Obama Snubs Rangel At Convention

The Obama campaign is denying House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel a speaking role at this month's Democratic National Convention - a move those close to the powerhouse Harlem congressman view as a spiteful snub.

Rangel surrogates approached Obama staffers this week about the possibility of securing him a slot at the podium, making the case that it would showcase reconciliation between the nominee and Clinton's African-American supporters.

But they were told that the 78-year-old congressman's support for Clinton earned him a place at the end of the line behind Barack Obama's loyalists - even if Rangel played a crucial part in prodding Clinton to abandon her presidential bid in June.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[steamboat]

So much for the party of inclusion, the party of the 'Big Tent' philosophy, the party of dialogue and discussion, the party of 'open-minded' views (LOL)

[tbone99]

Meet the New party - the under the bus locomotive. the party of grudges, long memories and the maimed.

[unionave]

FIRST LET US ASK OLD CR WHERE DID HE PUT ALL THOSE MISSING VOTES CAST DURING THE PRIMARY BY THE PEOPLE OF HARLEM IN NY CITY ? WHILE HRC WAS CAMPAIGNING SHE WAS PROMISING MORE GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE . AT THE SAME TIME GOOD OLD CR , WJC , MARK P , AND THE REST OF THAT GANG WAS PUSHING GWB'S COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND POCKETING LOTS OF CASH FROM THE COLOMBIAN LOBBYIST . THAT WHOLE GROUP HAS SHOWN THAT MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE .

[SlippingInTheDip]

You'll get the last laugh, Charlie, when Obama loses the election...

[Tropiholic]

no slippery, 0bama will be the next president then we'll see who's laughing

[livesimply]

This is not news. This is just more divisive BS.

[mexamerican]

nonetheless, i'm still glad the turncoat is being shut out.

[Kanary]

It's Obama's party, he can choose who to speak and who not to speak. Clinton didn't allow Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey to speak in 1992. There was a lot of speculation on why he wasn't being allowed to speak. Because he didn't support Clinton? Because of his views on abortion? Obama must feel that he can handle the fall-out by not having Charlie Rangel speak. Time will tell. Perhaps down the line, Obama will want him on board again, just like he's come to Hillary for the convention. It ain't over until it's over.

[Mondayboy]

Let me reiterate srtjsrtj 's sentiments:

Everyone cannot speak. We are hopeful that Rangel is such a Professional and a Gentleman that he understands and supports whatever decisions Sen. Obama makes. He is the Nominee.

Simple as that

[LarBear]

Barack "THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER" Obama... Will true Democrat's "Get THAT," before the General Election? Obamacrats are NOT Democrats... ALL Democrats have a Equal "Right" to be heard... NOT so with Obamacrats... Some are more equal than others... Obamacrats in the Front of the Political Bus, Democrats in the middle and Clinton supporters in the back of the bus... Revise that........ Obamacrats Front of Bus, Democrat's in Back part of Bus and Clinton's and supporters, either thrown under, or dragged behind, the Bus...
To me, the big question about Obama is will he reveal so much about himself, His actual Beliefs, and Behaviors, versus slick, what you want to hear speeches, he will NOT be elected?
His behavior does not match his Political speech... Flip Flops are exactly that... No, I don't care if McCain has more of the same disqualifying...
Both failed their Oath of Office (FISA) to protect and Defend the Constitution... Speech versus Behavior... Same as G W Bush and his "most Ethical Administration ever promise"... Replacing Bush with more of the same is yee ole "doing the same, expecting different results"... The un saneness lies in the Electorate still... The Candidates are who they are... Neither supported the Constitution...

[livesimply]

YOU are not a democrat.

[disgusted48]

Obama already has enough vocal Hillary backers speaking, including but not limited to both Clintons, as if that's not enough oxygen, bayh, rendell (i think) at the very least. She didn't win, and it's not her party. Give it a rest.

[srtjsrtj]

Everyone cannot speak. We are hopeful that Rangel is such a Professional and a Gentleman that he understands and supports whatever decisions Sen. Obama makes. He is the Nominee.

[ms.understood]

I don't blame Obama for not having him speak at the convention. As the nominee, he has that right. Even though I was originally supporting Hillary, she did not win the nomination, and therefore, I am now in support of Obama because I don't want another 4 to 8 years of the mess that Bush/Chaney started and McCain wants to continue. And if her supporters were smart, they would realize that since he won the nomination, he has the right to choose anyone he wants as either a speaker or a V.P. candidate, and if Hillary would have won, they wouldn't want anyone trying to force either on her. And if you're not mature enough to realize that, then you're probably too juvenile in thinking to be voting in the first place.

[joeinvt]

You are right. This is Obama's show, not Hillary's or Rangel's. Rangel is no more "entitled" to speak at the Convention than you or me. If it's true that there is animosity toward Rangel simply because he backed Hillary initially rather than Obama, that seems petty and vindictive. Rangel has paid his dues in full on behalf of poor and disadvantaged people of all races since Obama was in nursery school. For that, Rangel is entitled to respect.

[tbone99]

Rangel has brought in the most money for the Dem Party this year at 19.5 million.I think he needs a thanks and I think Obama needs to put the primary grudges behind him and show that he wants to unite the party, let bygones be begones. These are the people he'll be dealing with if he gets elected and he needs their support- we all do.

