CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– POLITICS
Aug. 26, 2008 – 9:36 p.m.
Pro-Clinton Group Not Backing Down
By Shawn Zeller, CQ Staff
A prominent backer of Hillary Rodham Clinton now says delegate intimidation by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama ’s campaign means a fair nomination vote will be impossible on Wednesday night.
“I think they are hell bent on having a pretend vote,” said Heidi Li Feldman, the Georgetown University law professor whose Denver Group sponsored advertisements this summer demanding a roll call vote on the presidential nomination at this week’s convention.
Feldman says the Denver Group now plans to run more ads after the convention under the rubric of “Principle over Party.”
“All of that energy is now going to be channeled into making sure the Democratic Party does not inherit such incompetent leadership as we have had to endure this election season,” she said.
Feldman held court Tuesday before about 50 rowdy Clinton supporters at Le Central, a French restaurant in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. They greeted her pledge to demand Dean’s ouster with resounding applause.
Several attendees asked Feldman how they should vote this November. “I don’t think you should be behind the party right now,” said Feldman, who said she plans to leave her own presidential ballot blank. “Keep standing in front of the Pepsi Center and saying this is a fraud and a fake and I am not going to be party to a party that is corrupt.”
Comments
Heidi Li Feldman is just a PUMA agitator looking for attention. She has no evidence at all to support her claims of "intimidation."
Heidi Li Feldman is a brilliant and committed progressive. She's simply disgusted, like many of us, at the vote stealing and sexism perpetuated by Obama and the Dnc.
When I was listening to Dean, Pelosi, the Obama campaign, Donna Brazile etc during the primary I did not hear them pressuring super delegates to support Obama. All I heard them do was pressure them to support one candidate.
Heidi Li is a well-respected Professor of Law, and to minimize her is not only absurd, it is highly naive. If the Party doesn't hurry up and ADMIT it's wrongs, they will DEFINITELY lose half of it. BTW-- all of the disparaging things said about Hillary and her supporters by the BO people is another HUGE reason for the exodus of the Party. Donna Brazile's flippant comments have only further hurt and alienated life-long Democrats. If you want to minimize the situation and blame PUMA, you are more lost and in denial than previously believed. LOOK AT THE POLLS -- THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR BO.
Heidi Li Feldman is a Democrat who is fighting to keep the democracy in the Democratic Party. She speaks for me and for millions of Democrats, former Democrats and independants who cannot and will not condone what has taken place this primary season. She is bravely and tirelessly fighting for what is right and just. She is fighting for our country, she is fighting for the Democratic Party, she is fighting for me and most importantly, she is fighting for my daughters. Thank you Heidi Li Feldman. ainnj
Au contraire, cab. Heidi is by far among the most well informed, erudite members of the PUMA movement, and there is indeed more than enough proof to substantiate her allegations. It is never a good idea to make a statement that cannot be substantiated, and PUMAS are especially careful to refrain from making statements that cannot be substantiated.
The DNC "leadership" has trashed the democratic party. I will not reward their behavior. This convention is a sham. The election is a sham. Dean, Pelosi and company should be ashamed... but they won;t be unless they LOSE. Bravo Denver Group. Bravo Heidi!
Heidi Li Feldman is one of the most levelheaded, intelligent persons, with high moral standards. She is by no means an agitator, on the contrary. During the entire process she has been a beacon of moderation, pragmatism and honesty. We are very blessed to have people like her as citizens, who are not afraid to stand up to corruption and desinfranchisement of voters. I thank her for her brave and thoughtful endeavors on behalf of the Democratic Party and it's integrity.
I live in Florida. A friend of mine was at the Iowa caucuses. She saw the intimidation there. Here is a documentary of that intimidation: http:wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm. Superdelegates were also given campaign money from states that voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton. Jay Rockefeller is one. It is not illegal. It just seem unethical to me. There is more evidence out there including the hijacking of delegates to Barack Obama from MI--a state where he wasn't even on the ballot.
cab91, you are simply wrong. First, people who did not plan to vote for Obama were called racist and still are, or, called "Uncle Tom" by Emil Jones if one is African-American. Now Obama supporters call anybody not supporting Obama a PUMA. I'm just a voter. I'm not part of any group, and I am not voting Obama. Dr. Feldman has many good points.
What evidence can YOU offer that Heidi is "just a PUMA agitator"? Or is your comment "just words"?
Once Obama loses in November the superdelegates will be free of the intimidation from the Brazile/Pelosi/Dean combo, and you'll hear the truth. Remember also that some superdelegates running for office were "intimidated" with much needed $$$ from the combo's political pacs. You'll see how right Heidi has been all along.
Sorry, ladies. It's not my responsibility to provide proof that Heidi Li Feldman is an agitator. It's her responsibility to put some foundations under the stories she's been spreading. Initially, she was demanding a response from Howard Dean to her letter. But then that dropped by the wayside. Why? I'm sure she got her letter. However, publicizing it would have put a dent in her fundraising. Can't have that. If Howard Dean is shown to be--gasp!--reasonable, he can't be the bad guy in her story anymore. No bad guy, no money, no ads, no Denver Group. Then, she was demanding Hillary Clinton's name be placed into nomination at the Convention. She got it. It was what democracy demanded, she said. Even Howard Dean said that the rules mandated her name be put in nomination unless she requests otherwise. But then that isn't her goal. I guess the limelight is too hard to give up. So what does Heidi Li Feldman want *now*? (Besides more of your money, that is.) Last night, Hillary gave the best speech a Democrat has ever delivered in recent memory. But for those of you who think Heidi Li Feldman walks on water, ask yourselves--and Heidi--the question Hillary asked: "I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage?" So will you follow her lead or will you think only of your own motives?
As one who reads Heidi Li Feldmans's blog regularly, I find her a voice of sanity and integrity. Hers is an independent voice which should be heard. She speaks the truth, and has the legal expertise to help us understand the process we call democracy. Everyone who seeks renewal of the Democratic Party is not automatically a PUMA. As I understand it PUMA is an alliance--an umbrella for many groups; it is a rallying word for those who will not fall for the party line of "unity at any cost."
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: