Clinton Surrogates: "We're Not Counting Votes, We're Looking for Delegates"

[K Gardner]

Kick McLean and Ann Lewis have both appeared on MSNBC today parroting this same theme: They are not worried about the popular vote in Wisconsin. "Its all about the delegates." They are looking for delegates, both say. (note to WI: your votes don't/won't count)

Given the news reports today and the MSNBC report airing now quoting an inside Clinton campaign staffer saying they were going after pledged delegates, expect this to indeed be the next phase of the war that is being declared on the democratic process by the Clinton Machine. Don't be distracted by personal attacks/accusations.. its a smokescreen. This is what they're up to.

If anyone can find a transcript or if anyone has either of these interviews TIVO'd, I'd appreciate another synopsis of what was said.

[CoffeeCat]

1. I don't understand the distinction they're making...

There is a direct correlation between the popular vote and the number of delegates you receive.

What exactly are they saying?

The person who wins the most votes, will win the most delegates. Yes, there is proportional representation, but
it's not that big of a deal.

I mean, what are they suggesting--that Obama might win the popular, but Clinton will walk away with the most delegates?

Dar?

[JimGinPA]

2. They're Going To Try & Steal Pledged Delegates As Well As the SD's nt

[CoffeeCat]

4. How would the Clintons steal pledged delegates???

There's no way.

They don't even know who the pledged delegates are.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. They are going to try to

convince pledged delegates to vote against their constituencies' wishes if not in her favor once they reach the convention. Technically, no delegate is forced to vote the way they were assigned or pledged to vote. It's an imperfect system for sure but then the entire Electoral College is a joke IMHO and we go through this exercise every 4 years, everyone becomes outraged, and the farce continues in another 4 years... Truly sad. :thumbsdown:

[CoffeeCat]

11. Ok, this is a ridiculous, pipe dream!!!!!!

So, what you're telling me is that Hillary Clinton is going to saunter up to
the Obama delegates and try to convince them to go for her????

So, Hillary is going to approach an Obama delegate--who is wearing her Obama
cap and sweatshirt--and ask her to defect from Obama to Clinton?

Now, will Hillary do this *after* or *before* these Obama pledges delegates are finished polishing their Obama
yard signs and bumper stickers?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[JimGinPA]

17. Unfortunately, It Has Happened Before...

And win-at-any-cost politicians will keep trying to subvert the system. It's not funny.

[CoffeeCat]

22. Who in the world has gone after pledged delegates?

I've never even heard of any politician *thinking* this way, let alone
trying to do it!

I mean...how would this happen from a logistical stand point.

Hillary and Bill don't have lists of these pledged delegates, do they? They
don't know their names. There's no way to contact them is there?

What, will they round them up at the convention and bribe them or threaten
to get Bill's brother to beat them up?

I'm not even getting how this is physically possible.

[MadAsHell]

21. The campaigns have veto on the actual delegates ...

in other words, once the delegate allotments are determined and all those who would like to be delegates fill out the applications, the campaigns can strike people from their candidate's list. This should mean that a campaign could be fairly sure that a person seeking delegate status is loyal.

[Cha]

3. They are suggesting that they

are going in the white house by whatever crooked scheme they can come up with and Obama might as well give up to the viper den.

[CoffeeCat]

5. I rarely swear...

...but the Clintons make me want to swear. Fucking asshole shit balls.

Does anyone doubt that these scurrilous clowns are bad for our country?

They're so Rovian and Bush-like! It's astounding.

[zonkers]

7. What do they use? Voodoo?

[CoffeeCat]

10. Better than voo doo...

...They insult you on a daily basis--then lie all of the time, then practically
announce that they'll be winning the election--regardless of what "We The People"
think.

Watching a bunch of sociopathic, conscious-lacking weasels trying to run your
country down the drain, is a hell of a lot more potent that any voo doo.

[Cha]

18. hilary has a viper

mouth and doodoo for brains..is that voodoo?

