BREAKING NEWS: Dean, Pelosi, Reid set Friday deadline for superdelegates' choices, move to force end to Clinton bid

With the final primary concluded barely hours before, top Democratic Party leaders in Washington early this morning ratcheted up the pressure to force all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their choice of candidate known by Friday -- and thus end the now hopeless, onetime front-running campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The joint statement was obviously pre-planned and timed for issue shortly after Clinton refused to concede the presidential nomination victory to Barack Obama, who's gained sufficient delegates to clinch the party's nomination.

Howard Dean, right, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, chairman of the Democratic Governors Assn., issued the brief statement for unity just minutes ago:

"The voters have spoken," they said, adding later, "Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election. To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week, so that our party can stand united."

The carefully worded statement, which does not urge the superdelegates to go one way or the other, is a clear step to force an end to the effort by Clinton, who said Tuesday she would take a few days to consider her options and protect the voices of the nearly 18 million voters who cast ballots for her in recent months. Her hand is now being forced by the Friday deadline.

The move is also a sly one politically, since it leaves Obama free of any appearance of forcing Clinton to quit and thus alienating her millions of supporters, whom the Illinois senator will badly need in the general election come Nov. 4.

In exit polls throughout the just-concluded primary season, an unusually high number of Clinton voters indicated they were likely to reject Obama and vote for the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

A complete text of the Democratic Party leaders' joint statement is available by clicking the "read more" line below.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credit: Associated Press / Manuel Bolce Ceneta

     Joint Statement by Democratic Leaders on the End of the Presidential Primary Process

"We have come to the end of an exciting primary and caucus process -- the voters have spoken.  As the Democratic leaders of the Senate, House of Representatives, the Governors and the Democratic National Committee we commend all of the participants of the 2008 primary process, especially Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, for making this such a transformational election. 

"Because of the enthusiasm our candidates have inspired, our party has brought record numbers of voters to the polls, gained millions of newly registered Democrats and now has advantages in states many thought were difficult to win.  We are grateful to the millions of Independents and Republicans who have crossed over to vote for a Democratic candidate for President.

"Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election.  To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.

"We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction. We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand."

Comments

[thinkresults]

Obama has won on all counts, the only one that matters - delegates - but popular vote as well when you count all states.

There is no excuse left for HRC to not end this now, help bring the party together and move forward. The longer she delays to gain some negotiation advantage the more marginalized she becomes. She lost a great opportunity last night. Let's hope she stops the narcissistic grandstanding and quickly wraps this up - for her sake as well as the party's.

[Enigma]

I once backed Hillary and now I am more than pleased to know why my choice to switch has been validated. She is stuck on stupid and yet she says she is wanting to do what is best for the party. Honestly, if the shoe was on the other foot, this would not even be in the news (the issue of conceding). And to any other Hillary lovers, if they care that much to vote for the opposition, then that itself is just as dumb concidering our economy and the changes that are so needed. She is even more stupid than those that follow her for not taking advantage of an opportunity last night and for not doing at least some damage control for those that are die hard for her to prevent another Republican victory in November.

[sofia]

she's psycho, and clearly thinks only of herself.
thus she's more of the same. get her out of there. the mainstream press is too controlled by big biz to tell it like it is. she's despicable. obama barack is an angel compared to her lowly self. divider, conniving wrench. leave the country now hillary. we don't want you anymore. you've shown your true colors.

[LSC]

THIS IS CLASSIC CLINTON- ENTITELED, AND DEFIANT, WHAT A SORE LOOSER, IF SHE IS REALLY MOTIVATED TO THE CAUSE OF DEMOCRATS- BOW OUT WITH GRACE, ACCEPT THAT YOU LOST THE BID, BE GRACIOUS, AND THE NOMINEEE DO WHAT HE DEEMS FIT, AND FOR ONCE PUT THE COUNTRY/PARTY AHEAD OF HER OWN POLITICAL ASPIRATION, SHE LOST- FAIR AND SQUARE, AND ACCEPT IT.

YOUR BRAND OF THE POLITICS HAS BEEN REJECTED, AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE GUTS- RESIGN FROM THE SENATE, AND WORK FOR EMPOWERING THE 18 MILLOIN OR SO VOTERS, YOU CLAIM TO HAVE BACKING OF.

YOU HAVE LIVED OFF TAX PAYERS EXPENSE, ALL YOUR LIFE, GIVE SOME BACK, BE A VOLUNTEER FOR UNITED WAY, AND NEVER CONTEST ANY ELECTION- YOU HAVE BEEN REJECTED-ACCEPT IT.

[Richard]

Please arrange deportation of Bill Clinton to Afganistan for 8 years

[Ed]

Howard Dean is a failure and a DNC chairman, Nancy Pelosi is a failure as the Speaker of the House after having high hopes for a strong leadership, she caved into to G.W. and Harry Reid may have been an amateur boxer and is an amateur senator who can't get anything done. Where do they come off telling Hillary Clinton who is tougher than all three of them put together? Hillary will be a factor in this election and she's earned it. If the DNC stiff arms her I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country.

[Joe]

Great selection for President this time, a liberal and an socialist. Another Jimma Carter result, God help us.

[MOJO3]

Thank you. Reel her in and let's move forward.
Hillary Clinton, has really shown her true colors. Never in my 65 years of living on this planet...have I experienced such a selfish, self-centered, insensitive, cold, hard, callous, draconian, minipulative (I could go on and on with the adjectives). woman! Has she no SHAME?

Vice President. NOT! She is destructive.

What the Clintons fail to realize is...there is a mightier, more powerful force than them. Whatever, they did/do, they cannot penetrate the wall the Almighty has placed around him. Perhaps, they should open their hearts and ask for forgiveness and be shown a new and better direction in their lives. They both need an intervention...and a tad of therapy.

...it is time for the "Clinton Dynasty," to accept the HISTORICAL event which has come to fruition. They should come out of the denial mode...began the "grieving process," and move on...with dignity.

A Concerned Black Senior

[LC]

It about time..... Clinton has been given enough time .... she needs to get out ... She is pressuring Obama to choose her as his VP ..... And with that comes all her baggage and Bill's..... She lost now she needs to go...

[Eric]

I am very much AGAINST the sentiment that Senator Clinton be on the Democratic ticket as Vice President. There are many reasons:
1) It undercuts the message of change in Washington. Hillary is part of the establishment and part of the problem.

2) The Obama campaign can win the hispanic vote WITHOUT senator Clinton. Bill Richardson is a better advocate to help win the hispanic vote than Clinton.

3)Senator Clinton showed poor managerial talent in the process of her campaign. Her campaign was wracked with internal turmoil and poor money management.

4) Senator Clinton feels entitled to a position of power. She ran a poor campaign because she assumed she was the inevitable winner. What kind of leader does that? She brazenly spent contributor's money on unneccessaries and lavished herself rather than run a positive and thorough campaign. Her campaign style is evident of her personal view of her role in politics. We have no room for Royalty in washington.

5) Including Senator Clinton on the ticket shows weakness and a willingness to cave to the establishment. If you can't stand up to the powers that be now how can you in the Whitehouse? Including Clinton on the ticket looks like capitulation. SHE DOESN'T DESERVE to be rewarded for running such a shameless campaign.

6) Having the Clinton machine (Bill Included) present in the Whitehouse would undercut and cause difficulties for your presidency (big egos don't play well in little spaces). Senator Clinton and former President Clinton would likely take advantage of every opportunity to upstage you as possible (probably even create some).

