Grassroot Democrats Worry About Split In Party

By Leslie Robinson

It was about as grassroots as one can get in Democratic politics at the Garfield County Democratic convention and assembly in Rifle on Saturday. Many of the delegates were first-time participants in Colorado's caucus and convention system. The Beltway political scene may be far away yet these delegates thoughtfully weighed in on a question hitting the Sunday TV news talk shows and political pundit columns: is this hotly contested Democratic presidential primary good for the party?

Delegates for Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, former Sen. John and Edwards and even one undecided swarmed into the auditorium for perhaps the biggest convention the county party has ever seen - 101 participants. The presidential race between Obama and Clinton was a hot topic.

Gisela Koplin from Glenwood Springs was a Clinton supporter. "I think we should change the primary system which seems more like a beauty contest," she said. "This hurts the American people when they might be getting a popular candidate but not the best one for the ticket. I'm concerned about the infighting, too."

Obama supporters, Jo and Amy, who asked not to use their last names, said the process was no longer good for the party. "We can't take a chance to lose the presidency," Jo warned.

"It was important initially to have the primary and caucus races, but now there is too much negative campaigning that could hurt the Democrats," Amy added.

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Comments

[missntexas]

Super Delegates: Save the party and vote for Obama Now!

[missntexas]

I cannot believe Hillary and Bill are dead set on destroying the Democratic Party. All they care about is the presidency. And they don't care who gets in their way. I couldn't figure out Hillary's tactics and then it came to me. She knows she can't get enough delegates, her popular vote will never match his, and so she's decided to destroy Obama. McCain will win and in four years?

[KaAp]

There would not be a split in the party if it was not for the DLC ... the democratic party moved several steps to the right thanks to the Clinton's if the party is to become the Democratic party once again well it seems like it is time for progressive democrats to take it back ... Go Obama

[seejake]

I don't see a whole lot of difference between Clinton and McCain on the issues that matter most to me. On the biggest issue, corporate ownership of our government, they are nearly identical. As for their economic policies, Bill gave away more money in tax loopholes to corporations than W. ever did, and the Clintons and the DLC are all just free-marketers and pro-business.

If you want your country back, your best shot is with Obama. He really is the last best hope this country has to save itself.

[Jacky1]

Gisela Koplin from Glenwood Springs: "This hurts the American people when they might be getting a popular candidate but not the best one for the ticket. I'm concerned about the infighting, too."

It's called a democracy and that is why the party is called the Democratic Party. I am sure a lot of Republicans and some fascists agree with that statement though.

[hazmaq]

The only problem is -there really isn't a 'split' in the party.
The voters know that numbers matter; that the gold medal isn't given to the athlete with the lowest score- that 10 pledged is greater than 8 pledged delegates.

Every non-Hillary connected person knows what the rules are and will abide by the rules.
I'm a devout Obama supporter. But if she wins the majority of the popular vote and the pledged delegate count fairly and squarely - then I''ll be deeply disappointed, but will also abide by the F***ING RULES!
And if the likes of Ed Rendell and Governor Corzine and Chuck Schumer think their going to buy or steal the results of our Democratic process - GO AHEAD -MAKE OUR F***ING DAY!!

I

[PingMama]

Wyorange:

Senator Obama has cross over appeal that no other candidate has. Hillary's negatives are too high that Obama's supporters will not vote for her if she were the nominee. They will either sit out, or more than likely vote for McCain.

She has put the GOP in front of her own democratic opponent, which crosses the line. Essentially she says if she doesn't win, then McCain should.

I'm surprised at your comment that democrats seem to hate the Clintons more than Republicans. The Clinton's take names and never forget. The Dems lost a lot of seats in 1994 because of the Clinton's, and don't think that has been forgotten.

You're narrative about Sec. Rice as VP assumes that only african americans would vote for Obama is flawed. Most democrats will support Obama. In fact, most polls show Hillary's supporters will vote for Obama, especially since she would stump for him.

Hillary's nastiness and secretive ways are exactly what people don't want. Have you actually read Barack's Blueprint for Change?

I suggest you do. You will be surprised at how much Barack wants to continue the grassroots involvement in government. The younger generation is the future of this country. They don't want people their grandparents age running this country anymore.

[urfree2speak]

Everyone should be concerned about the PARTY, thousands even millions are thats why they VOTED. however it seems the needs of the ONE outweights the needs of the many. I stated at the begInning of the race that I would support the winner, well I have become tottaly disgusted with this MESS! nOW WE HAVE A DO OVER? For ego? We are looking more and more like the party of DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO.- soory about the typos no....... DO OVERS?

