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

[goldenstate]

I remember hearing Obama supporters saying they would vote for McCain, if Hillary was the nominee. I don't think Obama is qualified so I will be writing in Hillary's name in November. I hope her brother does the same. It would be a lot easier if Hillary would run as an Independent. Then we would have Hillary, Obama, McCain, and Barr on the ballot. Two Democrats and two Republicans. It would make the election much more interesting.

[bob]

I am sure Rodham is upset. He might not be able to collect fees from a second round of Clinton pardons.

[shirlin]

Where are the Party elders and leaders? Where is Gore? Where is Dean? Why are the permitting the crazy deluded power-mad Clinton dynastic couple to destroy the party and the republic? There will be a revolution of party loyalists like me should Hillary succeed in stealing the nomination. Obama won the primary race fair and square. He is the superior candidate, the candidate who has won by ALL metrics. What about fairness do the Clintons not understand? What about justice does Hillary not know? We are disgusted with this scene of dynastic lunacy and with our party's enabling of the Clintons' continued power grab.

[Tom Hartman]

It sure is getting whiny out there! Just like I am not going to let some West Virginia racist tell me who the candidate for the Democratic party should be, I am not letting the brother of one of them tell me, either. If Hugh wants a Republican for President, he should go for it. But, for goodness sake, stop the whining.

[Character Counts]

Who wouldn’t like the Clinton/Rodham family? What a nice and wholesome bunch of people they are! I’m sure Hillary is very proud of her brother Hugh.

I’ll file this report under human interest. While funny, this story certainly wasn’t designed to encourage critical thinking. When will we get to discussing the real issues in this race?

[Tom J]

Are you sure that wasn't Tony Rodham? According to Wikipedia, Tony was the one married to Nicole Boxer.

[Marjorie]

Why would anyone care what Clinton's pardon peddling brother has to say. He and his other sibling are two more reaons we don't need the Clinons back in the White House.
I'm glad Boxer's daughter saw the light and divorced this Rodham person Sen Boxer's family are all deserving of respect and he never deserved to belong to it.
So vote for John McCain Mr Rodham but don't expect him to let you make a few bucks lobbying for felons' pardons.
John McCain is certainly a far better man than the Rodham Bros. and Bill Clinton will ever be - draft dodgers and evaders all.
Obama is going to get this nomination and this vindictive, nasty, unethical crowd are history.

[nofoolsgladly]

Now we know why Hillary has dropped thge "Rodham" affectation !

[Mike]

I sure will support Hillary all the right if she form another party for women, working classes and her supporters, I just think she is best among all three strong candidates.

Empty promises can only hurt us.

[Kithara]

Clinton will get two-thirds of what she want out of FL and MI and will still lose the nomination, and will still claim she was robbed and continue to hang on with negativity, deception, and blame. I told my wife that when Obama is finally nominated I'm cracking open a bottle of champagne saved from our wedding over seven years ago, that is how happy I'll be that we're finally rid of the Clintons!!

[Mike]

Hey Hugh, don't forget - you can always vote for Nader!

[Andrew]

In response to the person who wrote this:

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

Youtube Michelle Obama saying she'd "have to think about supporting Hillary" if she was the nominee.

[Mike]

I sure will support Hillary all the right if she form another party for women, working classes and her supporters, I just think she is best among all three strong candidates.

Empty promises can only hurt us.

[PAUL HERNANDEZ JR SFC US ARMY]

Hugh Rodam is a criminal who was selling influence when Bill was in the White House. How can so many folks forget that he bought pardons from his brother in law Bill the President. He can join the legions of sore losers who threaten to vote elsewhere fine by me. Go ahead and put self before party and forget that we have a war to get out of, health care to bring to our populace, Supreme Court justices to nominate, etc etc. Hugh Rodam was a nobody yesterday, he is a nobody today, and he will be nobody tomorrow.

[mainstream media suck]

Nice character assassination. The mainstream media suck. No one should read them.