7) Clinton may try to have him assassinated (or at the very least scandalized out of office). What would be better than being vice president? How about 12 years as president (serving out the remainder of Obama’s term, plus an additional 2 terms of her own)? I don't trust her and neither should you.

8) He does not need Senator Clinton to win the "big" states. As we all know Democrats turned out in numbers dwarfing the Republican support during this campaign season. Senator Obama WILL win the Democratic strongholds. Senator Clinton is far from welcome in NY, don't make the assumption that she's a necessity to carry any specific constituency.

9) No one person will mobilize the conservative right-wing more than Hillary Clinton. As it stands Bob Barr will put Georgia in play, Ron Paul’s supporters may cause him to be the Ralph Nader of 2008. The electoral map will be far different with Obama vs. McCain. Include Clinton and it will be the same political map as always. The Republicans who support Obama won't likely support an Obama-Clinton ticket.

10) Her behavior is indicative of her narcissism. No matter what she says this election has never been about the American people. It’s been about her. Even now she refuses to concede the nomination. She doesn’t outwardly congratulate Senator Obama on this historic victory. She’s stubborn, conceited and petulant. She’s just like George W. Bush. Hillary Clinton DOES NOT belong on the democratic ticket

I believe that there are better Vice Presidential candidates available for Senator Obama to choose from. I feel that Senator Joe Biden and Governor Bill Richardson make much better Vice Presidential choices. Each of these two men ran much more positive campaigns and exhibit much more integrity than Senator Clinton.

The Democratic "Dream-ticket" is exactly that. A dream; but more like a NIGHTMARE than anything. Please continue the message of Change, Hope, Integrity, Vision, Judgment and Leadership that your campaign has so valiantly advocated.

Senator Obama, please DO NOT choose Hillary Clinton as your running-mate.

[Alessandro Machi]

I think it's great that Obama got the "presumptive" nominee.

But if the democrats think they can steam roller Hillary Clinton until Denver and beyond and pretend the Caucus voting was legitimate, they are probably making a foolish mistake.

That's what happens when there is a billionaire in the background pulling most if not all of the strings.

http://www.CaucusCheating.com
http://www.CaucusConfession.com
http://www.Florida-Michigan.com
http://www.Hillary-Wins.com

[mike]

I'm voting for Harrison Ford

[jill]

Pelosi must be defeated in her next election for doing all she could to ignore the voters choice and insert her own choice for President. This women should be an embarrassment to all women.

I would prefer that Hillary run as an independent rather than as VP on this losing ticket. I realize that if she ran as independent, that McCain may get the win easier but if she is not on the ticket McCain will win anyway. Also on the ever so slight chance that a Obama/Clinton ticket did win then Hillary would be held responsible for all Obama mistakes and likely end her chance to ever be elected.

Hillary 08

[jj]

This smacks of the travesty of the 2000 presidential campaign. Clinton got the majority of the popular vote and a very similar proportion of the pledged delegates as Obama but now the powers that be are throwing their weight for the candidate they think they can control. Superdelegates whether committed or uncommitted should throw their support to the candidates according to the will of their constituents. Given this, Clinton should be the choice of the Democratic party. This is consistent with the earlier comments made by Nancy Pelosi and other democratic party leaders. Unless there is a fair and open accounting of who got the votes and how this translated fairly to the final nomination process, we should all question whether the democratic nominee was really the choice of the people.

[BillyB]

I think Mrs. Clinton would be foolish to concede. Take it to the convention. Barak is most likely going to implode before then because he is not that bright and obviously surrounded by people who will bring him down.

People wake up! Barak Obama is NOT John Kennedy. This is NOT Camelot. Barak Obama is a flash in the pan and cannot win the general election.

[Renee]

Good job Ed. You can clearly admit that voting for McCain is not what you want and bad for the country but you will do it anyway to prove a point. That is exactly what the rest of us are talking about when we say that her followers are not thinking clearly. What is it you really want, a better country or to be right? I think that Hillary just wants to be right, at any cost.
If you care about the future, then do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.

[lorax]

"I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country."
___________________
That says it all. She is nuts. Her supporters are nuts. Obama would be nuts to put her on the ticket.

[Howard Ino]

I am not a Hill or Bill fan.

After 15 years enduring two dynasties in American politics, I am sick of Bush AND the Clintons!

However, Dean, Pelozi and Reid are using strong arm tactics to force her out, as they have been trying to do this for months even with primaries pending. It WILL backfire on them and the Democratic Party!

After watching the tactics of the Democratic Machine, I ask... If they will do it to Hill, what will they do to America when they have Congress AND the White House???

The Republican advantage this year is that McCain is tolerable to moderates and I will most certainly give him fair consideration!

[Darrel]

Hilldebeast and Slick (SICK) Willie will never concede defeat. It was a vast left wing consiracy. It was the media. Obama cheated. The election was stolen from the Billary's. America will be sorry say's Billary.

Darn it all, WE ARE THE CLINTONS, WE DEMAND THE NOMINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jill]

thinkresults: SAID "popular vote as well when you count all states. " falsly still claiming that Obama won the popular vote. It is very sad to think that these young voters can't count and are so easily misled by TV fools like Matthews, Olbermann and Russert.

FACT: Hillary won the popular vote which means that more people went to the polls to vote for Hillary than Obama. Hillary is ahead by over 180,000 votes according to Real Clear Politics. THE ONLY WAY ONE CAN SPIN THE POPULAR VOTE TO PUT OBAMA IN THE LEAD IS IF YOU COUNT THE "UNCOMMITTED" VOTES IN MI KNOWING THAT THOSE VOTES WERE INTENDED FOR AT LEAST 3 CANDIDATES THAT VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT AND CAMPAIGNED FOR "UNCOMMITTED" VOTES. If we gave Obama 80% of that "uncommitted" vote, Hilary is still ahead. HILLARY WON THE POPULAR VOTE!! EVEN WHEN YOU COUNT THE FAIRY TALE NUMBERS IN THE CAUCUSES.

[Hillary Win]

ONe quick question: Everytime Hillary is mentioned - she is referred to as HRC- Hillary Rodham Clinton. How come we dont see Barack Obama's middle name mentioned anywhere. Everybody understands that it will and should not be used as a political gimmick- but why hide? Why cant his full name be used when the others are open to their names spelled out to the last "N"?

[melissa]

This article which reports that "an unusually high number of Clinton voters indicated they were likely to reject Obama and vote for the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona" has raised one qzeston in my mind :Have Clinton's supporters something against a Afro-Amrican candidate ? Are they a bit in between the republicans and the supporters of Obama?
I really hope that this willnot be the case.
How come they do not understand that with Republicans the politics they sustain would become a simple dream whereas it would be within reach and practically the same if a Dem like Obama won!

[Steve H]

The DNC has talked about how GW stole the election from Gore. Well, just what do they think they are doing for HRC. The committee shoould have given HRC all her deligates and divided up the others according to the average percentage that each of the other canidates that were to be on the ballot would have received prior to the MI primary. Obama would not have pulled that many deligates or voters. This was not a democratic process for MI. The committee took from one canidate and unlawfully lifted another. McCain will be my choice!

[FC]

Eric sums it up pretty perfectly.

[bw]

"Great selection for President this time, a liberal and an socialist. Another Jimma Carter result, God help us."

