Clinton's top fundraisers ripping into Howard Dean again today. Whiny attitudes.

[madfloridian]

I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of those top donors who are constantly attacking Dean and the DNC for taking a stand on the issue of FL and MI delegates. They are becoming whiny and annoying. They have been doing this way too much.

From TPM

Top Hillary Fundraisers Rip Into Howard Dean

Two of Hillary Clinton's most prominent fundraisers tore into Howard Dean in interviews with me today, sharply criticizing the DNC chair for saying yesterday that super-delegates should say which Dem candidate they support "starting now."

"Governor Dean should do what he has said he will do -- refrain from injecting himself into the primary process, as millions of Democrats have yet to cast their votes," Hillary national finance chair Hassan Nemazee, one of the most influential fundraisers in the Democratic Party, told me today.

"If he wishes to do something productive," Nemazee continued, "he should exhibit the leadership necessary to resolve the Florida and Michigan impasse, which has disenfranchised millions of Democratic voters."

A second prominent Democratic fundraiser, Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic National Committeeman and key Hillary fundraiser, sounded a similar note in an interview with me today.

"Howard Dean is more committed to pressuring the super delegates to make up their minds before the voting is done than he is to ensuring that Michigan and Florida's votes are counted," Zimmerman charged.

Bad attitude, guys.

You know what's funny? I had just posted a likely scenario that FL and MI delegates would be used by the Clinton campaign to make Obama sound like an illegitimate nominee.

I should have known they would be after Dean again today. And this is far from the first time these big money guys have gotten into it with him. One was at a major event with both campaigns. The Clinton donors used the event to attack Dean over FL and MI, and the Obama big donors mostly sat silently. Two of the Clinton donors got up and left the event because they did not get their way.

Threats toward Howard Dean by Clinton's big donors should alarm us greatly.

At that point Clinton campaign finance chair Hassan Nemazee spoke up. He said Dean's response sounded to him as if the DNC chairman were "essentially trying to kick the can down the road" and that the chairman was not exhibiting the type of leadership one would expect. Nemazee said that since the campaigns obviously could not reach a solution on their own before June, Dean's argument amounted to passing the buck.

Dean then responded, heatedly, that in his experience, those who sought the intervention of party leadership were motivated by their own particular agendas. And that was not the sort of leadership he intended to provide.

I hate to say I told you so, but I did. They will use this issue as a battering ram against Dean and the DNC, and as a result, against Obama.

They are already putting out talking points saying there are no rules covering FL and MI. They are already putting out talking points making FL and MI sound like victims instead of purposeful rulebreakers.

Win any old way you can....that is the new mantra of that campaign.

[ScarletSniper]

1. I smell desperation!

[LSparkle]

2. Yeah, threats worked so well with Nancy Pelosi ...

All the more reason I don't support HRC. She and her people think they
OWN the Democratic Party and order everyone around.

[rodeodance]

15. Pelosi backed off you know. She knows these are doners have supported

democrats for years--with big bucks.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

32. And they'll continue to support them

because the alternative sucks. Again, much ado about nothing. Once Obama clinches this, they'll all fall in line.

[Inuca]

37. No, she did not

AFAIK at least. She said something that was open to interpretation, and then she clarified it the next day at a press conference.

[napi21]

3. Howard doesn't GAS and neither do I! If they want to whine and

complain about somebody, why don't they complain to the high level Dems in those 2 states who caused the problems? It wasn't Howard that forced them to be arrogant AH's and defy the Party rules!

[madfloridian]

4. What makes you think facts matter anymore to them?

They matter less now than they did at the start of all this.

It is geared to give Hillary the nomination or bloody up the other.

[Vattel]

67. the Clinton prefers McCain to be beat Obama smear n/t

[DJ13]

5. I have to laugh at the desperation it takes to say its bad for SD's to endorse now

Especially coming from a campaign that had nearly 200 endorse Clinton before a single primary had been run.

[SeaLyons]

6. Good for Hillary.....

His leadership on FL and MI has been despicable. He can keep his mouth shut to super delegates. I'm sure they'll endorse on their own schedule anyway. I doubt if they are waiting for any direction from Dean.

[madfloridian]

7. Hillary is big and tough and has big rich donors threaten the party.

That must make her the winner, the best, right?

