CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– POLITICS
Aug. 24, 2008 – 8:25 p.m.
Hill Leaders Press Clintons for More Obama Enthusiasm
By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff
Democratic congressional leaders said Sunday they would settle for nothing less than enthusiastic, unambiguous rhetoric from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton encouraging their supporters to rally to Barack Obama ’s presidential candidacy and quell talk of party disunity.
The New York senator, who lost to Obama in one of the closest Democratic nomination race in modern times, has been scheduled with Obama’s blessing to be the principal prime time speaker at Tuesday’s session of the Democratic convention.
The former president is slated to speak outside of prime time on Wednesday, after which his wife’s name will be placed in the nomination and there will be some version of the traditional roll call of the states — which will formally make Obama the party’s nominee.
And no one would be much surprised if either or both of the Clintons appear on the podium Thursday evening, when Obama and his running mate Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware accept their nominations during the climatic event at Invesco Field.
Top Democrats say it’s unthinkable that the Clintons won’t appear to fully on board behind the ticket during this week’s convention and into the fall. But they are offering thinly veiled warnings about fealty nonetheless. The House majority whip, James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, said that in their speeches the Clintons have to “really demonstrate to this party and the American people where they are with Obama’s candidacy.’’
Clyburn conceded the danger the convention could become publicly fractured during the nominating speeches and roll call, which could remind the American people how close and at times divisive the nomination fight was. Clinton ended up with about 45 percent of the pledged delegates, who in theory are obligated to vote for her on the first ballot at the convention. But it appeared late Sunday that Clinton might be getting ready to release her nearly 1,900 delegates from that commitment — although perhaps not much before Wednesday’s roll call.
“I like to be positive. To me the glass is half-full,” Clyburn said in describing the current tenseness of the Clinton-Obama relationship. “We can go all the way during the roll call and fill it or we can go the other way and empty that which is in it.
“I hope we use the roll call to fill the glass’’ of party unity before the general election campaign begins, added.
How the delegates behave could have some sway on the Democratic electorate; polling shows as many as a quarter of Clinton voters preparing to support Republican John McCain and only half who have firmly shifted their allegiance to Obama.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland said he has no doubt the Clintons will do all they can to help Obama.
“I think we’re going to hear a full-throated, no-nonsense endorsement of Barack Obama and an urging of all those were supported the Clintons through the years to do the same for Barack Obama ,’’ he said.
Both Hoyer and Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in the congressional leadership, remained neutral through much of the primary season.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano , who endorsed Obama in January, said she thought the Clintons’ endorsement will help female Clinton supporters come out for the Illinois senator. “Some people are unhappy but in the end we’re all Obama supporters,’’ she said.
Hill Leaders Press Clintons for More Obama Enthusiasm
But Denver is rife with Clintonites who either think their candidate got a raw deal or who at least want to ensure that she is properly honored this week. Such groups as 18 Million Voices, a reference to the number of votes their candidate got in primaries and caucuses, and Politics as Usual My A**, are active in pushing for Clinton. Another grassroots organization, The Denver Group, has zeroed in on Wednesday’s planned roll call vote, which the group fears will be less than transparent.
While the official call for the convention specifies that presidential candidates will be placed in nomination and a roll call taken, it doesn’t specify that the roll consist of the traditional calling out of state’s names from the podium to which state delegations respond by announcing their vote.
That troubles Heidi Li Feldman, a leader of the group who is a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, “It’s clear they don’t want an on-air roll call. They’re extremely nervous about this,’’ she said.
At the very least, she added, she and her supporters want to ensure “that the tallying of the vote is reliable.’’
She said party officials haven’t responded to her requests for the roll call’s exact rules.
Hoyer is serving as convention parliamentarian for the fourth straight time. He said even he is still unsure exactly how the roll call will be done, but he said whatever is done will be fully endorsed by Obama and Clinton. “It will not be done in a way that either disrupts or sends a mixed signal,’’ he said.