[desmirl]

The more people see of the contentious and vicious nature of the Democratic race to the nomination, the more they're going to be turned off in November. If someone doesn't settle the situation down before the convention, there will be a lot of Democrats who just won't bother voting in November.

[wyorange]

As an outsider looking in, life-long registered male republican (age 66), I am really enjoying this. For quite some time I have been reading HuffPost and somewhat enjoying how democrats attack other democrats, and in many, many instances not in a very pleasant way.

I have frequently posted that I am and have been supporting Sen. Clinton. To me she is the best of the candidates running. Her proposals seem realistic and responsible and for the most part she has provided funding mechanisms to her proposals. (Have to admit somewhat shaky about the universal health care, but it has worked in other countries so maybe it is time we give it a try.) From what I have read of Sen. Obama's proposals, most require increased taxes to fund them.

Had an opportunity to work in a concession stand at Sen. Obama's appearance at the Univ. of Wyo. a few nights ago. Had a lot of young people there and being a curious sort of individual I asked quite a few why they were supporting Sen. Obama, ususally letting them know that I was supporting Sen. Clinton. Very few could provide much of a reason other than "he is so cool" or "he rocks"! Only a few could give specific policies he was proposing as their reason to support him. Now granted, it could well be that some, or maybe even quite a few, of these younger people I was talking to were high school students instead of college students, but in any case "he is so cool" or "he rocks" doesn't give me a great deal of assurance about why a lot of young people are supporting and probably voting for Sen. Obama.

What would really be interesting if Sen. Obama is the nominee, is if Sen. McCain would select Sec. Rice as his V.P. Do you suppose that could make much of an inroad in that 70% to 80% vote Sen. Obama is receiving from AfroAmericans? I think it would hurt Sen. Obama substantially, and that along with a good defection/or sitting out by the Latinos/Hispanics could really create a significant problem for Sen. Obama in the general election.

In any case, all of you keep up the good work. A few months ago I was quite sure the democrats would win the presidency but now that is starting to look much less likely. I will continue to support Sen. Clinton until she drops out or the convention selects Sen. Obama and then I will be going back to the republican party and reluctantly voting for Sen. McCain. In the mean time I will continue to post on blogs on HuffPost and continue to be called names and belittled by Sen. Obama's followers and continue to smile as they express their hatred of the Clintons knowing that the democratic party is just splintering before my eyes. (Simply amazes me that a lot of democrats seem to hate the Clintons more than republicans do.)

[hazmaq]

It's easy for you Clinton people to whine and blame all of the reasons we don't want Clinton on everything but Clinton herself.
-She CHOSE to vote with the Republicans and against the majority of her own party to keep cluster bombing innocent civilians - no one forced her to make that vote. -Do you know what those toylike bomblets do to children??
-No one forced her to support that Bankruptcy bill. (The same language she wrote stayed in and was passed in 2005 -so she and she can't lie and say it didn't pass)
Do you know what they did to people in that bill (that Obama should beat her over the head with over and over right now) ? It stripped the right of judges to stop the evictions of people who filed bankruptcy =-all those people out of work or saddled with medical bills or who get behind in their house payments - can now be thrown out of their homes.

That's just a piece of why I'm ASHAMED of her, a woman and a mother, to actually abuse through legislation the very people she proclaims to be helping.
As a woman she owed more, not less of a duty to help those people - but she grossly failed in that duty. And as a result does not deserve, nor has she earned the right to now be Commander in Chief over them or anyone else, neither here nor abroad.

[mesuki]

No disrepect to you Wyorange,but at your age you probably remember all the crap that went on in the whitehouse. Why you would vote for Hillary is puzzling to me. people like you who vote for Hillary,vote for her because you think you know her. But do you really know the Clintons. you might want to do some research on them in case you've forgotten. I'm not here to bash other democrats, I just want people to to know the facts before they vote..Hillary has never and will never be an asset to this country.With her, comes all the negative baggage that follows her from her days in the whitehouse. I too am fearful of change,but at this point I will take my chances, I refuse to go back to those Clinton years. especially after 8 years of Bush. . Wouldn't it be sad ,if Obama was the one that could really help this country,but was rejected because of slander,bigotry and fear of change!

[bobthebob]

How stupid to believe that blacks would vote for Mccain because of Rice! She is not well likes or admired by a lot of blacks or others for that matter. She is a Bush Flunky !

[seejake]

dude, if you think Clinton's policy plans sound more realistic, you aren't paying attention. I'd really like to hear just what policies you're talking about. Are you getting your news from Fox? You don't seem to understand much about how policies or funded or how tax structures work. But hey, you go ahead and support Hillary, then support McCain. Same difference.