I was having a spirited discussion with some friends of mine recently about the election and how like Nancy Pelosi, the current Speaker of the House, I was hoping that by July 1st, the Democrats would have this thing locked up and decide who is going to be their nominee... either Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or (snicker, snicker) Mike Gravel.
One of my friends mentioned that here in Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, who is the former mayor of Philadelphia, and Michael Nutter, the current mayor of Philadelphia, are Hillary Clinton supporters. I said that when Bill Clinton was in the White House and Ed Rendell was our mayor, the city of Philadelphia got a lot of federal aid. Those were gravy days, the early 90's... employment was high, people were buying homes at very low interest rates, and the city in general, enjoyed prosperity.
Ed Rendell is now the governor of Pennsylvania and he is returning the favor to the Clintons. I said that even if Obama wins, I don't think it would hurt Philadelphia because "These are politicians, they understand endorsements and they don't take this personal." My friend said, "So, you expect Obama to send federal aid to a state where it's governor and the mayor of its largest city didn't support him?" I said, "Sure, it's still a Democratic state and they don't take endorsements personal." Perhaps, I have been a bit naive. Check out this article... it may prove me wrong.
Richardson Endorsement Still Irks Bill Clinton
Meantime, Hillary Reportedly Told Richardson That Obama Can't Win!
SACRAMENTO, California - Former President Clinton is still smarting over New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama.
During a private meeting with California Democrats this past weekend, Clinton grew red-faced as he talked about how he expected Richardson, who was a member of Clinton's Cabinet, to back Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination or at least stay neutral, according to several people who attended.
Instead, Richardson endorsed Obama late last month, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader." Meantime, ABC News reported that Hillary Clinton lobbied Richardson hard, claiming Obama would lose in the general election. "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win," she reportedly said. Lobbying super delegates,
"He sort of gets a little redder and redder and redder, but he wasn't off the deep end as I had seen him in the past," said Inola Henry, an uncommitted superdelegate. "It was sort of like, 'Gee, I'm a martyr.' He seemed more hurt than anything."
Clinton used his appearance at the state Democratic Party Convention in San Jose to lobby California's 21 uncommitted superdelegates to support his wife.
After posing for a group photograph with the former president, super delegate Rachel Binah told Clinton she was disappointed that one of his allies, strategist James Carville, had compared Richardson to Judas after he endorsed Obama.
Clinton, according to several people present, distanced himself from Carville's remarks. But, he went on to say that he had not expected Richardson to endorse the Illinois senator, especially since the New Mexico governor had invited Clinton to Santa Fe to watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 3rd.
"He did say he certainly had been led to believe that he was going to get the endorsement," Henry said Wednesday. She was one of about 15 superdelegates — some uncommitted, others backing Clinton — who attended Sunday's meeting with Clinton before he addressed the convention.
Aleita Huguenin, another superdelegate, remembered Clinton saying, "We thought he'd let us know if he did an endorsement." But Huguenin said the comments about Richardson were "a minor blip in the whole meeting."
According superdelegate Chris Stampolis, Clinton said only that Richardson had promised not to endorse Obama, saying, "'He told me to my face five times he would not do that."
Richardson disagrees Binah did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but she previously told The Associated Press she supports Clinton. Other superdelegates interviewed by the AP said it was Binah's statement that prompted Clinton's comments about Richardson's decision.
Pahl Shipley, a spokesman for Richardson, said his boss never promised to endorse Hillary Clinton.
"He never told the president or anybody else, for that matter," Shipley said. "The governor respectfully disagrees with the president."
Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, endorsed Obama on March 21, shortly after the Illinois senator gave a speech about race. It was a blow to the Clintons because of their long association with Richardson, who served as Clinton's energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations.
Clinton's campaign declined to comment, except to say the former president was in California to promote his wife's candidacy.
"President Clinton discussed the importance of this election with Democratic Party members and how after 46 primaries and caucuses, by virtually every measure, this election remains a very close race," campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said in a statement. "President Clinton is incredibly popular in the Golden State, and the convention was a great opportunity for him to speak directly with members of the California Democratic Party."