“I’m sure Obama and Clinton want it to go off without a hitch. Clinton doesn’t want to be embarrassed and Obama wants it to come off without a hitch,’’ he added.
Asked if the roll call will take the traditional form, convention spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth referred to the joint Clinton-Obama announcement about the nominating procedure and to the convention rules that specify a roll call.
Comments
If Hillary wants a future in the Dem. party she will be nothing short of enthused in her support.
Where do Hoyer and Clyburn, get off saying The Clinton's had better do this, or they better do that. Who in the hell do they think they are? Why don't they get on the blogs and tell Obama supporters to stop calling anyone who doesn't support Obama a racist? I hope The Clinton's tell both of them and The Dnc to kiss their asses, and to go to hell. They ought to be ashamed of the way they have treated The clinton's and their supporters. PARTY UNITY MY ASS.
..."It will not be done in a way that disrupts or sends a mixed signal. " So says Steny Hoyer. Disrupts what? Disrupts whom? Sends a "mixed signal to whom? I find his answer to be very ambiguous if not disingenuous. If there is a full roll call vote there will be no mixed signal, for it will show that the party is following traditional methods and conducting an open convention. If there is not an open roll call then the message is that the convention is being controlled and/or manipulated, a very bad signal to send, indeed. Which is it to be?
Hillary ran the clock. This is her doing. Now its hers to fix. If she doesn't, she will be remembered as the Nadar of 2008. Enthusiastic is not enough. Suggestion is not enough. Recommendation is not enough She has to present a non-arguable case to her followers.
As Will Bower said today, the DNC is responsible for the problems within the party. PUMA is the result. As the leader of the party Senator Obama is to unify the party however, he always send Hillary to do it. He can't run the Democratic party, he sure can run the free world.
All you Hillary Folks: The roll call will be taken, as indicated in the rules, Hillary will release her delegates, as she promised, and everyone better be prepared to play nice for the cameras by Thursday. Clinton has every reason to walk this fine line between the absurdity her rabid supporters' demands and the more rational plan of doing what's best for party unity. Some of you see conspiracy in every move. Its insane. The "mixed signal" Mr, Hoyer is trying to avoid is exactly what you're trying to stir up. But there is nothing nefarious in this. It's the way it will be. And Ms. Heidi Li Feldman, with her cohorts at the Denver Group, is simply looking for a toehold to put her in the limelight for her 15 minutes. If you go to their blog, they are intentionally blowing smoke, telling lies to favor their point of view and, in a move steeped in their own hypocrasy, refusing to allow anyone who isn't a rabid supporter to voice another opinion. They are raising money for a "cause" that simply isn't there. If the Hillary supporters really want to do her some good, do as she does, and accept the inevitable. Obama is the nominee, and with Hillary's help, Obama will be president. Don't you become the very embarrassment Hillary is trying to avoid.
Bill r, would you like Hillary to go to the back of the bus as well? If you messiah wants unity it is his job to do it, not hers. He wants to lead, "NOW LEAD". Or can he not?
The last time that I checked the United States is a democracy. We own our votes and so do the Clintons. Clyburn and Hoyer are using threats and intimidation and it won't work. Senator Obama is unqualified to be President because he lacks experience. Furthermore, the DP corrupted the process by buying off the super delegates. We will not fall in line. No matter what the Clintons say, if Obama becomes the nominee, the Clinton Democrats will vote for McCain.
Clyburn , along with Pelousy, Dean , Brazile ,Reid, Kennedy and others, have destroyed the Democratic Party this year. When McCain wins in November, they will have only themselves to blame. Pumas have suceeded in letting the world know about the sham of the caucases and intimindation of delegates and voters.Shame on all of them! Shame for not standing up for decency and honesty!