[edwarvir]

WKR He did, but SHE KNOWS THAT HER PARTY WITH THE AFRO-AMERICAN
PEOPLE IS OVERRRRRRRRRRRR SO THE C'S BEING THEIR OLD SNEAKY SELFS
THINKS THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO CALL THEIR LAP DOG CHARLE
TO SEE WHAT
HE COULD DO. CHARLEY BEING SUCH A WUSSY DECIDED TO APPROACH
OUR SENATOR 'S CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HE FORGOT HOW CHARLEY
AND THE C's INSULTED HIS RACE AND HIS SUPPORTERS. THE SENATOR WILL
NOT LET ANYONE INSULT HIS SUPPORTING BASE AND GET AWAY WITH IT TOLD
CHARLE TO TAKE A HIKE. THIS IS MY PARTY AND YOU CAN'T DIVIDE US.

[RiseHillary]

Haven't you learned yet that caps are alnnoying, hard on the eyes and often not read?

[edwarvir]

RiseHillary I"m sorry, but I don't know what it will take to get through
to Hillary and her supporters. They seem to think that insulting
Afro-American voters are the Flavor of the day. I don't understand
Charley accepting the insults that are leveled at his own people by
the C's . But I am glad my beloved Senator O does, aren't you. i just
wish they would go away and leave him alone, and take Charley with
them, don't you.? Is that too much to ask for crying out loud.

[KNadine]

In your attempt to make edwarvir look stupid, did you bother spellchecking your post?

[AdLib]

You know who was even more snubbed than Rangel? Geraldine Ferarro, I mean, why wasn't she given a slot after Stephanie Tubbs Jones and before James Carville?

[KNadine]

Ferraro has resurfaced. Saw her on Fox this morning. Her hands were shaking. I don't know - Intervention maybe - I'm just saying.

[tbone99]

Ever heard of Parkinsons. ? I'd go there before I'd start nasty rumors.

[Sabreen60]

Well I guess we just don't have enough important issues to discuss, huh??? This is so stupid. 0bama can chose whomever he pleases to speak. I am so tired of these jealous old school has beens (I'm not a youngster, BTW) upset that they can't get in the spotlight. This is SUPPOSE to be about 0bama and Bil, Hil Chel are all on the program. Geezz.

[RiseHillary]

"I am so tired of these jealous old school has beens (I'm not a youngster, BTW) upset that they can't get in the spotlight."

You know for mr.0 to build much of his primary campaign on the trials, tribulations and accomplishments of MLK and all those who suffered and triumphed before him, which he says laid the groundwork for him actually be a viable candidate for POTUS, he certainly has forgotten those pioneers. One of the most egregious acts was committed against John Lewis, who was threatened by the 0 campaign that they would finance an opponent to run against him in the primary if he didn't switch from Hill to 0-man. His campaign threatened all members of the black caucus including Sheila Jackson Lee, Stephanie Tubbs Jones and I suppose Charley Rangel (whose wife supported 0-man). Well, that is rough politics, Chicago/Daley/Axelrod Crook Co. politics, and I guess as a winning politician one would say...."good for him" But isn't it a little phony to thank all that paved the way for you and then threaten them when they aren't supporting you. One of the things Obama used, as was reported in the papers of the time, was "Do you want to be the one who stands in the way of a black man being nominated for POTUS. It is one of the reasons I will not support the 0-man. It is one of the reasons I think he is a phony.

[Tropiholic]

rise, making things up and presenting them as "facts" makes you look foolish, give sources for your outrageous claims or shut your silly mouth

[disgusted48]

Your whole comment is a load of cr ap. Obama is the fruition of MLK's dream. He's multicultural, multiracial, accepts people on the content of their character rather than based on cronyism. This is why he has run the smoothest, best campaign since Ronald Reagan. He's got blacks, whites, hispanics, men, women on his team. The best and the brightest. The fact is that all of these people that were backing the clintons, had been getting their palms greased by the clinton's during their 8 year reign. For example, I believe Sheila Lee's husband was the ambassador to the bahamas during the clinton years. I'd be a vocal backer of the clintons too if I could get an eight year vacation to the bahamas. I want an eight year vacation to a tropical island pleeeese!!!!

[xmw]

Let me fet this right. There are only so many speaking opportunities correct? So veryone that id not support obama originally is being "snubbed"? HuffPost shame on you.

[RiseHillary]

Charley Rangel is one of the most powerful members of the black caucus. Maybe mr. 0 will let John Lewis speak since JL succumbed to the threats and switched his SD vote from Hill to 0. I think the NY delegation remained as a block and supported Hillary, who was not only their senator, she won the state.

[edwarvir]

RiseHillary Charley Rangel position is one of power. He is not. He is
a Afro-American man who has lost his way. Charley Rangel wants to
lead, then why isn't he telling the C's to stop trying to divide the
races. He knows that our Afro-American men are an ENDANGERED
group of people. For him to take this problem lightly lets us
know that Charley Rangel, does not have the best interest of the Black
people on his agenda.. He wants to speak at the Convention to tell us
how much Hillary and Bill love us, how hypocriical of him. He wants us
to believe that we are delusional when we say they don't, after hearing what
they say and reading her memos we as Black people should shrug it
off as idle chatter among the MASSA'S.. Charley wants to allow himself to be hired out by the C's be my guess, but stop trying to make it seem as if Black people are are not smart enough to know what game he and the C's are trying to pllay We know it We understand it We don't like it and We are not going to play along with it.
.