Indeed. We have a conservative in command right now. result: a war, a bigger government, a failing economy, $4+ for a gallon of gas (the list is so long)

[kayB]

How dare these political hatchet men tell HRC to stand aside? She has more than 18 million Americans backing her and is a major leader in the Democratic Party. She is the best candidate for president, better than McCain and Obama rolled into one. If the party leadership can not see that, then she should become an INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE and crush them both!!

[ted in pdx]

As a Republican leaning towards Obama, when Hillary started to speak last night, it sounded like she was going to finally seek the high ground and accept defeat gracefully, and do the one thing which could have redeemed her for all the ugly vitriol she has injected into this campaign. When she finished, I felt like I'd been made a stooge once again. The boundless narcissism of this woman leaves me wishing she would simply disappear entirely from our politics, even though I recognize her energy and her expertise. Even more so when I heard Barrack Obama's very gracious comments and appreciation for her best qualities.

Someone on CNN made this observation about last night: McCain attacked Obama, Hillary was focused entirely upon herself, and Obama talked about the future of this country. I can only hope he decides to leave Hillary to her singular preoccupation, and selects a running mate like him, and not her.

[Pat]

I would like to thank the speaker and Mr Ried and Mr. Dean tfor giing us at least 4 more years of republican rule in this coountry. I have always been a democrate but now I WILL for the first time vote repubican just because these 3 assholes wount let the people do the voting.. Good luck getting anything done in congress the next 4 years.. as they said in the movies.........STUPID IS ,......STUPID DOES WE NOW TURN YOU OVER TO THE 3 STOOGES

[George]

HRC is a cancer to the Democratic party. She lost and now she is trying to strong arm her way into the VP slot. Clinton supports vote against your own interest in the fall if you choose to that is your right. Hillary will be calling President Obama for a pardon after the Peter Paul v Hillary and William Clinton case goes to trial her in California in the fall. Since she wants all of you to writer her ask her about the 1.2 million dollars campaign finance fraud case scheduled for the fall of this year.

CNN probably won't post this because they have tried to confuse people with non-since and they are fully aware of this pending case. The Republicans would eat her for lunch if Obama puts her on the ticket.

[Kithara]

It's the "Ed"s of this country (see above) that gave us eight years of George Bush.

[Ron Winship]

Face it...Obama is a phenom......like Stockard Channing...
like...Derek Jeter....like...Tiger Woods....like anyone that
breaks ground and makes history! If he chooses the
right Conservative White Male Running Mate...he could
be one of America's Greatest most popular Presidents!

[Steve Baum]

I am not really a Democrat nor a Republican. A 60 year old marrried baby boomer my wife and I vote for who we feel is the best genuine candidate at the time. UNFORTUNATELY, this year is a big letdown for us. SO FAR, from watching the coverage day & night we feel that AMERICA'S RACIAL DIVIDE STIRS ALIVE STILL TODAY IN 2008. We expect THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS TO PROVE how much BLACKS RESENT WHITE as well as WHITES still resenting BLACKS. It is a real shame.
This year, we will NOT be voting. GOD BLESS AMERICA but 20 years of listening to Trinity United Church affirm OBAMA as either "DUMB" which he is NOT or as he puts it a 46 year old "ORGANIZER" who is hiding anti-white resentment FOR NOW.

[C Firsbay]

All of you who posted about Hillarys arrogance and her self centeredness are correct-amundo - she beleived strongly that she couldn't lose and couldn't do no wrong. the irony is that belief cost her the nomination. Thank Goodness.

When I first heard of her years ago when Bill was running I read and article that when she was 16 she started planning -not thinking about but actually conceiving of a plan to become the first female president.

I knew nothing else about her other than that was pretty sick. Her and Bill combined are pretty sick people.

[D. Madsen]

I cannot support mirrors and smoke Obama. Clinton has been malaigned this entire process. And you cannot discount all the voters who support her. I will not vote for Obama unless CLinton is on the ticket.

[SDF]

HRC's current behavior is exactly why I couldn't support her. I believe her motives are self serving and she is out of touch with reasonable behavior. Does anyone remember the look on her face during the state of the union address following 9/11, a time of unprecedented national unity? Sour.

[Texasfan]

Hillary is allowed to leave the race gracefully. Sheesh!

Dean, Pelozi and Reid are being too pushy about this process.

I have been a Democrat forever but because of how rude they are being, I will be voting for McCain this time around.

[Tim]

Ed,

"Howard Dean is a failure and a DNC chairman, Nancy Pelosi is a failure as the Speaker of the House after having high hopes for a strong leadership, she caved into to G.W. and Harry Reid may have been an amateur boxer and is an amateur senator who can't get anything done. Where do they come off telling Hillary Clinton who is tougher than all three of them put together? Hillary will be a factor in this election and she's earned it. If the DNC stiff arms her I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country. "

Stop crying. We, America, think Obama will make a better president the Hillary. How about you join our country.

[Ich]

It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t concede. The game is over; unless we start making new ones, Hillary has run out of states. At the end of the fourth quarter, if you’re down by 10 points – you loose. Your concession isn’t necessary. It doesn’t matter if you really want to win, it doesn’t matter if you want to keep playing; the game is over.

I hope HRC continues with her vulture policy and insists on remaining on the field. The more she refuses to be graceful the less politically viable she will be in the future. Hopefully this will be her only presidential bid. I would like to see this stunt hurt her when she runs to keep her seat in the Senate. I think this is too much to ask though. You cannot underestimate Clinton survivability.

[Disgusted Democrat]

Posted by: Alessandro Machi, blah, blah, blah, caucus are bad, blah. Listen, I dare ou to go to one of these states and tell the people that their selection process is illegitimate. I dare you! But you won't, as you're a coward who loves to spit out garbage about democracy being thwarted, all the while actually working against it. Clintonista's remind me of Communists. Everything is ok, as long as you select her! So, why was Bill Clinton such a fan of caucuses? Reason, because at least he had skill. Hillary is a hack! A not talent, borderline communist, narcissistic HACK, that lost a campaign to a new guy! The pure fact she has a vagina is not a reason for her to be POTUS, there must be skill, and judgment, and she is sorely lacking in each. I look forward to hers and the rest of the Clinton's political demise!

[Ryan]

For the first time in almost 20 years I am not voting this time. This primary process has left it clear that democracy does not exist in this country. It has also made it clear that the "CHANGE" Obama keeps insisting upon is not change at all.
Biased irresponsible journalism constantly in the news, unconstitutional election processes, hatchet jobs, sexism, misogyny. That is what this primary was all about. It's the same way Bush won the election twice. I see no "CHANGE."
What I saw was a strong powerful candidate that ended up on the wrong end of a smear job. That is what pisses me off. Obama did not win this race, it was handed to him by people stronger than he is.

[JOHN LONGENECKER]

Way to go Obama!

[McGee]

I will never vote for Obama. Hillary forever. What a shame. McCain will get my vote. I have been Democrat for all my life. It's a shame a women can never stand a chance in a man's world. Hillary could change that all for us she is so strong.

[Tony]

I like that. HRC should run as an independent now... This will make the race more interesting...:)

[Tim]

JJ,

"Clinton got the majority of the popular vote and a very similar proportion of the pledged delegates as Obama but now the powers that be are throwing their weight for the candidate they think they can control. "

Well, for starter she didn't get the majority of the vote. It may have been close depending on what math you use, but the only way she is ahead is if you count votes for hillary that she doesn't diserve(all the michigan votes) and you dont count the votes in the caucus states(which cant be counted). Basically, if you fudge the math you can make it look however you want, Clinton is good for telling a long fairy tale without actually lying.

[jon]

Pretty amazing, how many people think like Ed... "I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country."
I can only hope, people like Ed wake-up, because it's analogous to a steer saying, "I don't want to die, but I sure like the color of that slaughter house's walls."
As for anyone saying that Hillary won the popular vote, it just shows that the Dems have as many non-thinking sheep, as the GOP. The only way HC won the popular vote, is if you don't count most of the caucuses, and think nobody in the State of Michigan would have voted for him, had he been on the ballot. Just because someone says something, doesn't mean it's true.
And by the way, I voted for Hillary in the primary - - I'd really like to see a woman Pres.
I suspect some of the anti-Obama sentiment, among Hillary voters, is racially-based, unfortunately. Just remember, electing McCain is in essence, ensuring 2 or 3 more Roberts/Alitos on the Supreme Court.

[Martine Joseph]

"Howard Dean is a failure and a DNC chairman, Nancy Pelosi is a failure as the Speaker of the House after having high hopes for a strong leadership, she caved into to G.W. and Harry Reid may have been an amateur boxer and is an amateur senator who can't get anything done. Where do they come off telling Hillary Clinton who is tougher than all three of them put together? Hillary will be a factor in this election and she's earned it. If the DNC stiff arms her I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country. "

Wow! so you are willing to have the country in the worst position that it already is because government figures are askingto unite as soon as possible so we can fight the one that mess up the country.

One question I want to ask you who will benefit from you voting for McCain instead of a democrat, not Hillary she has millions in the bank, not Obama he also have some millions in the bank whop right is struggling to pay for bills, to put gas in their car, to get healthcare, who is stying home because their job has been move overseas?

Wake Americans and stop this madness, stop taliking likeyou are stupid, the only one who will get hurt by voting for McCain is you not the candidate just you.

[freedom_diva]

I am so sorry that Hillary is not going to lead this country out of the dilema that Bush has gotten us in. I am also sorry that Barrack Hussin Obama might be the nominee...He will try to make this country a ghetto.

[Cos]

All you Hillary supporters are unbelievable. You remind me of a bunch of rabid, ignorant republicans. Your candidate made mistakes and lost. So what do you want to do? You want to take your ball and go home. That's just childish! You are either complete idiots or your republicans in disguise. Either way the only person who wins is McCain. As for Dean, Pelosi, Reid, their biggest problem is they don't have the courage to stand up and be counted themselves. It's time for Hillary to step aside and her supporters to get behind our nominee. Obama/? '08

[Jerry]

Go Hillary! Run as an independent! You can do it girl. GO, Go, Go.

[laura in KY]

As I volunteered for the campaign here in KY, I was struck by the sheer nastiness of the Obama supporters. As evidenced here in this post. McCain supporters were civil to us...Obama people were profain and harrassing, taunting us and physically destroying signs just yards from where we legally stood, spreading our message. The police were called, but the young hoodlums were gone. These new young voters are too idealist, like Obama. Too untried and untested. These new young voters are unaware of the huge block of older voters who are just unable to vote for a black man. It's just a societal reality.
Real change would be a woman in the oval office for the first time in history, but the good ole boy network will not allow it. They want that young black guy to push around, and they already are. They are afraid of Hillary's power, and well they should be. If I can't vote for her for president, I'll vote for her for vice president. If Obama doesn't have the sense to do that, she'll be my write in choice, or my independent. I won't stand behind a Democratic party that does not support the will of this voter!

[JD]

Ed said everything I have heard from Clinton supporters for months. He attacks anyone who doesn't show proper reverence, in his mind, to Sen. Clinton, bashing this party's leaders in Pelosi, Reid, and Dean. He then speaks of voting for McCain, even though he admits it's not what is best for the country.

Hillary is bad enough. Her supporters are simply unbelievable.

[vjs]

I've had it. Enough with Hillary. Enough with Bill. And enough with Hillary supporters threatening to vote McCain. If Hillary supporters are so insanely stupid as to vote against their own interests, then so be it. Vote McCain if you want. Then we can all sit back and watch the country deteriorate even further. Hillary supporters, having empowered McCain, will feel the guilt later. Guilt over the fact that McCain further entrenched the courts against freedom; guilt over the fact the McCain further encased the demise of the planet by delaying strong action to clean up the mess we've made of this planet; and guilt over the on-going loss of lives in an illegal war.

Go ahead. But quit threatening us about it.

Vote for McCain you Hillary supporting fools. And in November you can feel happy about helping to defeat the best chance the country has. Reality will set in come January 2009.

[Eric Wolf, NYC]

Howard Ino said:L

"However, Dean, Pelozi and Reid are using strong arm tactics to force her out, as they have been trying to do this for months even with primaries pending. It WILL backfire on them and the Democratic Party! "

No, they are not "strong arming her out", the legitimate primary process did that. She lost. They merely want to get on with the general election campaign so they can beat McCain, not pretend this is a suburban toddlers' little league tee-ball game where you don't keep score and everyone gets a trophy. There are rules, Obama won, Clinton lost and it is over. No one less arogant and entitled (and famous) than a Clinton would still be covered at this point. The game is over and her inability to admit defeat is merely a distracting sideshow, which helps McCain and encourages her senseless backers who say they will vote Republican rather that support the candidate who legitimately won. The game is over.

[Bitter Nation]

Clinton won the popular vote ??? Caucuses apparently dont count. But elections where she is the only one on the ballot count ?? I recall that elections for Castro and Saddam Hussein had only one person on the ballot.

Clinton is showing colors of a dictator, tempered enough because of running in the US. But her dictatorial tendancies are there. Manipulation, rabble-rousing, completely changing rules when the outcome is not in her favor. Comparing this primary to Zimbabwe ?? Only in the light of her tactics and how she suppresses and pressures the process to go. Even a democracy is susceptible to hijacking by a dictatorial type.

Recall that H Clinton was fired, and almost prosected for obstruction of justice during the Nixon Impeachment Hearings. She stole and supressed evidence that was favorable to Nixon. People get convicted as felons for that. Such tactics are those of an immoral person with dictatorial tendancies.

Clinton often advised us that McCain would be a better president than Obama. So she should lobby McCain to be chosen as his VP. She has no business being VP to Obama, whom she does not believe in.

[Don Wood]

For those of you who say you will vote for McCain instead of Obama if you don't get your way, I say: Good Riddance, you'lll get what you deserve in November.

[Dan Cooper]

Dali Obama as the German papers put it will not save the world or this country. Stupid whites that support him maybe never read his book. He is an African through and through, and his worldview is not as an American but as an African who happens to live here.

His wife is an angry one, really angry. I bet she uses get whitey talk all the time, like they did in church.

I don't blame the blacks for supporting him since they always think race when they do anything. Leave it to the stupid guilt ridden liberal whites to sell out their own group and culture.

Race war, here we come.
Maybe this will wake up some stupid whites from their trance.

[Vic]

Obama's VP should be one of the highly qualified women in public office who will contribute to a victory in November. This obviously excludes HRC.

[View from Canada]

There seems to be a lot of anger directed at HRC and her supporters which I think should be toned down. It seems to me that the primary contest played out within the ambits of certain rules and based on those rules she's ran a close second. Therefore, I have to agree that she should congratulate the other contender and perhaps concede. However, the unchecked emotions leading to all the name calling I think is counter productive. And I see some of this from the HRC supporters as well. I don't see how a party or a nation for that matter can come together when the different contituents are so hell-bent on defending only what they regard as important at the peril of everything else. Its like brawling during and after a hockey game.

[Nate P]

Yes, the Democratic nominating process this year has been anything but useful in furthering the goal of a Democratic white house on January 20th, 2009.

That said, I think a fair amount of people are getting caught up in the largely symbolic(and meaningless in the grand scheme of things) aspects of the primary process. Contrary to the beliefs of supporters of either of the candidates, Hillary Clinton being a woman and Barack Obama being African-American ARE MEANINGLESS. I understand that it would be neat to see either one as President because we've not had a woman or an African-American in that office before. I just fear people are losing sight of the bigger picture here.

Our goal, first and foremost, needs to be a conclusion to the Bush/Cheney/Republican policies that have destroyed this country over the last 8 years. To that end, saying you'd vote for McCain over Obama just because Hillary is not the nominee, is destructive not only to yourself, but to your party(if you happen to be a Democrat) and the nation in general. This election is not about who gets to be the first to do anything and it never was, even if the media played it out that way.

The Democratic party messed up this year, starting with the mess with Michigan and Florida and then the whole Hillary/Obama fiasco. Even so, it is no excuse to hand the country to another Bush Republican for another 4 years. McCain at one time was a reasonable man. He is not that man anymore so don't harbor any illusions to the contrary. There is entirely too much at stake.

[Tyrone Jenkins]

Hillary has the right to go all the way to Denver. Why is the so called democratic party acting like a bunch of fascists?

[JohnH Canada]

Talk about a sore loser. In Canada, even the oppositon party's leader has the grace, dignity, and professionalism to concede and congratulate their opponent when the outcome has been decided. What respect and admiration I had for the Clintons have been replaced by anger and contempt for their lack of judgement and professionalism. They do not have the party or country's interest at heart, it is strickly for themselves. What a sad way to be remembered.

[Alessandro Machi]

Howard Ino,

Why be sick of the Clintons when our country was liked the world over and we had a projected 3 trillion dollar10 year surplus before George Bush took over and turned it into a 5 trillion dollar deficit with three years to spare.

[Vic]

The raging Clinton supporters who say they will vote for McCain would accept an anti-abortion administration before an enlightened Obama presidency. Get a grip.

[Bill Smith]

I look forward to voting for Sen. Obama again. However, if he chooses Clinton as his running mate, I will be forced to vote for McCain.

[Fred L.]

I think the Clinton supporters who are threatening to bolt the party and vote McCain in Nov. are out of their gourds. Why is it so hard for them to accept that their girl didn't win? She campaigned her butt off, to be sure, but in the end, she came up short in the delegate count. Instead of blaming Reid, Pelosi, the press, or some imagined underhandedness by the Obama camp, you should direct your ire at her campaign staff. Not having a plan after super tuesday was just plain dumb, running out of money halfway through the primaries didn't show very disciplined spending.Your loyalty to Sen. Clinton would be admirable, if you weren't so ready to punish the whole Country for passing on your chosen candidate.
Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton share so many viewpoints that their platforms are nearly identical, the Republicans have driven this country into a ditch, and the economy is circling the drain, yet you threaten us with a vote for the "Bush wasn't so bad" candidate? Please get over your disapointment and think of what's best for the country, your joy in succeeding to torpedo Obama's presidency would be short lived, and the consequences of a McCain presidency would come back and bite your kids and grandkids. Think about it, I'm just sayin.....

[ck]

Hill as VP? Doubt it very much. Too much baggage. 20mil debt half of which is Hills personel cash. Hillary is also high maintence and the Washington Dems like Conyers had enough defending her while being backstabbed with trianglelation. Tammy, traveloffice, co-president, DNC cash leverage, third way right up to last nights non-concession. Hillary the drama queen will now fade into the Senate cloakroom.

[Hoa]

I am a woman, and once a Hillary fan, but after observing her, I am disgusted with her. She is stupidly single-minded and selfish. She is a worker, not a leader. The world is changing, and we need a broad-minded, intelligent, talented, charismatic leader to restore America's place in the world. If you would take the time to understand Barack's merits, you would understand why he is the right choice for this time.

If Hillary actually cared about the Democratic party and our county, she would have conceded a while back, and Dean, Pelosi and Reid would not need to encourage wrapping up the Democratic primaries. What other pimary candidate drags his or her party on like HIllary? Do you really want a President who only cares about her own legacy? Do you think that's what's best for you as an American?

Use your brain.

[americang]

The Obama cult is a bunch of thugs. It's time for America to realize the Messiah from Kenya is just another race-baiting corrupt politician from South Chicago.

[fjd]

Just as Gore should have won in 2000, without Florida or Nader, he did not due to bad management and strategic decisions.

Just the same with Clinton. It was hers to lose, and she did for the same reasons.

Why does she think she deserves the nomination or the VP slot?

[Nova yos Galan]

I'm so depressed that the person with no substance gets the nomination while the person who has worked the hardest for the values I believe in gets the fuzzy side of the lollipop. I don't think there is a way for Obama to win against McCain. Unless Hillary runs as VP or as an independent, I'm voting for Nader. This two-party system sucks. As Eddie Izzard would say, "Cake or death? Well, we're out of cake! So my choices are 'Or death!?"

[Jordan R. Hill]

Time to get behind the winner and move on. Last night was not HRC's "night". The night belonged to the American people and the Democratic party. HRC has somehow convinced herself and her anxious/angry followers that she was somehow entitled to the nomination and it was in effect stolen from her by possibly men, the press or some other dark force...presumable because she is a woman.

Remember HRC was was the heavy favourite going into the primary season and had huge advantage in money and institutional support within the party. Being a woman and the favoutite is no more a liability than being a black and an underdog. All of the white males who entered the presidental primary all lost. Maybe she lost it herself, or maybe Bill helped her lose it, or maybe it was not her time.

Lets her have few days to regroup. Then it is time for HRC to be gracious and time to move on.

[greg mccollin]

i voted for hillary in the primaries and supported her till yersterday..Obama is the niminee and it is time to unite. it is not about obama or clinton .it is about our coutry.. but after hilalrys speech last night i think she is just retarded..somebody call the doctor...she lives on another planet.Obama better pick a VP who can do the math

[Its about time]

Ed----What an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris W.]

First off Nancy Pelosi is obviously addicted to the microphone in Washington. That is a California character defect. Get a movie camera or a microphone in front of there face and they will say anything to get attention. The California Democrats are more like a socialist-communist party members.

D .Demoralizing
E. Emotional
M. Manipulative
O. Obnoxious
C. Crass
R. Repulsive
A. Arrogant
T. Tasteless

[Chris H]

For those who keep harping on about Senator Clinton winning the popular vote, a word of advice: you are making yourselves look foolish.

The system was not set up for the "popular vote" winner to be the nominee, no matter how much the Clinton-ites want to cling to some shred of the "Hillary really won" mantra.

Let's put this in a sports metaphor... suppose a baseball playoff final is the best of 7 games... and Team HRC wins one game 14-0, and Team BHO wins each of the next four games by a 3-1 margin, the cumulative score (votes) is HRC 18 - BHO 12. Guess who takes home the trophy: Team BHO.

Those are the rules, the rules everyone agreed to at the beginning, and changing them in the middle or the end of the process to justify the result you want, in sports or politics, is called "cheating" (as Donna Brazile said, and as the Clinton team tried to do in Florida, and more egregiously, in Michigan).

Good luck to Mrs. Clinton in the future, but she has no claim on the nomination. Let her try again in 4 or 8 years.

[snakespeare]

Half the Democrats voted for one candidate and half voted for the other. It is actually a narrow margin that is tipped by the superdelegates. Is the Democratic Party supposed to ignore half of its members? If the superdelegates had picked the other one, wouldn't those who voted for the first one feel disenfranchised? It's time to stop looking out of our own heads and try to see the other perspective. We can't unite until we listen to the side that "lost", because they weren't swept or overwhelmed, the were made irrelevant by the process, and that is not good for democracy.

Hillary won't let her people vote for McCain. She won't run as an independent. She wants the VP slot because she thinks she earned that much. It's only a ribbon cutting role anyway. There will be few Senate votes needing a tiebreaker in the coming administration, so let's just do the inevitable and move on.

[Chris]

Dean, Pelosi, Reid that's all you have to read to know this party is run by idiots and Obama is a joke

[Maung Maung Nyo]

Both Hillary and Obama are great. There should be some grace and respite for the loser.

[Tom Zirpoli]

Why is it that Obama is suppose to show Clinton all of this respect, yet Clinton doesn't show any in return. After all, he did win!! I voted for Clinton in the primary and will be happy to support Obama. I'm disturbed by the Clinton folks who want to support McCain and his selection of S. Court justices. It just goes to show that they are more interested in having their way then what is best for our nation, especially women in our nation. McCain will pick at least two SC justices. They will overturn a woman's right to choose. Are your personal interests for one Clinton worth what the McCain SC will do for millions of women in America? Obama followed the rules and won. Clinton lost. And she can't claim the popular vote either by not couting caucus states (count every vote???) and by counting states Obama did not have his name on the ballot. If you are going to vote for McCain, please don't call yourself Democrats because you no longer believe in the values of the Democratic party.

[Mary Sue]

The sheer magnitude of the Clinton campaign's incompetence should be reason enough for Democrats to insist that she step aside now. But what we've seen here fits her history -- Hillary Clinton has never undertaken a large project that she hasn't somehow destroyed. This is someone who managed to screw up the universal health care initiative during President Clinton's first term, even though the public, the president, and Congress overwhelmingly wanted it. For those of us old enough to remember that debacle, the mismanagement of her campaign looked eerily similar.

That one of Clinton's campaign co-chairs would have the nerve to say that last night "was Hillary's night" dramatically illustrates how separated these people are from reality.

[Guillermo]

To heck with Obama and McCain!
Elect
Guillermo_the_Good
for
King of America

[sam]

SHALLOW PEOPLE

I think the problem with lot of voters is that they do not have a political/policy position.That is why they could think of presidential voting based on issues other than policy issues.Provably that is the reason USA is more person focussed than political party focussed.

All the following category of people need to watch more CSPAN and political debate in other countries :-

1. Those who would vote for MCCain if Obama chooses clinton as VP

2. Those who would vote for MCCain if HRC is not the nominee and VIce-versa.

[Charles]

It's time for the fanatic Clinton supporters to leave the party and join the republicans. It's time for many displaced republicans to join the new democratic party.

We don't need her, we don't want her. She is the past and not the future.

It does not matter whether we win or loose right now - it is about how heads the party. There will be a 2012 and we will get there. To accept her demands means to loose the gains we have already one.

I have been an Osama volunteer and I vote (no way). We need a strong party, and she needs to go.

By the way, I am 66.

[jill]

I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country."
___________________
That says it all. She is nuts. Her supporters are nuts. Obama would be nuts to put her on the ticket.

Posted by: lorax | June 04, 2008 at 05:20 AM

No Lorax, The Hillary supporters will save this country from the fools that would nominate an empty suit. I am far from racist, I am 50% African American.

People will vote McCain over Obama because McCain is a known that offers experience. Obama is an unknown with the exception of the fact that what we do know is that he plays the race card. The change Obama talks about is that he will raise the taxes, payroll and capital gains. He further claims that he will renegociate NAFTA and then tells Canada that he will not. He claims that he will push for a health care system which leaves out 15 million people and therefore will cost more than the universal plan Hillary has. But even more important is that Obama has no ides how to get even his health care plan going. Worst of all is that he thinks he can talk to terrorists and will cause another war, probably here on our land.

SAVE OUR SANITY VOTE McCAIN unless Hillary is on top of a ticket, democrat or independent.

[Maddy Ellison]

Let's just take this opportunity to remind everyone that Obama did win the popular vote. In case you haven't been paying attention, Clinton's claim that she won the popular vote entirely ignores several caucus states that went for Obama.

[GW]

There's only one thing that brightens my day in regard to this whole mess of an election process - The bickering going on between HRC and BHO voters. I despise McCain because he is more of the same, a left-wing liberal socialist. Always having voted republican, I intend to vote for a true conservative, either from the Libertarian Party or the Constitution Party.

[disgustedvoter]

The only reasons for Clinton to continue:

1. blackmail a VP slot
2. invoke assassination

Both are by definition exclusions from VP.

[Robert]

I am very unhappy with the Dems choice. The Dems are bad but the Repubs are worse. I will either vote for an independent who appears on the ballot or "cut my nose to despise my face" (whatever that stupid saying is) and vote for McCain. Congrats Barack on your win. You are not the best candidate (Hillary is) and Barack, you will not be getting my vote. Not everyone is going from Hillary to Barack.

[Sharon Solomon]

I've been a little irked by all the anti-caucus talk by Clinton. I voted in the Colorado caucus. Colorado used to have a primary, but in 2004 switched to a caucus system (to save money). Last fall, unbelievable numbers of people made their way to their local caucuses to vote. My local spot (a nearby elementary school) had people lining up outside and down several blocks in the snow to wait for the doors to open. Organisers joked that the previous election cycle, 50 voters showed up. At our precinct, 500 voters showed up to vote for a Democratic nominee. Crowd control was a huge problem, since the school was really designed for about 300 people. Voter registration surged to new numbers. Was it because of Clinton? Well, let's just say that Obama won 67% of the votes in that precinct.

Just because Clinton didn't like the results, and was out maneuvered by her opponent, she twists the numbers and claims she won the popular vote, because caucus votes don't reflect the popular vote. Sorry, I beg to differ.

The creepy spin she put on Obama's success, and the bitterness voiced by some of her supporters in this forum and in others is strange and frightening. I think she has lost track of her real goals and is lost in her emotions and sense of entitlement. Obama by contrast seems stable and gracious. Which kind of leader do we need to bring this country back from the pit the Bush administration has driven it into? The answer seems pretty obvious to me.

[Mick]

OH how hilarious this whole sorry episode is! The Democrats who screamed bloody murder over Al Gore's plurality of popular votes now ignore Hillary's to anoint their supposed saviour - Obama. Obama will be Dukakis and McGovern redux - a hardcore liberal has no chance in the general election. But as always, the blind spot of Liberals is the assumption that everyone else should think like they do; but reality will once again pour cold water on their touchy-feely utopian wet dreams. It will be fun to watch Obama go down in flames.

[wbboei]

What a great leader Hillary Clinton is. During the course of this remarkable campaign she has fought against an unscrupoulous opponent, a vile media and a hyper partisan dnc to a virtual draw in candidates and sent a message to the corridors of power that the invisible people in this country do count. She has prevailed in the popular vote even though she was outspent 3 to1 by her fatally flawed opponent. Also she wins the electoral map by a huge margin as well as the swing districts. By alll accurate measures Hillary is the people choice. I am happy to see she will take some time off to get input from supporters. If the corrupt dnc leadership pulls another power play her supers need to stand tall and push back, If the party loses her coaltition becase of Deans stupidity it will destroy the party. The way I interpet this rush to force Hillary out is there is more bad stuff coming out on obama, Smart supers will not give in for precisely that reason, What a national treasure she is--the greatest leader of our time, Those who fail to see that have limited vision.

[Mike]

President= Obama
VP= Jim Webb
Sec Def= Colin Powell a real authentic war hero
Sec State= Al Gore
Att Gen= John Ewards
Sec Labor= Dick Gephardt
Hea Hum Ser= Claire McCaskill
Homeland Sec= Wes Clark

[Lori]

Wow. I always knew the Clintons were delusional sociopaths, but I never thought they'd be so proud of their complete and utter detachment from reality.

All crass, no class. That's the Clintons. God, they make me sick to my stomach.

[Lori]

I, for one, will not be giving one red cent to the DNC, DCCC, DSCC until that hateful, selfish and delusional woman is GONE.

[Caly]

Ok first of all I think Hillary has run a fantastic race. She is a great woman and a great candidate so I give her Kudos. However, I have chosen to support Obama. Her and Obama agree on all the issues, hello they are both Democrats. So I am confused by these bitter people who love HRC more than they love their country. I understand if you aren't sure of your vote and think that John McCain would be your pick. Maybe you feel that Obama is not qualified, maybe you feel he's naive or maybe you just need more time to discover your options. However, I cannot understand the people who say that they will vote for McCain to spite the Democratic party. Are you nuts? He would not do anything for health care or stop the war. You are selfish in thinking that this is the best course of action. If you truly support Hillary, how on earth could you support some one who stands against everything she believes. You are cutting your noses off to spite your face. What about your grandmother who doesn't have insurance, do you think John McCain care, no! Do you think that he is going to end the war in Iraq anytime soon, no! So my friends here is some advice, pull think of the world you want your children to grow up in. You may say oh John McCain as president for 4 yrs isn't so bad, but what if he is in there for 8? Look how Bush decimated our country in 8. So do the right thing. If you support HRC, vote for Obama this fall, so she can have influence on health care and the other issues that she and the rest of the Democratic party are passionate about.

[Lynn E]

The fact is Hillary Clinton is still hugely popular and just won another primary last night. She is too strong to drop out even if Obama is the presumptive nominee. It would ultimately be bad for the Democratic Party. She needs to take it to the convention and go on from there. Other male candidates with fewer delegates and votes have gone to the convention, there is no reason for her not to do so. I personally will not vote for Obama and would rather write in her name than have to choose between Obama and McCain. I am not alone and there is nothing Obama has done or could do to change my mind.

[Jim]

"In exit polls throughout the just-concluded primary season, an unusually high number of Clinton voters indicated they were likely to reject Obama and vote for the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona."
We have been hearing this throughout the Democratic primaries. So. . . rather than go with the other candidate who is the political mirror of Clinton, her supporters will cut their own noses off and vote for the Republican candidate whose conservative party base is the antithesis to the liberal party base? Clinton's supporters who advocate abortion rights and those who oppose the very costly Iraqi war would rather have McCain (who is pressured to appeal to the evangelical right) to appoint the next supreme court justice and sacrifice more young Americans until as-yet-to-be-defined victory is declared? I believe that most people are allowing their emotions and passion for their respective candidate to slip out when making off-the-cuff comments such as the one at the beginning of this post. My advice to Clinton supporters: think long and hard about what you are doing and take time to reflect on your principles and beliefs.
Although I am a Obama supporter, I do not get any hubris out of the primary results. Like Obama, I was always strongly opposed to our invading Iraq so that we could stay focused on Afghanistan and its Pakistani border. I would have switched my support directly over to Hillary had she won the nomination because I am voting against the Iraqi war in this election. I think McCain is a good guy, but I do not support his Iraqi war views.

[Aric]

I'm lovin' every minute of this. Only Democrats could create such a cluster. What is especially funny is that Dems blame Republicans for "fraud" and "voter disenfranchisement" every time they lose an election, but tell me, what exactly is going on now??

Remember, when a Republican wins, there's fraud, disenfranchisement, and intimidation, but when a Dem wins, oh everything was on the up an up. LOL!

[Obama 2008!]

Now All We Need Is for a House To Fall On Hillary. Maybe Her Imploding Ego Will Work! Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!

[mary]

www.merriam-webster.com
Entitlement

Main Entry: en·ti·tle·ment
Pronunciation: \-ˈtī-təl-mənt\
Function: noun
Date: 1942
1 a: the state or condition of being entitled : right b: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
2: a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program
3: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges

Impunity

Main Entry: im·pu·ni·ty
Pronunciation: \im-ˈpyü-nə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French impunité, from Latin impunitat-, impunitas, from impune without punishment, from in- + poena punishment — more at pain
Date: 1532
: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss

The Clintons truly believe that HRC is entitled to the Presidency of the United States. They come from a different world than most of us Americans. To them it is a world with impunity and entitlement.
Barack gives me hope for a better America. He gives me hope for a future in which I won't have to worry about my son having to be drafted in 15 years for a war that started 5 years ago.
He helps me to believe that he is different and he CAN bring about change.
Obama = Change
I know some of you are afraid of change, but change with Obama is going to be GREAT!!! Get ready for a whole new America!!!

HRC needs to bow out now (it is too late to bow out gracefully). Let the Democratic Party unite and take the White House in November!!!

Obama 2008

"A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today--and in fact we have forgotten."
Euripides

[Norma J.]

Too much ugly baggage that Obama has, I will vote
for John McCain.

[Michael Snyder]

Hillary needs to go back to Arkansas and take her "legacy" with her. As for her "supporters" who said they'd vote for McCain if she didn't get the nomination; please pick up your toys and put them away before you go. Her refusal to concede and the rest of her speech last night demonstrated the kinds of behaviors (along with the occasional crocodile tear) that keep the "glass ceiling" in place.

[John]

Clinton was the best and smartest candidate for the Democratic Party...she lost the nomination because she could not control her husband. So now we have a Marxist as the nominee from our party.

The junior senator from Illinois lacks experience, and is not able to think on his feet. If he does not have his cue cards and speechwriters he isn't able to respond to any issues.

McCain is a liberal in the mold of Joe Lieberman...that would be a great ticket...and he will get my vote, my financial support, and my earnest efforts to convince fellow Democrats to support him.

[Joe Bento]

Fellow Obamanots relax the stake was driven through her candidacy June 3rd and that is a solid four days before David Plouffe predicted when I met with him at an event in Miami two months ago.

Hillary displayed her delusional narcissism to the maximum with her lack of grace. She is incapable of admitting a mistake or defeat. She cannot admit the mistake of voting to authorize the war in Iraq or that she was soundly defeated by Barack Obama who deployed superior strategy and stayed on the high road.

Stay focused on the big prize and get ready to rumble with John Mc War and his hit men. They will be coming at us with all sorts of other lies to make us fear Barack Obama being our President.

