Twenty-four hours after the Obama campaign cut 900 delegate candidates across California, the campaign reversed itself and reinstated all candidates. In an email sent to all Californians running to be Obama delegates at this summer's Democratic National Convention, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote:
There has been an extraordinary outpouring of grassroots support for Senator Obama among Democrats and Independents in all 53 California Congressional districts.In recognition of this tremendous enthusiasm, our campaign has asked the California Democratic Party to allow all persons who have filed to be a district delegate candidate for Senator Obama at the Democratic National Convention to participate in the caucuses this Sunday, April 13, 2008.
We are confident that delegates elected from this pool will reflect the Senator's commitment to a diverse and unified delegation at the National Convention.
An overwhelming number of supporters have signed up to run for delegate, so there will likely be lines and tight space at the caucus locations. We ask for everyone's patience and cooperation.
Most of all, please enjoy this opportunity to meet other Obama supporters and elect delegate candidates to the Convention in Denver.
Thanks for your interest and active participation in Barack's campaign to change politics and change America.
On a personal note, it's gratifying to know that the campaign made the decision to restore the candidacies of hundreds of volunteers and supporters. The campaign didn't have to and could have weathered out the mini-storm until Sunday. After telling my story yesterday, I spoke to many Obama supporters and other delegate candidates (those who were cut and those who weren't). All were flummoxed by why the campaign would choose to exclude so many supporters, including volunteers who have traveled to multiple states and given up nights and weekends in order to help Senator Obama win state after state.
There are some important unanswered questions that remain in the wake of the candidate purge. For instance, of the 17 candidates who remained in my district (CD30) after the cuts, three had given more than $1,000 each to Senator Clinton's campaign (two of those had also given to Obama, but one had given only $250 and made the Clinton donation more recently). If the Obama campaign was intent on removing candidates with potential loyalty problems, why would those candidates remain on the list? Even if the goal was to streamline the process, why would those candidates remain on the list?
Would I like to represent my district in Denver and cast my vote for Senator Obama at the Convention? Absolutely. But was preserving my chance to do so the most important thing to come out of the campaign's reversal? No. Rather, it was the recognition that the campaign should embrace, rather than turn away, many of those volunteers who have worked so diligently to bring new voters into the Obama tent and who are proud of where Senator Obama stands today, on the verge of becoming the Democratic nominee. See you on Sunday.
Why do you think that there is such a flight AWAY from her campaign!??
The Republicans want to see her get the nomination, so that they can tear her apart and hold on to the WHITEHOUSE.
SENATOR OBAMA IS OUR ONLY HOPE TO CHANGE THIS NATION TO ITS GREATER GOOD AND TO REGAIN GLOBAL RESPECT FOR THE GREAT NATION OF OURS>
WAKE UP!!
Great group all supported each other joyful experience.
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1204452950131830.xml&coll=3&thispage=1
As far as I know, no one in Alabama raised enough of a stink to get the Obama campaign to change their mind.
I'd be interested in knowing if this happened in other states, also. I realize it makes political sense in a traditional way but given the whole big-tent, unity, inclusion thing, I find it disconcerting.
Everything I have read or found points to the California Democratic Party (CDP) as the culprits. Isn't this the same CDP that threw its' support behind Hillary Clinton 18 months ago?
I would be more inclined to think factions loyal to Hillary were the ones to remove potentials in an effort to get pledged delegates willing to switch sides come the National Convention.
I may be wrong to think Hill-Qaeda supporters would go to lengths this extreme but I have seen nothing that could prove otherwise!
Obama doesn't think that the California delegates will change their minds. But it shows good will on his part, despite the fact that some of the delegates won't even vote for Obama. This is one of the many ways how Obama doesn't only speak for change in the kind of american politics, but also takes actions that match his words.
Love,
Shuaib.
At our expense, you used our burden to make a political point . The audacity ! And what HOPE are you spreading, Sir ? We welcome you with open arms, and in return you sold our dignity for 30 pieces of gold.
Did you swayed the Californians as our expense ? Are we equivalent to 30 piece of gold, a negotiable instrument to pander you kind of HOPE ?
How dare you SENATOR OBAMA, how dare you !.
I assume you can read since you posted a comment. Go and read what Senator Obama said and tell me the part you disagree with.
Do you enjoy politicians coming to your state, telling you exactly what you want to hear, making promises to revive your economy, saying one thing and when they've won, they forget about you for another four years?
Broken promises make people bitter, so what do people turn to? They turn to the things they can believe in, the things that don't continually disappoint them. Their faith, their friends, and their families. They enjoys their hobbies, whether it's guns, fishing, or motorcycles.
What did he say that you objected to? If Senator Clinton gives you hope in the future, then vote for her. Let me know how Pennsylvania is doing next election.
Voters across America have strong buyers remorse over anti-American, liar and racist Obama. He has shown his true lying colors. And many voters want their votes back.
Obama 08
You wanna know why I am voting for Obama? You wanna know why the rest of my family and extended friends and acquaintances are voting for Obama? Because the world is not the way it used to be....thank the Good Lord.....
Obama will do ANYTHING to get elected.
Obama will never be the nominee and he is losing his mind over it.
"Untruths are told that don't have anything to do with what Barack is about," she said in the local Luo language, her gray hair smoothed neatly under a headwrap. "I am very against it."
"In the world of today, children have different religions from their parents," she said. She also said that, she, too, is a Christian.
This comment contradicts a statement Sarah made in an April 2007 New York Times profile of Barack Obama, when she described herself as a lifelong
Muslim, saying "I am a strong believer of the Islamic faith."
Barack and Sarah have this religious adaptability in common.
Sarah Obama was the second wife of the candidate's late grandfather, so she is not his biological grandmother. But Auma Obama, Obama's
half-sister, said: "By our definition, in our culture, she is his grandmother," she said.
Clinton states outright that pledged delegates are a "misnomer" and then goes out to try to actively poach them - I am at a loss as to why this is "bad" of Obama to want to make doubly sure that his people are loyal and won't be talked into leaving by someone trying to poach? Wouldn't -you- worry about this if -your- opposition stated this goal?
I think you should look at the big picture, here.