Memo to Obama: Let the Floor Vote Roll

UPDATE: Not long after we posted, the AP reported that the Obama and Clinton camps have reached a deal that will allow Hillary Clinton's name to be entered into nomination at the Democratic National Convention, so we have updated our post accordingly.

As Democrats unearth their rollie bags and sensible shoes in preparation for the party convention in Denver later this month, a controversy is roiling over whether or not *it's a good thing that* a roll-call vote should will take place on the convention floor before Barack Obama is officially named the Democratic presidential nominee.

If everybody knows that Obama would certainly win such a vote, why go through the motions? The answer is this: as momentous as is the history Obama will make as the first African-American nominee of his party, this was not the only history made during the primary season. And that other bit of history -- herstory, if you will -- deserves its due, as well. By allowing the roll call to take place without obstruction or resistance, Obama would will honor not just what Hillary Clinton achieved with her 18 million votes, but the promise of even greater accomplishments by Democratic women in the future -- potentially even those of his own daughters.

More pragmatically, there's a battle to be joined against the Republicans. Given the battering dealt women's rights (not to mention the U.S. Constitution and our national economy) at the hands of the Bush administration, it's a battle that must be won this November. Obscuring his true agenda by employing a pro-choice surrogate, Carly Fiorina, John McCain has little to offer but an oppressive, anti-choice agenda, as Sarah Blustain reports, for the nation's women. A united Democratic Party is critical to the preservation of our rights and liberties, and to our society's return to a more humane ethic.

However, in the aftermath of an unprecedented and bruising primary season, feelings remain raw among many partisans of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. We can argue all day whether such feelings are deserved or appropriate; the fact is that they exist and must be dressed with a balm. Backers of Sen. Obama will enjoy the satisfaction of seeing their candidate accept his party's nomination. Party leaders would be are wise to ease the tension between Obama supporters and those who backed Sen. Clinton by welcoming a moment of satisfaction to be enjoyed by her supporters.

Many Obama supporters rolled their eyes when video (see below) surfaced last week of Hillary Clinton addressing a group of supporters at a private gathering, suggesting a roll-call strategy for coming to terms with Obama's victory. "I happen to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their voices were heard," Clinton told the gathering. "I think that is a very big part of how we actually come out unified, because I know from just what I'm hearing that there's an incredible pent-up desire and I think that people want to feel like, OK, it's a catharsis, we're here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Senator Obama." (Emphasis added.)

Neither of us is a partisan of Hillary Clinton. Shireen stayed neutral through the primaries, and Adele supported Obama publicly, beginning in March. Nonetheless, we believe it to be in the best interest of the American people and the Democratic Party for Hillary Clinton's name to be allowed entered into nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

Women have long been stalwarts for the Democratic Party, often doing the tough ground-level organizing, toiling as as poll workers and, as voters, providing the margin of victory with the gender gap. The achievement of the first woman presidential candidate to come this close to winning the nomination deserves the recognition called for by the party rules: a roll-call vote.

Symbolic roll-call votes are nothing new: in 1984, Jesse Jackson, the first African-American presidential candidate to achieve significant vote totals in a primary, saw his achievement honored with a nominating speech by James Zogby of the Arab American Institute (the first Arab-American, by the way, to have that honor at a national convention). And Jackson's nomination was not the only historic "first" in American politics on display in San Francisco that week, which also saw the naming of the first woman, Geraldine Ferraro, to the vice presidential slot on major-party ticket. In 1972, the groundbreaking Shirley Chisholm won 152 delegates in the roll call at that Democratic National Convention.

Since 1984 -- the first and last time a woman graced a national ticket -- a whole generation of women have grown to post-college age without having seen such a thing. A roll-call vote would will signal to the nation's young women that the Democratic Party is willing to walk the walk called for by its inclusive rhetoric.

A roll-call vote in which Clinton supporters vent their enthusiasm for the senator from New York would will hardly weaken Obama; indeed it would will make him look strong and confident. (Some Clinton advisers, reports Marc Ambinder, indeed advised against a roll call, fearing that the numbers of former Clinton delegates who have switched to Obama would render her victory less impressive in a floor vote than the election tallies suggest.) In permitting the vote to go forward, Obama could make a dent in the claims of haughtiness his critics lodge against him, and display the grace that characterized his best moments in the primary season.

At this singular moment in American history, it is critical that the first political party to nominate an African-American as a presidential candidate actually be united through the election -- not just play a united party for a few nights on TV. Allowing Hillary Clinton's supporters a chance to celebrate on her behalf would will go a long way to achieving that goal, and to honoring the contributions of women to American political life.

Comments

[Sarlat]

Hillary and her supporters have set back the possibility of a female president by a decade or two. Continuously rattling that their "feelings" have been hurt and someone owes them something will cement in any rational mind the fact that they would answer that 3 a.m. call with "Stop it, you're hurting my feelings!! I deserve to be heard out."

*click*

[NotMcCain]

Three words: "Follow the money." Hillary can't be VP because of....

*Missing 2007 tax returns

*Missing library donors list

*Bill getting $800,000 from Colombia as a LOBBYIST for a foreign government (it went into their joint account, btw)

*Bill's financial dealings for his pals--like the billion dollar uranium deal he brokered for a Canadian friend (with no experience in that business) in Kazakhstan;

*Cayman Islands bank account...­.why?

*Clinton Family Fund--a charity paying money to...the Clintons.

**********

Finances have always been their Achilles heel. Moreso, now that the opportunities are great. Obama wouldn't touch any of this in the primaries. The Republicans, as we know, are not so genteel...­..

No Hillary.

[MrTessier]

I agree wholeheartedly. I have seen the Obama campaign orchestrate the overseas trip perfectly, run an incrediblely tough race in the primaries, and so far, doing a great job of running the general election. They seem to be extremely competent. They should have no trouble with the stagecraft of the convention and I expect that both Hillary and Obama supporters will come out in the end very happy.

Everyone's treating this like it's an all bad situation and losing sight of the opportunity here. Obama has built a new democratic machine that rivaled and bested the Clinton machine. Many in the Clinton machine are upset that they may lose the power they worked so hard to get. Combining these two powerful forces into one would result in a great opportunity not just in the general election, but more importantly in the years and ordeals that will follow it.

I believe that Hillary, Bill, and Obama are all very inspiring speakers when at their best. None of them will want to hurt that repuation by not bringing their A game to the convention.

[donkat]

I suppose there are good reasons for the vote but it just leaves me cold. Hill and Bill and their egos again. Maybe I'm wrong but it's just more sour grapes. They always have ulterior motives, always jockeying for something they want or think they deserve. And just when I was having warm, fuzzy feelings for them again.

[nellie]

It's theater. But if it allows us to move on, fine.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Great strategy lets fool the republicans into thinking we are unified.

This tactic is extremely disappointing and troublesome, I am having difficulty trying to understand how such a divisive vote can be unifying?

It will only recall the bitterness and rivalry between these two camps, it is not too surprising that Hillary is not that interested in showing a united front in complete support of our nominee Obama.

She has shown us time and time again that she was willing to slander a fellow democrat if it meant she could win.

These people are not that concerned with the serious, pressing issues facing our country they obviously do not care if McCain gets elected, they basically only care about getting a female in the white house even if her foreign policies are in opposition to most democrats and to the right of Margaret Thatcher.

Obama/Clark

[ashenthorn]

Today's unintentionally funniest headline - from a rasmussen poll: "Half of Democrats Say Putting Hillary's Name in Nomination Will Help Unify Party".

[Heavenhelpusall]

I wonder which half?

[AshevilleVoice]

I've read through these comments and still don't understand why anyone thinks that we are going to get 'unity' from a roll call at convention.

This isn't the first time that some voters did not get the candidate of their choice! In 30 years of voting, this is the only time that the candidate I voted for in the primaries actually won. I've had my 'cathartic moments' alone, or over a beer with other friends. Because 'unity' means that the loser needs to concede graciously and quit fighting or pining for what might have been. It's not true that winners never quit. Sometimes winners know when it's time to quit losing.

A roll-call vote will signal to Fox News and all Repugs that their wildest dreams have come true. Half the party still doesn't feel like their 'voice' is heard, while the other half feels like we're listening to a perpetual tape loop.

[Heavenhelpusall]

Isn't it interesting how the negative aura of HRC's campaign is contagious?

Will this roll call be the olive branch that buys unity? What more does Hillary want?

Let this be the balm for not getting the VP spot which some supporters demanded. Pray for a healing.

[Missmn]

Senator Obama has never indicated that he would be against having a floor vote. Senator Clinton was the one who had been holding out. Of course that doesn't play well with the "I voted for Hillary, and she lost so my vote didn't count and I and she have been disrespected by all you meanies out there who didn't vote for her so you have to do something to make me feel special because I just can't accept that I didn't back the winner and all of you are wrong so give me something or else I'm taking my toys and going home" crowd.

[Heavenhelpusall]

He can't be against it. If she signs the petition, she gets it. This is not a compromise. It's what Hillary wants.

[Missmn]

No, this is not a compromise: it's business as usual. A floor vote is not an unusual event. It happens all the time and I think that it is important for party unity that the people who are actually in support of the party and the party's nominee: Barack Obama, start framing it that way.

Move along folks: nothing to see here...

While I think that these people are whiney and out of touch with reality and imbued with a sense of entitlement that would make Varuca Salt blush, if it makes them feel better to have their candidate officially lose a floor vote, then I say let them.

[EvoMan]

"...are indeed advising against a roll call, fearing that the numbers of former Clinton delegates who have switched to Obama would render her victory less impressive in a floor vote than the election tallies suggest."

Um, what "victory"? Freudian slip?

[NovaBoy]

A point of correction: "More pragmatically, there's a battle to be joined against the Republican­s."

Your verb tense is incorrect in this sentence. There is not a battle "to be joined," but rather a battle raging right now and Hillary Clinton, and her ego, her wants and needs, and the 'feelings' of her supporters are a distraction from winning that battle.

Still, I agree with the premise of your article. Thankfully, 2008 is the sunset of the Clintons and if their dozens and dozens of remaining supporters need a pity party to feel good about themselves, and come to their senses, then . . . whatever. I, and I suspect much of the nation, will only be watching Obama's acceptance speech anyway.

[BuckarooBanzai]

The question we all have is: Will Hillary do honor to Obama's gracious gesture and keep it smiley and symbolic? or will she use opportunity to do Obama dirty and bleed him in a nasty floor fight?

I have to ask if Hillary was really being high minded and magnanimous why would we need this gesture in the first place? Why isn't a large chunk of speaking time and freedom to talk about their key issues enough for Bill and Hill?

I am sorry but I smell a rat.

[checkitout]

I could be blindly optimistic here, but hopefully she is smarter than than. She will need the Obama supporters later on when she runs for president. I have always been excited that Hillary chose to ran, but I chose Obama and I would vote for her if she ran next election or any election following.

I also believe Obama's campaign will be on the eagle-eye lookout for any funny stuff from her.

[ashenthorn]

I'm trying to understand the intricasies of this floor vote controversy, Every convention that I've every seen has a roll call of states announcing their tally and support for the nominee (and other candidates too). In fact, sometimes it's the best part of the convention. In fact I can't (and don't) believe that there was any serious consideration of NOT having a roll call. If there wasn't a roll call vote, the media would have a field day wondering out loud why there wasn't. The only reasonable assumptions as to why there really might not be a roll call would be:
1. Clinton was worried about having her level support appear diminished if her delegates decided to vote Obama in a show of party unity. Or
2. Obama was worried about Clinton running a stealth campaign to actually convince superdelegates to change their minds - meaning behind the scenes the race for the nomination was still on.
The fact that the two campaigns have come to agreement on the issue, means they have also come to agreement on how to stage the roll call vote - most likely with Clinton using her speech to cast the symbolic first vote for Obama and releasing her delegates to do the same - thus immuninzing her from appearing weak even as Obama achieves some degree of unanimity.

[LeftRight]

I believe that what they will be doing different this year is not a simple tally, but an actual vote, where EACH delegate vocally casts their vote. I could be wrong, but I think that's what's happening.

[debrouillard]

Point of correction 'She Did Not Get 18 Million votes'.

Stop talking about this 18 Million votes and then at the same time ask O bama people to pick up her debts. The logic does not fit.

[LeftRight]

Not to mention the fact that even WITH her 18 million votes (spread out over 6 months) HE got MORE than she did!

[beaupritchard]

Clinton does not have 18 million voters ... if she did she would have had no problem retiring her debt.

Screw the Clintons ... Instead of appeasing Clinton voters Obama should be making the case for his own presidency.

[BertrandRussell]

A Big Thumbs Up on this post.

Mitt Romney is swallowing his much larger campaign debt. Why do the Clintons expect working class America (or deep pocket donors) to pay for her ego-candy campaign? She amassed her debt by lying to her supporters, i.e. by promoting the belief that she still had a credible chance to obtain the nomination long after any rational appraisal of the situation warranted such a view.