"the Clintons have to "really demonstrate to this party and the American people where they are with Obama's candidacy.' Someone go check and see what Clyburn is smoking, After Clyburn and Obama evinced incredible disrespect for a former president and a sitting Senator, after Clyburn and Obama called them and their supporters racists, after the Obama campaign spent months making sly nasty comments about Senator Clinton, and after the Dean Team spent a year trying his damnedest to get Obama declared the candidate, the best hope they have is for the candidate they slammed and hustled to say that Obama is qualified. If only Senator Clintons has the power to save the election, and if Obama The Uniter is unable to Unite his own party, and if Obama The Chosen is unable to convince the voting public that he is qualified without an imprimatur from Senator Clinton, then the Democrats ought to be looking at why they are proposing Obama.
For the sake of Party unity, it is essential that Clyburn contact Senator Obama post haste so that he can begin to repair the horrific damage they did to half of the Democrats during this primary. Obama and Clyburn insulted and smeared a beloved two term Democratic President and former First Lady, along with 18 million of their supporters! Mr. Obama's convention speech will have to be a barn burner to even begin to try to apologize to half of a loyal Party for tearing down their former President and his peaceful and prosperous administration. The Clintons cannot fix what Senator Obama and people like Clyburn broke. Get busy, you've got your work cut out for you!
Senator Clyburn needs to remember that he started all of this divisiveness in SC last November; at this point the Clintons should not be so concerned about their political careers. They should see that the party does not care about them any longer and move on to another aspect of their careers. It's so amazing how the DNC has kicked a marvelous President in the rear and disrepected his first lady. Simpy Amazing.
This is so artificial. It is nervous and contrived. The whole convention is being staged to be a smooth running spectacle like China's recent Olympic Opening ceremonies. I am sad that Hillary is being put in the position of being responsible for the actions and opinions of the people who supported her and voted for her in the primaries. She has held her head up high and supported the heck out of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. Isn't it up to Barack Obama and Howard Dean to do the job of winning this election? Hillary has asked her supporters (over and over again) to give money to Obama and to support him. You know what? She has their respect and support, but she can not control what they think, who they will support, and who they want to vote for. It's not all up to Bill and Hillary Clinton. The Democratic Party ought to be thanking them for everything they have done and apologizing to them for the terrible treatment. I am really
Doesn't matter what the Obamas do - Biden either - will not be voting for a single Democratic candidate this year and I started voting in 1964 - this whole thing has been rigged from the beginning and I'm not jumping on the bandwagon - may not vote for McCain but defintely voting against Precious
Why can't Obama carry his own weight? It is time Obama is held responsible for his own missteps and deficiencies in leadership. Why is it up to Senator Clinton? She has done everything required (and then some) to support Obama. It is obvious that she is the real leader. That is why everyone is looking to her even at this late date. It is time Obama stood on his own two feet and stops blaming others for his weakness. He should not be afraid of democracy.
Respectfully: get over it, Hillary supporters. You only do damage to Hillary's attempts to bring the party together.
Maybe these "Hill Leaders" ought to try to gain some public enthusiasm about their own performance before they presume to demand anything from the Clintons. BTW, Hoyer, Obama and the other FISA-backers, how about some "enthusiasm" for the Constitution?
This is not the Clinton's responsibility to bring her supporters in line for Obama. It's Obama's responsibility and so far I see nothing that Obama or his campaign has done to woo Clinton voters. Instead our concerns about Obama's inexperience and questionable associates have been dismissed or we have been called names. What an odd way to "unify" the party. BTW, McCain is no Geo. W. but what I've seen of Obama I think he could be another "Geo. W.". The only difference is Obama has a "democratic label". Do we really want to take a chance on another incompetent, corrupt, arrogant, out-of touch leader of this nation? I don't. I will vote for McCain who has experience and has shown true ability to work across the aisle before I will vote for someone who only has "empty rhetoric" to offer.
Obama has to earn my vote. Demanding my vote just does't do it. In fact, it causes an equal and opposite reaction.
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: