Now, Team Hillary Goes After Speaker Pelosi

They went after Barack Obama, and he proved more popular and more resilient than Team Hillary. They went after Howard Dean, and he didn't cave. They went after Bill Richardson, and he didn't give in. Now, they have come for our Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

Hillary Clinton's big donors see their dreams of a Senate confirmation hearing and a post as Ambassador to the Bahamas dying before their very eyes, and so they are making threats. Senator Clinton's fundraisers, indignant that after all of these years of effort on behalf of Bill and Hillary they may not become overnight guests in the Lincoln Bedroom, and irate that all their money may not buy them a plum foreign assignment in the next administration, told Howard Dean that he had better find a way to get Florida and Michigan seated at the Democratic Convention -- or else they'd pull their money from the Democratic National Committee.

But their ploy didn't work.

Then, James Carville famously branded Bill Richardson a "Judas" for letting his conscience come before his jobs.

Bill Richardson laughed.

And now, the same fat cats who took on Howard Dean, and failed, are going after our good Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. They are once again threatening to pull their money from the Democratic National Committee. The reason this time? Speaker Pelosi said that the superdelegates should follow the will of the people and that the superdelegates should pick the nominee who has the most votes and the most delegates.

To those whose dream is gladhanding at the Atlantis Resort, this was an outrage! They immediately fired off a letter to Madame Speaker. They wrote:

"We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August."

In other words, the donors, the money people, believe they are more important than the hundreds of thousands of people who have made small donations to the candidates. They believe that their money buys them a greater say in our democracy than the say that you have and that I have.

Are they right? I guess that Hillary Clinton has told them that they are indeed correct.

Now, the big $$$ people expect that they will roll over Nancy Pelosi. They will wave wads of cash at her, and hope that their threats cause her to encourage the superdelegates to pick a candidate, without paying heed to what the people want.

Speaker Pelosi is tough. I look forward to her response to those who seek to bribe her.

The Speaker won't be the last Democrat threatened by a desperate group of people, clinging to the last vestiges of a presumed power. After Senator Obama, Chairman Dean, Governor Richardson and Speaker Pelosi, Team Hillary will come after anyone who dares see things objectively. They will come after anyone who has the gall to speak up. They came for them. They'll come for me, too.

Is this the future of the Democratic Party? Is this what we want? If this is how Senator Clinton's team deals with their fellow Democrats; how would a President Clinton ever get anything accomplished in a bipartisan way?

Back in the early '90s, Senator Clinton told Jim Cooper, the Congressman from Tennessee with a health care proposal that was more moderate than hers, that she would crush him and he would regret ever speaking to her. She told Bill Bradley that she would demonize anyone who stood in her way on health care. She icily dismissed Daniel Patrick Moynihan's questions about her program.

Let's remember, Jim Cooper, Bill Bradley, and the late Senator Moynihan are and were Democrats. Hillary's plan went down in flames. So did the Democrats in the 1994 elections.

Can we really take eight more years of the Clintons in the White House?

The Obama campaign, and all good Democrats, should follow the wisdom of Dalton, bouncer at the Double Deuce: Dalton said, "Be nice until it's time not to be nice."

Democrats, it's time to send a message to Team Hillary, the team that is trying to take down the Democratic Party. It's time not to be nice.

Comments

[patriotscholar]

When the Clinton campaign screams about having disenfranchised voters in Michigan and Florida, why have they not considered that their actions in scrambling to collect delegates are, in effect, attempting to do the same thing?

[radionewsboy]

Hardly....­.superdele­gates Kennedy and Richardson are supporting Obama yet THE PEOPLE in their states voted to support Hillary. You wanna talk about disenfranchising people? Talk to people in New Mexico and Mass.

[SLone08]

The Clintons have said repeatedly that the Superdelegates should excercise their own independant judgement. You can't have it both ways pal!

[MrWinky]

Hey, if you want to agree now that all supers should vote with their constituencies, I'm for it. It would also mean that your girl loses, so you can't have it both ways.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

you are so right about this. these people are pissy because it's looking like they're not going to get a return on their investment. well boo-friggin-hoo.

old-style politics of scratchin my back and I'll scratch yours. they're so entrenched in it that they can't even see that people are sick and tired of it. it appears they stand for politics as usual.

[CBS]

I guess this is part of the Tanya Harding offensive by the Clinton Camp. If people will not bend their knees and kneel down before Hillary The Anointed One then just break 'em.

[radionewsboy]

"Can we really take eight more years of the Clintons in the White House?"

Ooooohhh no! Eight more years of a balanced budget, booming economy, peace and general good-will from the world? AHHHH!

Gimme a break! Don't blame Hillary for desperately trying to change the rules! Pelosi is trying to change the rules - the superdelegates are supposed to vote independently. There's nothing in the rules about voting based on pledged delegates. AND, if this is the Obama argument, how dare Kennedy, Kerry and Richardson support Obama when their states voted for Hillary. According to the Obama camp, they should be voting based on the delegates in their states.

Also, Obama is only 150 delegates ahead. Hillary probably won't catch Obama but will gain ground. After the last primary, Hillary could be only slightly behind Obama in pledged delegates but ahead of Obama in popular vote. How, therefore, is this race a slam-dunk for Obama? If Pelosi is proposing Democrats CHANGE THE RULES and vote based on pledged delegates, an argument that superdelegates should vote based on the popular vote is equally valid.

A new poll says more and more Clinton supporters would rather vote for McCain than Obama and postings like this are the reason why....if Obama is the nominee his only hope in hell of winning the election is reaching out to Hillary supporters (who, sorry to say, is HALF THE PARTY) instead of bashing our gal and suggesting we're a bunch of vapid idiots.

[MichaelTenery]

Yes her knee capping is going well. Sadly her supporters are the ones who seem to believe the attacks against Obama from her campaign while it is Hillary's own behavior that is turning Obama supporters like myself off even as we try to keep an open mind for the good of the party.

[radionewsboy]

Her knee capping? HAHAHA Just wait until the Republican attack machine kicks in - it's great that so many of Obama's supporters are new to the political process but you're in for a horrific lesson in Politics 101 if you think Hillary is being remotely ruthless in her attacks. Just wait. Hillary's attacks will seem like feather tickles compared to what will come from McCain.

Obama's whining is winning some support with Democrats paranoid about party in-fighting and losing the election BUT Republicans will lap it up and pounce.

[AreYouFibbing]

I still think we also have to consider the Bradley effect.

[pimpdown]

News boi here are a few reasons you are wrong. First there was a balanced budget because Clinton through mothers off welfare to give red meat to the republicans. The balance budget was because of a republican congress which cares about spending only when a Dem is President. The economy was good because of the Internet boom. Now we are reaping the benefits of Nafta and other free trade garbage in the form of the trade deficit. Your most pathetic statement was of course about Peace. Haiti, The Balkans war and Mogadishu were not times of peace. Especially if you were the people who died because he blew up a Pharmaceutical plant which brought critical medicine to the third world or the Chinese accidentally bombed in that embassy.

Your memory of the nineties is abysmall.

[theMightyT]

more would vote for mccain cuz you're rigid, sore-loser fools.

[Spesabsquemetu]

Way to go, Team Clinton.
Drag down the entire party.

Imagine - the Clintons are ordering Speaker of the House Pelosi - ( 3rd in line to the presidency) to GET IN LINE!!!!

Talk about coronations and entitlement.
This is absolutely unbelievable.
How dare they order or threaten with subtlties, Speaker of the House Pelosi!

Speaker Pelosi: you have MILLIONS of Obama supporters more than willing to support a TRANSPARENT, ETHICAL, HONEST DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Who's next? Is there any leadership left to hammer and threaten? Al Gore? Mr. Biden? Is there no bottom to this barrel of insanity?

Bill Richardson as emerged as a solid ROCK for the democratic party, no whimpy "do as we say" kind of guy that James Carville wants following his lead.

Bill Richardson and Nancy Pelosi would make great leaders on TEAM OBAMA: maybe even one as VP, the other as Sec. of State.

And I'm sure there's a place for someone like Howard Dean, who isn't a push-over to the threats and rants of what he has been subjected to.

TO SPEAKER PELOSI: you have MILLIONS of Obama supporters more than willing to support a TRANSPARENT, ETHICAL, HONEST, INTEGRITY-DRIVEN DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Put up the donation web site, Speaker Pelosi, and let's get our nominee ELECTED TO OUR WHITE HOUSE! I'll bet you ALL the OBAMA supporters contribute when they see ethics, integrity, and the honoring of democracy modeled as VALUES in the democratic party as a whole!

