TPM: Obama precinct captain's flyer in Nevada crosses the line

[Bumblebee]

Obama Precinct Captain's Mailer Urges Republicans To Switch Parties To Stop Hillary

By Greg Sargent - January 14, 2008, 5:10PM

An Obama precinct captain in Nevada has circulated a flyer that urges Republicans (and independents) to become Democrats just for a day in order to stop Hillary.

The flyer is likely to be controversial, because it's playing on Republican dislike of Hillary to get GOP voters to affect the outcome of the Democratic caucuses.

"Republicans, Independents, Everyone," the flyer reads. "You can make the difference if you think a Democrat will win in November and you don't want Hillary...You can come to the Democratic caucus and vote for Obama."

Though precinct captains are volunteers, they are designated as such by the campaigns. And while this flyer isn't the official work of the Obama campaign, in this race campaigns have been held liable for the actions of such volunteers. When a Hillary county coordinator forwarded a copy of the Obama Muslim smear email, it became national news for days, leading to her resignation.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/obama_precinct_captains_mailer_urges_republicans_to_switch_parties_and_caucus_against_hillary.php

[David Dunham]

1. Obama's a stalking horse for the GOP to knock off Hillary

[Mass]

2. If you posted the link, you would see that the Obama campaign has condemned the flyer.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/obama_precinct_captains_mailer_urges_republicans_to_switch_parties_and_caucus_against_hillary.php

Obama spokesman Bill Burton confirmed that Buchanan is a precinct captain, and sent me this statement:

We'’ve learned that one individual who volunteers for the campaign was making the flyer and we’'ve instructed him to stop creating and distributing it. But make no mistake, we want as many independents and Republicans to become Democrats and help to build a new governing majority in this country.

[Bumblebee]

6. I just did -- sorry I forgot to add it when I posted it.

The spokesperson's response was not, exactly, a "condemnation" in my book:

"We'’ve learned that one individual who volunteers for the campaign was making the flyer and we’ve instructed him to stop creating and distributing it. But make no mistake, we want as many independents and Republicans to become Democrats and help to build a new governing majority in this country."

[Mass]

7. No, he told him to stop because he agrees.

[Bumblebee]

8. He probably told him to stop because it became news.

[Mass]

9. Sure, of course, Obama does nothing right , but the Clinton are always right.

Silly me. I should know by now.

[Bumblebee]

10. BS. As far as I am concerned, right now they BOTH are doing it wrong.

But Obama supporters here like to maintain that he is holier than thou while Clinton is evil.

[Alexander]

11. Didn't you know St. Hillary is a Goddess and Obama is Satan spawn?

Sheesh. I thought that was common knowledge on DU by now.

:eyes:

[Bumblebee]

12. Another BS -- but that's waste of time.

[NashVegas]

14. But Have They Asked the Precinct Captain to Step Down?

Anything less is a wink and a nod.

[malaise]

3. I just hope that while the Hillary and Obama devour each other

Edwards sails by both of them.

[rateyes]

13. I'm with you. nt

[NashVegas]

15. Hehehe

That thought has struck my mind.

I wouldn't mind a brokered convention. The party would have to take full responsibility for its candidate in such a circumstance. No blaming anything on the media or the fickle masses ....

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. How the hell did we get here?

JEDNE.

[dkofos]

5. Politics as usual!!

[ursi]

16. just came back from seeing Obama in Reno -- they called for a show of hands of GOPers

Amazing how many were there.