You know what to expect:
Barack is too young
Barack is a Muslim
Barack will surrender to terrorists
We wont be safe America
Life begins at inception
We know the economy better than Barack
he will talk to bad guys

Blah Blah Blah. they will put up as many boogeymen as Hillary put up lies.

Barack Obama scares the hell out of the status quo because it is their power that will be usurped and ours as the people will be restored. Thank god he has assembled he best political campaign team in the history of our country. Plouffe, Axelrod and the 1.7 million of us out there pounding the pavement and making the calls for change are unstoppable. Rest you won the first battle against the biggest name in politics and we will need the energy between now and November.

God Bless you and God bless the United States of America the only country where all this could happen. We are truly the people we have been waiting for.

[jeanvaljean]

It's about time for Bull Moose II. If Teddy did it so can Hillary as President and Bill as Vice President. All this rancor will thus be set aside. Triangulation will be put to the test. This is a serious proposal.

[rlp-politcal]

We have been dealing with you blue eye devils all our lives - it is not different now.

Obama have beat you at your game - no he should pick hilary she is a monster and the Dem leadsership is weak.

Obama is going to change that and get in some real folks to run the party.

Tell Hillary to shut up and move own she lost !!

[AZgal]

What I don't understand is why and how Democrats can say, "If Hillary isn't the nominee, I'm voting for McCain."

McCain's policies and beliefs are completely different from the Democratic party. Hillary and Obama's views are similar. I believe they're both good people, and they have the country's best interest at heart. So why vote for McCain out of spite? Doing so won't get this country on the right path.

Also, it doesn't matter what Dean and Pelosi say and it doesn't matter if Hillary concedes - Obama has surpassed the target number of delegates, making him the Democratic nominee. It's time for the democrats to unite. Lets leave the pettiness aside and do what's best for the country. We need to get out of this 8-year funk.

[rlp-politcal]

I am very much AGAINST the sentiment that Senator Clinton be on the Democratic ticket as Vice President. There are many reasons:
1) It undercuts the message of change in Washington. Hillary is part of the establishment and part of the problem.

2) The Obama campaign can win the hispanic vote WITHOUT senator Clinton. Bill Richardson is a better advocate to help win the hispanic vote than Clinton.

3)Senator Clinton showed poor managerial talent in the process of her campaign. Her campaign was wracked with internal turmoil and poor money management.

4) Senator Clinton feels entitled to a position of power. She ran a poor campaign because she assumed she was the inevitable winner. What kind of leader does that? She brazenly spent contributor's money on unneccessaries and lavished herself rather than run a positive and thorough campaign. Her campaign style is evident of her personal view of her role in politics. We have no room for Royalty in washington.

5) Including Senator Clinton on the ticket shows weakness and a willingness to cave to the establishment. If you can't stand up to the powers that be now how can you in the Whitehouse? Including Clinton on the ticket looks like capitulation. SHE DOESN'T DESERVE to be rewarded for running such a shameless campaign.

6) Having the Clinton machine (Bill Included) present in the Whitehouse would undercut and cause difficulties for your presidency (big egos don't play well in little spaces). Senator Clinton and former President Clinton would likely take advantage of every opportunity to upstage you as possible (probably even create some).

7) Clinton may try to have him assassinated (or at the very least scandalized out of office). What would be better than being vice president? How about 12 years as president (serving out the remainder of Obama’s term, plus an additional 2 terms of her own)? I don't trust her and neither should you.

8) He does not need Senator Clinton to win the "big" states. As we all know Democrats turned out in numbers dwarfing the Republican support during this campaign season. Senator Obama WILL win the Democratic strongholds. Senator Clinton is far from welcome in NY, don't make the assumption that she's a necessity to carry any specific constituency.

9) No one person will mobilize the conservative right-wing more than Hillary Clinton. As it stands Bob Barr will put Georgia in play, Ron Paul’s supporters may cause him to be the Ralph Nader of 2008. The electoral map will be far different with Obama vs. McCain. Include Clinton and it will be the same political map as always. The Republicans who support Obama won't likely support an Obama-Clinton ticket.

10) Her behavior is indicative of her narcissism. No matter what she says this election has never been about the American people. It’s been about her. Even now she refuses to concede the nomination. She doesn’t outwardly congratulate Senator Obama on this historic victory. She’s stubborn, conceited and petulant. She’s just like George W. Bush. Hillary Clinton DOES NOT belong on the democratic ticket

I believe that there are better Vice Presidential candidates available for Senator Obama to choose from. I feel that Senator Joe Biden and Governor Bill Richardson make much better Vice Presidential choices. Each of these two men ran much more positive campaigns and exhibit much more integrity than Senator Clinton.

The Democratic "Dream-ticket" is exactly that. A dream; but more like a NIGHTMARE than anything. Please continue the message of Change, Hope, Integrity, Vision, Judgment and Leadership that your campaign has so valiantly advocated.

[Scott]

I think America is ready for a woman president. I think America is ready for an African-American president, or an Asian-American president, or a president from any minority. I know that I am. The fact that Hillary appears to have lost this campaign--the very first serious try by a woman running for president--does not mean that "...women can never stand a chance in a man's world," to quote McGee above. Likewise, if Obama loses, it doesn't mean that the presidency will always be a "white boy's club" and that he lost because he is not white. If he loses, it's because people didn't want him to be president. The United States will have woman presidents and presidents who are not white men. Nothing says it MUST happen this time or we are doomed forever. If you vote for John McCain simply because he is a white male, you're wrong. If you vote for Hillary Clinton simply because she's a woman and you think it's time for us to have a woman president, you're wrong. If you vote for Barak Obama simply because he's African-American and you think it's time for us to have a black president, you're wrong. Let's focus on what's important...who is the best person to lead this country for the next four years?

[ladiesfirst]

What a bunch of manipulators. Dump the corrupt Democratic party, Hillary and run as an independent. Your voters are yours, not the party's.

http://www.PresidentShe.com

[Resist Libearlism]

I hope all HIllary voters will cross the line and vote for John McCain in November. We cannot have another lying, fraudulent, election stealing thief in the white house. (We have one already).

[ron]

from all the vile coments that come from the obama fans I can see that a lot of you must have spent a lot of time at trinity united church.

[Not-so-smart]

Once again, a lot of smart poeple have been fooled by a crafty politician.
We need a leader for this diificult time not a motivator.
I now fear what the future will bring !!!!

[No longer a Democrat]

I'm disgusted by what's happened to the Democratic Party. Few superdelegates deciding who should be the nominee? How could Hillary win South Dakota, yet all of its superdelegates throw their support behind Obama? Why even bother to vote? And what about what happened in Michigan? How could the DNC allocate all 40% of the uncommitted votes to Obama, when there were 6 other democratic candidates running at that time? Are we to assume that all of those who indicated they're uncommitted wanted Obama? Did none of them want Edwards, Biden or Richardson? It makes no sense to me.

As I pondered all the above myself last night I finally came to one question. Had the tables been turned, would Hillary asked Obama to be her VP? I really truly believe NOT. I kinda picture Hillary telling Bill to ask that nice young colored boy to leave the room and not let the door hit him in the rear. She wouldn't have had him on her ticket in a MILLION years. I believe the woman is such a socialist with nationalist tendencies that well, she might just revive that party again, what was it called, oh yeah, the NAZI party.