[patriotscholar]

The Clinton campaign now wants to threaten holding back money? Blackmail? Enough already. I am starting to believe that Hillary really does not care about anyone except herself.

[CBS]

Starting to believe? Where have you been?

[mounthoodliberal]

don't be to hard on patriotsch­olar.....l­et's be thankful folks are starting to wake up. my wife *was* a hillary supporter until earlier in the month, now she's come around.

[PistonMoaned]

I donated to the DCCC this morning and sent with it a comment that my donation was in response to the Clinton supporters threatening letter.

[TurnThePageGA]

Thanks for reminding me. I will go out and do the same.

[Ermasdaughter]

I did the same. The nerve!

[joeyp404]

It's time for a Third Party We Can Believe In.

[MichaelTenery]

Why is the Hillary campaign going to ruin the Democratic one?

[sink]

Seriously? Read the MANY articles on this very site (and others) about her actions of late that continue to show us what many have forgotten since in the last 8 years: The Clintons are only in this game for themselves.

Hillary is supporting the other party, refusing to recognize that there's basically only one option left to her to win nomination, and continuing to drag out a contest that SHOULD NOT be.

It's ridiculous and unacceptable. Every day that this drags on is a day that McCain looks better and better, thus improving his pitiful position.

[DennyCrane]

Hillary acts like a spoiled brat when she doesn't get her way. Is this the kind of President she would be?

[patriotscholar]

It's all about power. She craves power.

[Polly]

To AlwaysforHillary

I too am very sad for you. If you want what is the best for the country you would not fill your writing with so much hate. I can understand you backing the Clintons, things were better for all of us from 1992 on until Bush, but that was then & this is now. We have much larger problems that need a different approach and even though I am 59 and a woman I want someone who will reach to what is better in us as Americans and I believe Obama can be that person. That does not mean Hillary is bad or wrong, it just means we need more. I wish you could see more than just yourself, this is not about you, it is not about your team or my team, it is about our future and who will be the best for our children. Please support Hillary, but don't hate everyone who does not.

[Researchguy66]

It's about time someone goes after Madame Speaker...I only wish it could be for her decision to beat back any attempt at Bush administration accountability or for her refusal to allow any attempt to end the war. It's not much, but I'll take it....

[AlwaysforHillary]

This guy, this author of this offending article is obviously a Clinton-hater. Well, I am not a rich donor. I am living on disability yet I have donated to and have volunteered and campaigned for Hillary Clinton since the day she announced her candidacy! It is very obvious from your vitriol that you HATE the Clintons! Well, I happen to love and admire them and I have been loyal to them since 1992. This country NEEDS Hillary as our president!!! We DO NOT NEED OBAMA!!! Neither he nor McCain will solve any of America's problems! Choice between an old man who wants the war to go on for 100 years and younger, naive, inexperienced, arrogant, cocky, lying, rookie who sits for 20 years in a church listening to his pastor preach HATRED and BIGOTRY?? No, I'll take Hillary Clinton. At least I know she has made positive changes for 35 years. The Clinton years were good years! I want them back!

[jvarga]

Speaking of preaching hatred, do you find irony in you making that statement when its preceeded by "and younger, naive, inexperienced, arrogant, cocky, lying, rookie who sits for 20 years in a church"?

Because I do. I find irony, and it makes me sad because you are probably so blind to what you're saying and how you're acting that you don't and you never will.

Additionally, do you consider the war in iraq a positive change? Because Senator Clinton voted for it. Do you find laying the foundation for war with iran a positive change? Because Senator Clinton voted for it. Do you find cluster bombing civlilians a positive change? Because Senator Clinton voted against banning the practice.

If that's your idea of positive change, I don't know what to say.

[radionewsboy]

And Obama repeatedly voted to continue funding the war....wow, impressive change.

[Darkbane]

That is the problem. You want something you can't have. The Clinton years are over and they aren't coming back. Stop living in yesterday and wake up to today. The Clintons in front of you are NOT the Clintons of the 90's. Stop dreaming. Obama supporters have been accused of loving a fantasy but it's not true. You all are. You all actually think if Hillary gets elected some part of the 90's will magically come back. Not gonna happen. So see her as she is today not as you WISH her to be. She has lied on the national stage already, she has kept financial records hidden, she has broken her word to the Democratic party by pushing for the votes in FL and MI to count. She has directly attacked and insinuated negative things about Obama, she has sang the praises of Mccain. She has shaken Obama's hand one day and cut him with her sword the next. She lied about dodging sniper fire and running to the car.

Hillary is not a return to the Clinton years she is a extension of the sad horrible 8 years have been having. Another Administration that tries to bend the rules whenever, lies if needed, gets testy if challenged, believes in the your with me or against me mentality. WE NEED A CHANGE.
Who cares if the president switches from Red to Blue if the Administration operates in nearly the exact same way.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"The Clintons in front of you are NOT the Clintons of the 90's. "

--------------

well... the truth is, yes they are.

the difference is that people were making so much money in the 90's they weren't paying much attention to anything else. they were making money, so "all was great." but there were a lot of other things going on at the same time.

[veteran1964]

Also, the Clinton supporters will never get to shake her hand again. She could give a big rat's ass about her supporters. When and if she walks into the White House you will see them when they (notice I said THEY-President Billery) give speeches. Old BOBBLE HEAD HILLARY will have her power and then you can write about how much she cares about you.

[MichaelTenery]

The sad thing is hearing Hillary supporters parroting back lines like 35 years, even as those years include time spent on the Wal-mart board fighting unions and women's equal protection laws, as well as years on the Rose law firm helping rich folks on land deals. Those are not years of public service. They helped no one but herself and her clients and in many cases they went against the overall public interest. That's not Hillary hate those are just the facts.

[TurnThePageGA]

And running from Snipers in Bosnia....

[BoThomasReed]

Wow, that was a pathetic waste of my time. You clearly have a hatred for Barak Obama for absolutely no vaild reason. When has he been any of those things you accuse him of? He's been incredibly gracious to Senator Clinton despite some of the most vile, disgusting and outrageous attacks that have come from her campaign. Could it be that you, like Hillary, believe in a sense of entitlement when it comes to the Presidency? How dare the millions of Obama supporters stand up and say no to that. Her hatred and now your hatred has robbed the Clinton's of what was once a great legacy. Now they will be remembered for this election. An election where their worst side has come out time and time again because they are losing to Obama. Something they, and supporters like yourself, refuse to accept. Reality.....try it sometime, it's much more helpful than denial.

[rrafiringa]

Another Hillary backer spoon fed by the mainstream media. Why don't you check Youtube, search for Wright's full sermons, and then make an opinion again?
Trust me, you're the first one who would need Obama. Hillary cares about you only if she gets your vote, you heard what she said when Richardson joined Obama, that he doesn't matter, although Bill went all the way to watch super bowl with him. Nowhere in her plans are you responsible of anything as a citizen. It's all "I will do this, I will do that". Obama at least knows how to say "I will do this with your help", that tells me my vote will count for something.

[standforpeace]

Well I'm glad it's all out in the open. I guess this is what they call the new math. If you can't win the pledged delegates, say that it's about the popular vote. If you can't win the popular vote, say that is about who is ahead in national polls. If you fall behind in national polls, say it's about the Electoral College (wtf was that about). And if none of that's working, just go all old school on their asses and resort to extortion. I believe that the financial blackmail that we are seeing now is the desperate last move of a dying snake, and we just need to stay strong until the snake gives up the ghost.

One thing about the Obama candidacy that hasn't received nearly enough attention is the fact that he has come this far on the backs of over a million small donors rather than by relying on small numbers of big donors. That has to be scaring the hell out of those who have been operating under the business as usual model in which they use their big checks (or bundles of checks from their rich friends because they wouldn't want to break any campaign laws) to buy influence. So it's no wonder that some are so desperate that they are willing to publically commit extortion to deny Obama the presidency.

[ldvisavis]

Rove wanna-be campaign tactics--cowboy Bubba calling out for a down and dirty fight cuz its the American way--now thuggery, bullying, and threatening anyone who opposes their objectives. Can't get enough Bush? Your options are widening...Hillary and Co. are acting more Bushy than McCain!

[ElkoJohn]

`
hopefully Team Hillary will crash & burn
and the Clintons will be relegated to the "has-beens" that they are
Al Gore will then be free to help Obama unite the country
a happy ending
to an ugly campaign
no more 1980, Kennedy v. Carter tragedies
.

[Researchguy66]

That same Kennedy, as in 1980, is a prominant backer of Sen. Obama...