Hillary Clinton's brother is one unhappy camper

While Democratic honchos sought today to untangle the problems caused by the rogue Florida and Michigan primaries, the party was in danger of losing a high-profile vote -- that of Tony Rodham Hugh Rodham, the brother of Hillary Clinton.

[UPDATE: Correction from the original post; our reporter got it right, but we wrote Hugh when we meant Tony. Many, many apologies. And our thanks to readers who caught our error].

The Times' Faye Fiore found Rodham sitting in an Irish-themed bar across the street from the Washington hotel where the Democratic rules committee was grappling with the mess. He was drinking a pint ... and fuming.

“I’m just here to make sure Americans are represented by one vote for every person," he said, parroting the Clinton line that the results in the two states should be reflected in their totality at the Democratic convention.

With the Democratic National Committee likely to settle on, at some unknown point, a different solution that results in fewer delegates for Clinton, Rodham opined: "What the DNC and (Chairman) Howard Dean are doing is an absolute disgrace.”

The upshot?

Rodham, a self-described “yellow dog Democrat all my life,” is unsure who he would support in November if Clinton is not the party's standard bearer.

"If my sister doesn’t end up with the nomination, I gotta take a look at who I’m gonna vote for,” he said.

Horrors.

Does that mean, Fiore asked, Rodham would vote for Republican John McCain?

“I didn’t say that. It could be Bob Barr,” he said, referring to the Libertarian presidential candidate who, as a House member from Georgia, was a prime player in the impeachment of Rodham's brother-in-law, Bill Clinton).

With that, Rodham paid his check and gathered his family: his son (the grandson of California Sen. Barbara Boxer, whose daughter, Nicole, was once married to Rodham), his baby by his second marriage, asleep in a stroller, and his pregnant wife. They headed back ...

toward the committee meeting.

“I’m going to go yell at the DNC meeting or wherever they’ll let me in,” he said.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Char]

CAN HILLARY CREATE A NEW POLITICAL PARTY TO REPRESENT THE WOMEN AND WORKING CLASS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION? MILLIONS OF VOTERS HOPE SO.
The DNC has made it clear that they have a nominee that represents blacks and college kids and that they don't care about women and working class voters. Obama's supporters have made that abundantly clear in their comments to these blogs. What hasn't yet dawned on women and working folks is that the democratic party no longer represents their interests - which means a new political party has splintered off from the democrats - a working class and women party to be exact. Hillary Clinton represents that constituency. Since the democrats will not be able to convince these voters - the ones that Obama has blatantly and consistently insulted - to accept the lesser of 2 evils - McCain vs. Obama - they will either change parties or vote for the lesser of 2 evils - McCain. The DNC has forced a split in the party - by its reckless disregard for women and working class voters - thank God Hillary is there to represent them.

[Ronald Loui]

Very timely, guys. We were just researching whether Barbara Boxer had a chance as a future VP. Unfortunately, the Clinton name smeared yet another good woman. Barbara Boxer deserves better than this. The Rodham bum, the more you read about him, should not cast a shadow over the Boxers, but of course politically, it's not good.

The more you publicize Rodham's unwillingness to vote for Obama, the faster the woman vote will return to the Democratic party's nominee.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

I am compelled to respond that I truthfully, honestly, and most absolutely just do not care one whit how Hillary's brother feels.

[D Miner]

"if my sister can't be President, I'll vote for another party!"

What an ass.

[ITSTIMETOTHINK]

The sleaze is oozing out of Clintonville and the stench is almost unbearable. Hillary is toast and a graceful exit for her is simply beyond her capacities as her entitlement tour ends by dashing up against the rocks only due to her own navigational error. RIP Clinton clan. And if you want to put your money where your mouth is then how about an endorsement for the 2008 democratic presidential nominee.

[iamcouriousblack]

threats, from someone who is losing no less. Then I hereby declare that in 1972 the U.S. olympic basketball team should get their Gold. They actually did win by the rules.

[LaDonna in WV]

The Rodham/Clinton bullying threats continue. I'm so tired of them. Hillary is acting like a spoiled brat.

[Dan]

His concerns have nothing to do with fairness or counting everybody's votes, it is all about winning at any cost. The rules of the process were clear, and you didn't see a single one of these people getting upset about Florida and Michigan until they thought it would make a difference. If we had been having these discussions last year, there would be some air of legitimacy about their concerns, but as it stands it is just blind ambition with no concern for justice.

Hillary feels entitled to the nomination, regardless of whether or not it's counter to the will of the people, and regardless of whether or not it's possible for her to get that nomination within the rules of the process. That is exactly why she should never be president.

[JV]

It's simple, Michigan and Florida were told "your votes won't count if you have your primaries early". They did it anyway and now, "Their votes won't count". What part of the equation is not understood.

[budd wright]

Come on bring on the hate mail. Hillary does not have the stomach to be president. Now that Brother Hugh has got in the act..it is a family affair!!!!!!
Slick Willy (Bill) lied to us for 12 months about EXTRA EXTRA...Now Hillary in a hail of bullets...come on People it is now a three ring circus...Next stop Vegas.
Short memories we americans or just plain S.....

[Tom]

Char:

It seems that maybe you're voting for all the wrong reasons. You're convinced it is all about gender identity and income levels and race and all these other things, but what policy difference concerns you? What do you want to see happen, and why do you think Clinton will do what Obama can't or won't? It sounds like you watch too much TV or something.

[john]

sitting in a bar with your kids, an infant and a pregnant wife... classy.

[Bo]

Hillary supporters are like children when they can't win under the rules, they try and change the rules and cry then take their ball and go home. If Hillary's brother wants to vote for Bob Barr go ahead but if Obama doesn't win he and those like him will be the reason the Supreme Court goes further right and the US stays for several years in Iraq.

[andrew]

CAN HILLARY CREATE A NEW POLITICAL PARTY TO REPRESENT WHITE REDNECKS? MILLIONS OF RACISTS HOPE SO.
The DNC has made it clear that they have a nominee that is black and that doesn't care about the fact that millions of poor whites won't vote for a black man. Obama's supporters have made that abundantly clear in their comments to these blogs. What hasn't yet dawned on these racists is that the democratic party no longer represents their interests - which means a new political party has splintered off from the democrats - a racist's party, to be exact. Hillary Clinton represents that constituency. Since the Democrats will not be able to convince these voters - the ones that Obama has blatantly and consistently ignored - to accept the lesser of 2 evils - McCain vs. Obama - they will either change parties or vote for the lesser of 2 evils - McCain. It is better to vote for a crazy white man than for a black man, no matter how qualified. The white man is inherently less evil. In short, the DNC has forced a split in the party by its recklessly progressive politics - thank God Hillary is there to represent the rednecks.

[We The People]

If you do not GIVE my sister that which she is Entitled, I'll take my ball and go home. Better yet., I will play for the team of losers and liars, and that will just show you. I leave it to you.

[Tadly]

Let them all go...... Obama is pulling so much support from the Republican Party it doesn't make any difference if Hugh the boy Rodaham votes for Obama or not...

Wasn't he pardoned by Bill for Drug running?

[dhsu]

The most vocal voices from both sides are only speaking their own selfish opinions. Switch Hillary and Obama's positions and these voices will immediately jump to a different tune.

"I'll vote for McCain if 'Hillary' is not the candidate!!" The disgusting ignorance of these "Democrats" will surely tear the party apart when the general election comes. But then, ignorance is bliss...until McCain is elected.

[Robert P]

I liked the fact at least there is one democrate who is showing sense -- that of Hugh Rodham, the brother of Hillary Clinton. Why anyone would want either of two junior senators who can't even become a committee chairmanship as President is beyond belief. No - I am not a died in the wool Republican - I voted twice for Bill Clinton and would do so a third time if given the choice. But I am for America's future - not some cheerleader for a candidate only because of gender and race (women and blacks). Ask yourself this question - if Hillary was named Howard and Obama was name Harold and both were Asian and McCain was a black female - would you still be for them? Have a good day - and I hope to God neither of these blow hards get to first base in the Presidental election.

[Mark @ News Corpse]

What a family!

So Clinton's brother is considering withholding his vote from Obama, and worse, giving it to Bob Barr who pretty much started the Clinton impeachment.

On the other hand, Rupert Murdoch is considering voting for Obama:
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=930

Somebody must have slipped something in my coffee.

[Geez]

Primary elections are not about making sure that "every American gets represented." They are about political parties choosing their own candidate. They can set their own processes however they want.

Millions of Americans didn't get a say in Bob Barr being selected as the Libertarian candidate. He sure wasn't on any primary ballot in my state. So why is Rodham interested in voting for *him*?

[Carrie]

Ignore Char. S/He has copy/pasted that comment in the comment section of every article I have read this morning. S/He's clearly a shill.

Honestly, anyone who thinks this election was stolen from Clinton needs to have their head examined. It was her campaign to lose - she treated the whole process as if it was just a parade, with the nomination in the bag, and ran the sloppiest campaign I have ever seen. Reminds me of a certain team that walked into the Superbowl this year, thinking they were unbeatable, only to get beaten. When folks start thinking they are entitled, and underestimate their opponents, they have earned the loss.

[Kathleen]

Again, I say, I do not want my vote from Florida to count. Why? Because to many Dem's understood up front that their vote would not be counted. Why take off time from work to vote when you know it doesn't matter, at least they tell you it wont matter. There is no way to say that the count they have would accurately depict what would have happened if the rules had been followed correctly from the start. Now some are trying to say those delegates should count. How rigged is that? If they wont do a do over than they should just let it slide and hopefully the people in these states wont let the Dem Party Leaders do anything this stupid again.
We'll see!

[Ericka]

Honestly who care what Hillary's brother thinks. Thank goodness many of Hillary's supporters are not all so bitter. Crying over missed chances will not solve anybody's problem and any woman voting for McBush is voting against their best interest.

[Jeff]

The fact that anyone feels that Hillary Clinton represents the working class proves at how effective she's been at manipulation. She was at the forfront of Walmarts Union busting activities while on their board, she was instrumental in exporting jobs overseas and you don't marry into a 100 million in assests without stepping on a LOT of working class people. Hillary represents HERSELF first, her financial interests second, and somewhere down the line, if she can make a dollar off of you and me, she might care.

IF you look at Barack Obama as supporting only the interests of the black community, then guess what? THEY NEED JOBS. Bring jobs BACK to America, stop supporting China and corporations that are exploiting foreign workers at Americas expense.

[beth]

i feel the same about voting for mccain if hillary isnt running againt him...i just dont think obama has any idea how to run a country...sorry thats how i feel and if clinton isnt there then my vote is going to mccain.