[zonkers]

23. zidz, glad you are on these boards. You been here a long time. I have too but

under a different name.

[Cha]

24. Oh yeah, do I know you? :-)

Cyberly speaking? :)

[goodhue]

12. they are preemptively spinning loss to focus on fact that Clinton will get some WI delegates

As you suggest, it is an absurd spin because the person with more votes gets more delegates

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. not even pledged delegates are pledged

saw it on CSpan.

Disgusting, Democratic Primary is not democratic. Clinton doesn't have to try hard
because she never planned to.


Her plan is to manipulate the delegates.

[K Gardner]

15. This is correct. Sorry not to respond, had to step away and do supper. There is some

complicated Democratic procedure whereby "pleged" delegates really aren't pledged. I have to admit stupidity that I don't know any of this. It was explained on MSNBC today, a lot of it over my head, but the gist of it is that Clinton CAN (and is evidently planning on) lobbying the pledged delegates by whatever means to get them to switch their vote to her. This has been reported in several blogs today, but was refuted by Wolfson. Then it was alluded to by McLean and Lewis. I'll look for the article and link it.

[TwilightGardener]

6. How are they supposed to win a general election?

edit to add: Their whole focus now seems to be both waiting for Obama to trip up, and gaming the system. Not improving HER message to win over voters.

[yourguide]

8. By stealing it...

sort of like what happened in 2000.

More and more their tactics look ripped out of the Karl Rove playbook.

[rodeodance]

14. ******OP has mislead you all--see here--this was issued hrs ago from Clinton and OBAMA******

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/clinton_spokes


Clinton Spokesperson Rules Out Pursuit Of Obama's Pledged Delegates
By Greg Sargent - February 19, 2008, 10:55AM

Hillary spokesperson Phil Singer is adamantly denying a report this morning in The Politico quoting an anonymous campaign official suggesting that the Clinton campaign will pursue Obama's pledged delegates. Singer sends me this:

We have not, are not and will not pursue the pledged delegates of Barack Obama. It's now time for the Obama campaign to be clear about their intentions.

It's worth noting that the Politico story quotes a Clinton official predicting that both campaigns will pursue the pledged dels. The Obama camp has not yet put out a statement on whether they'll pursue Hillary's pledged dels, though they very likely will soon.

More in a bit.

Late Update: The Obama campaign has ruled out this tactic, too. Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor sends me this:

"We would absolutely not use these sorts of tactics. Senator Obama is focused on winning contests and earning the support of pledged delegates."

[K Gardner]

16. Uh, before you go embarassing yourself.. I am not making this up. This was specifically

stated by two Clinton spokespeople today on MSNBC. I'm very glad Wolfson has come out and said they will not do this. It gives us something to hold him to, doesn't it, when they try to go back on their "pledge".. kind of like FL and MI.

[rodeodance]

19. She issued a statement --and Obama followed. plain as that- you

post late afternoon. I will give you leeway--maybe you did not see it.
bye


ue Feb-19-08 04:27 PM
Original message
Clinton Surrogates: "We're Not Counting Votes, We're Looking for Delegates"

Kick McLean and Ann Lewis have both appeared on MSNBC today parroting this same theme: They are not worried about the popular vote in Wisconsin. "Its all about the delegates." They are looking for delegates, both say. (note to WI: your votes don't/won't count)

Given the news reports today and the MSNBC report airing now quoting an inside Clinton campaign staffer saying they were going after pledged delegates, expect this to indeed be the next phase of the war that is being declared on the democratic process by the Clinton Machine. Don't be distracted by personal attacks/accusations.. its a smokescreen. This is what they're up to.

If anyone can find a transcript or if anyone has either of these interviews TIVO'd, I'd appreciate another synopsis of what was said.

[usregimechange]

20. Anyone that would subvert democracy to such an extent does not deserve to hold office, any office

[K Gardner]

25. Kick