Bob Mulholland, a spokesman for the state party who attended the private meeting, said Clinton expressed himself passionately but insisted the meeting was productive.
"I left the meeting feeling this was great," Mulholland said. "The guy had time to talk to us about the campaign."
After reading that, I realized that politicians, just like myself, are human. When I am perfectly honest, I realize that I probably would've taken that personal so, why would I expect someone else not to take it personal? I'm open to your thoughts and comments.
During a private meeting with California Democrats this past weekend, Clinton grew red-faced as he talked about how he expected Richardson, who was a member of Clinton's Cabinet, to back Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination or at least stay neutral, according to several people who attended.
Instead, Richardson endorsed Obama late last month, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader." Meantime, ABC News reported that Hillary Clinton lobbied Richardson hard, claiming Obama would lose in the general election. "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win," she reportedly said. Lobbying super delegates,
"He sort of gets a little redder and redder and redder, but he wasn't off the deep end as I had seen him in the past," said Inola Henry, an uncommitted superdelegate. "It was sort of like, 'Gee, I'm a martyr.' He seemed more hurt than anything."
Clinton used his appearance at the state Democratic Party Convention in San Jose to lobby California's 21 uncommitted superdelegates to support his wife.
After posing for a group photograph with the former president, super delegate Rachel Binah told Clinton she was disappointed that one of his allies, strategist James Carville, had compared Richardson to Judas after he endorsed Obama.
Clinton, according to several people present, distanced himself from Carville's remarks. But, he went on to say that he had not expected Richardson to endorse the Illinois senator, especially since the New Mexico governor had invited Clinton to Santa Fe to watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 3rd.
"He did say he certainly had been led to believe that he was going to get the endorsement," Henry said Wednesday. She was one of about 15 superdelegates — some uncommitted, others backing Clinton — who attended Sunday's meeting with Clinton before he addressed the convention.
Aleita Huguenin, another superdelegate, remembered Clinton saying, "We thought he'd let us know if he did an endorsement." But Huguenin said the comments about Richardson were "a minor blip in the whole meeting."
According superdelegate Chris Stampolis, Clinton said only that Richardson had promised not to endorse Obama, saying, "'He told me to my face five times he would not do that."
Richardson disagrees Binah did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but she previously told The Associated Press she supports Clinton. Other superdelegates interviewed by the AP said it was Binah's statement that prompted Clinton's comments about Richardson's decision.
Pahl Shipley, a spokesman for Richardson, said his boss never promised to endorse Hillary Clinton.
"He never told the president or anybody else, for that matter," Shipley said. "The governor respectfully disagrees with the president."
Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, endorsed Obama on March 21, shortly after the Illinois senator gave a speech about race. It was a blow to the Clintons because of their long association with Richardson, who served as Clinton's energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations.
Clinton's campaign declined to comment, except to say the former president was in California to promote his wife's candidacy.
"President Clinton discussed the importance of this election with Democratic Party members and how after 46 primaries and caucuses, by virtually every measure, this election remains a very close race," campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said in a statement. "President Clinton is incredibly popular in the Golden State, and the convention was a great opportunity for him to speak directly with members of the California Democratic Party."
Bob Mulholland, a spokesman for the state party who attended the private meeting, said Clinton expressed himself passionately but insisted the meeting was productive.
"I left the meeting feeling this was great," Mulholland said. "The guy had time to talk to us about the campaign."
After reading that, I realized that politicians, just like myself, are human. When I am perfectly honest, I realize that I probably would've taken that personal so, why would I expect someone else not to take it personal? I'm open to your thoughts and comments.
1 comment:
Keith great article but my question is why won't the people that know the Clintons support them? Think about it Richards,John Lewis,Jimmy Carter, and other high profile persons from Washington these people have been dealing with them for years. So, it's something behind the scenes thats not good.
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