to vote for Sen Clinton. She was pouncing Obama in the polls. Funny thing about voting, we all get a right to vote for whom we choose. And even funnier...we can change our minds about candidates too. As I stated before, no one really knows why the black vote changed. One can make an assumption but it don't make it so. Neither Jesse Jackson Jr or James Clyburn have the pull to change 92% of the black vote. Something was said that didn't sit well with those voters. Or maybe we all believed he was a VIABLE candidate. Turns out he just might be.

[evolution1223]

I am somewhat concerned, given B ill's latest interview, that he might go off script at the convention. He has been known to ignore the teleprompter.

I think he's having a Rev. Wright/Jesse Jackson moment, of sorts. The gall of this youngster taking the baton and not waiting for his elders to hand it to him at their leisure. How dare he? You know, if it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be where he is now. He should be on his knees thanking me., etc. etc.

We've already seen the mental/emotional breakdowns of those two men. Let's hope that doesn't happen to B ill.

[dajay]

You mean Bill doesn't need to use a teleprompter when he speaks, like O'bama???

Wow what do you know.

[evolution1223]

Just to be clear, I wasn't bashing B ill or H ill. Just expressing a legitimate concern. B ill made it very obvious in that interview that he isn't happy with a lot of things, and it seems he is parking all his complaints at O's door.

Whether one thinks the complaints are deserved or not, Sen. O is very close to being the dem nominee. I give the former prez his just due for being prez, whether he respected the office or not: I am respecting him.

I just hope he doesn't use this forum for airing out all his unhappiness. The convention podium is not the place for that. We don't need to give the repubs anymore ammo.

[olivia]

Bill SHOULD use the teleprompter. He is a loose cannon.

After all that "experience" delivering speeches you'd think he'd be better at controlling himself.

Obama is a great speaker, and he hasn't been doing it that long.

[PumaAnn]

lol*.......O really isn't very articulate.

[MizFlagPin]

You mean Bill doesn't need to use a teleprompter when he speakers, like McFumbler!!

I love seeing M.c.N.u.t.t. do the robot when he mumbles.

[LadyTee]

Prism you stated, "How nice to accomodate the candidate who won the majority of registered Democratic voters, (clearly the most reliable voters in November)"

Question #1: Why aren't Hillary 's majority of registered Democratic voters paying off her lingering primary debts? Strike One.

Question #2: Why are they asking Obama to intervene and pay off debts she distinctly accumulated through her own foolish? Strike Two

Question #3: Why would any sensible person vote for Hillary and expect her to run our country when she couldn't financially manage her own campaign? Strike Three

She's out!

[joeyp404]

Wow Lady Tee. Three strikes based on Hill's deficit. Are you a majoring in algebra?

[boogygran]

Looks like simple first grade math to me, but then..... And I'd say all three strikes are right down the middle of the plate.

[disgusted48]

"dems go out of their way to put clintons voice on the platform"

Mistake number one. These people suck all the oxygen out of a room, and not in a good way.

And the Obama people need to review bill clinton's speech before he gives it, as he has become unpredictable and unpleasant lately.

[dajay]

That's funny. Obama has to review Bill's speech.

Thanks for the good laugh. It is too bad that Bill doesn't speak from a telepromter like O;bama, so you never know what he may say.

LOL! What a joke

[happypup]

Yeah - it would be appropriate for the nominee to review all the speeches. As we all know, Bill Clinton has developed a really nasty habit of losing his temper, waggin' his chunky finger and saying things that make a spectacle of himself and are really quite regrettable.. I just wish his remarks coudl be taped in advance.

[PennP]

Not to worry re the former prez. Obama's people will hold the juice to the mics and the cameras, and if they're smart, they'll have a trap door set up on the floor of the dais....

[Seattlelite]

Someone better be near the plug for Bill's mic. I don't see Bill getting over his bitterness between now and the convention. It became apparent in the primary that Bill even stumping for his own wife sometimes forgets he's not the star of the show.

[Prism]

Went out of their way? How nice to accomodate the candidate who won the majority of registered Democratic voters, (clearly the most reliable voters in November) They also went out of their way to appropriate Bill Clinton's platform (remember the two-term Dem president Obama wouldn't dare praise in the primary, tho' he found ample opportunity to lavish praise on homophobe Reagan?) They went out of their way to grab an enormous number of Clinton advisors while they were at it and went out of their way to keep mum when Hillary was being mischaracterized repeatedly in the press as racists, fascists, crooks and socialists. They went out of their way to allow Obama surrogates to the Clintons, the most successful Democratic leadership of the last 50 years, them with a ghastly misinformation campaign packed with dirty tricks designed specifically to drive a wedge between the Clintons and their loyal African American supporters. I hope they go out of their way to apologize to Clinton and the true Democatic base who supported her when the unelectable neophyte blows it.

[reliant1]

It was very nice. Since the 18 million has dwindled away and some of her pledged SDs are making noises about not giving her their vote - if she requests to placed on the ballot.

They didn't "grab" her advisors - they went to him.

His lead in the EC votes is impressive.

Let them suck out the air for 2 nights and dominate a couple of news cycles.

Then they're done.

[dajay]

reliant1: "Since the 18 million has dwindled away"

Really, do you know that as a fact.

I guess it is easier to live in denial than face the reality that your dopey candidate may very likely not be elected in November.

[repstuckonstupid]

drive a wedge between them and their loyal African American supporters? assuming loyalty in this process was the wedge driver. black voters are not a monolithic block, drink much of the clinton kool-aid prism?

[dajay]

Prism: Couldn't agree with you more. Great post. So true.

[barackobama4prez]

Newsflash, Blacks weren't all that loyal to WJC, obviously.

[PumaAnn]

I agree. Makes me laugh. He's adopted nearly all of hill's platform now.

But in any case, the good news is that at least the party platform is on the right track.

[loax]

GOTALIF - You are beyond stupid. Not on point, but then I remember other psots by you, and they never are on point. Go back into the dark room you call a brain. Obama and the campaign have been accodomating to Sen. Clinto. The main objective is to ensure Republicans don't move back in to the White House OBAMA 08!

[dajay]

loax: Yep, I never met an O'bama supporter who didn't resort to insults and name calling, when faced with unpleasant facts.

Yeah, that will get your guy elected in November, dopey.

[happypup]

dajay: you seem to be the king (or queen as the case may be) of insults and name calling. Maybe, just maybe, your comments would be more compelling if left off the nasty names.