[Brittanicus]

MARK MY WORDS...!
Our economy is really going to to be on the dung pile, if Senator Obama wins? He directly told the general public that he becomes president, he will sign into law a new AMNESTY. Although none of the Presidential contenders can be really trusted, Obama will be true to his word. That means if Democrats don't get to gut the border fence, as they are right now? The raw truth is it will not matter? As taxpayers will be forced by federal law to support the 15 to 38 million illegal immigrants already here. That means big business has won and they just collect the profits.

While the man or women in the street will have a giant financial yoke around their neck, to pay billions in even more welfare programs. Senator Obama will have condemned America to a bleak future, for not only subsidizing millions of poor, non-English speaking, uneducated foreign nationals. Our government skims quietly of your wage packet 356 billion dollars, to support illegal low income workers annually and appease big business and that cost will become a pittance.

The compounding effect is millions of more itinerant labor and families, will breach the border and no patrol, or army will be able to stop the momentum. Thats why we must stop OBAMA with the Federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) Tell your Democratic representative to sponsor it now. January 2009 will be far too late!

[Justus]

Well...the choice revolves around someone who CRAVES power, or the one who CRAVES change, as long as it involves him, even though no one knows what he means by change. A lot of folks are blinded by the hype that either of them would be good for the country. Good luck to us all....

[Steve D.]

“I’m just here to make sure Americans are represented by one vote for every person".

Memo to Hugh (and Hillary, and anyone in her campaign that's tried to make this about democracy): there's a big difference between a general election and a primary. In the primary, the party makes the rules. Rules were broken and punitive measures were taken. It's really not complicated, and it's really not about democracy. It's about playing by the rules.

[FarmingRules]

I find it so interesting that Sen. Clinton was not screaming her head off back in January when she KNEW those votes wouldn't count. She thought she had the nominiation in the bag and wouldn't have to worry about it. Now, of course, the tale is different, and she's crying like a baby. Sen. Obama honored the DNC rule, didn't whine about it, and went on with his campaign.

Seems Sen. Obama is the more professional of the two. How much whining would we be subjected to, were Sen. Clinton to become president?

BTW, I am part of Hillary's supposed demographic - over 50 white women. I have never liked her, never will. She's a phony, and her true reason for running is to prove to herself that she would have been worthy of her father's love, way back when...

[Ed_F]

I just have to put my 2 cents worth in!! Has there even been a sleazier political family then the Clintons? Ok, maybe the Kennedys. People remember Monica and Bill, but no one seems to remember how that all came out. Does anyone remember Bill sexually harassing a woman? This pervert belongs in a cage, he doesn't deserve to be first man(I almost said first gentleman, but that obviously doesn't apply.)

[clombard]

Ms.Clinton really needs to take her family out of the country. Maybe Iraq or Russia. That would be a great gift to America!

[Clarke D.]

Hugh needs to get a job.

[Joe Bento]

The deal has been reached by the DNC regarding Florida and Michigan. Expect Hillary to rally behind Barack Obama half heartedly but since her constituents would prefer to see Barack Obama as opposed to John MC Cain then all is right.

Barack Obama is the Democratic Party nominee and that is a great thing for America

[Rod]

The answers for the democrats are simple: 1) The DNC allows FL and MI delegates each 1/2 vote with FL proportioned to actual vote and MI proportioned to Obama and Hilliary 50%. WHY? To give two states at least some representation at the convention, and because it will make No DIFFERENCE in the main outcome: Obama will get the nomination ANYHOW. 2) For next time the DNC needs to spell out clearly and absolutely that early primary states will only be allowed 1/2 vote per delegate, proportioned by actual votes, and then LEAVE THE PROCESS ALONE. 3) Obama needs to find a woman VP candidate, if not Hilliary. That way, women voters are retained along with some Republican voters, Obama and his VP win and history is made!

[hillaryis44]

I can understand while Hugh Rodham is so upset; he's so close to another pardon selling business he can taste it.