[PoliticalAmazon]

56. Apparently she doesn't really. Otherwise, she wouldn't be $10million in debt. n/t

[Vattel]

68. what threat?

I didn't see any mention of a threat in the OP.

[EFerrari]

12. Howard Dean is the best thing that has happened to this party in 50 years.

And I notice that Big Money in FL and MI can't buy him.

That's leadership, baby.

[Mooney]

42. Fuckin A.

He takes zero shit.

[Usrename]

19. What did Howard Dean do that you think is despicable?

I haven't seen him do anything unusual, or anything outside the rules of the party. Have you?

[Gore1FL]

49. Harold Ickes voted for it to happen

Write to the Clinton campaign and complain.

[suzie]

66. Dean's Leadership

Dean's leadership has been despicable only if one believes in following the rules. The FL Democratic Party believes that it should not be held to the same rules as other states.

[guyanakoolaid]

8. Hillary: Don't go away mad. Just go away.

[madfloridian]

9. Big money giving orders. DNC already given back donations.

And probably more to come.

DNC gives money back to top Clinton donor and friend who accused Dean of incompetence.

They really rich folks. They are ordering the party around. That is why Dean wanted to build the party on small donors.

Thanks, Howard Dean, for standing up for the party rules in the face of such ridicule and insults.

[EFerrari]

14. We can't just let this go. Maybe we should get up a thread

in support of Howard and the DNC and raise some $ for them? What do you think?

[madfloridian]

16. Might be good.

But it would not work if I did it....on too many ignore lists.

[EFerrari]

18. You know, I am too. We need a posse.

I'll start a thread around dinner time in this forum and PM you. I don't think Skinner would object if we asked people to support the DNC.

Deal?

[PassingFair]

20. Count me in. I just renewed my yearly pledge (late), but I'd give ....

another dime or two.

[EFerrari]

24. Super! Thank you!

[madfloridian]

28. Sounds good.

[juno jones]

50. I'm there. I just sent my first-ever political contribution off to Obama

a bit ago, and when I get a few more tips ahead, I'll send Dean a few bucks. I'm doing Old School Money Orders and Snail Mail, so it'll be a couple of days before it counts, but, hey, money's money. Would I find a mailing address for Dean and DNC in the research forum?

Thanks for passing this on.

This is exciting! Pooling our pennies and buying our own politicians for a change.

[rodeodance]

17. yup--start crying again

[DrDan]

10. Dean has already stated FL and Mich would be seated

he does need to act like a leader and get it done.

This has drug on long enough. It is hurting the party.

[gal]

36. He will

But he has already said and it is the correct stance. They cannot be allowed to determine the winner of the nomination.

[DrDan]

41. he is toying with the GE in doing this . . .

why piss-off millions of voters . . . does not make sense

[madfloridian]

11. Hassan Nemazee...VIP...2nd time he has denounced Dean.

http://www.iranianamericanpac.org/leadership/p_nemazee....

I guess he will be wanting his money back now.

There is really no room in the party for rules and the little folks.

[newmajority]

65. Wait a minute..... Isn't that a "muslim sounding name"????2222?????

CALL FUCKING CONGRESS RIGHT NOW!!!!111!!!!! GODLESS ISLAMOFASCISTTERRORISTS ARE FUNDING HITLERY KLINTOON!!1111!~!!!!!





















( I know I shouldn't even have to hang the tag on this one, but if somebody named "Hassan Nemazee" was working on the Obama campaign, we all know damn well this shit would be circulating for real. And not just from Rimjob's trailer park.)

[rodeodance]

13. what a joke the OP is--after obamanation went crying all day yesterday--!!

[barack the house]

23. *sob sob* how will I cope when my candidate is nomine. wahhh.

[rodeodance]

25. save your

money as you will need to dish it out for de-programming when obama loses

[Mooney]

43. He's not going to lose.

HRC has already lost. The only reason she's even still in the race is name recognition --- namely, her husband's.

[barack the house]

21. Donate to the DNC send him emails and calls of support he needs us...

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/splashCrowds

vounter free security if you have the means too. In fact for every SD that wants it offer them too.

[barack the house]

22. Although I think Dean's socts ancestry will see him through.

[Usrename]

26. What's with the duplicate posts?

[Usrename]

27. Yours is a great journal.

Thanks again for keeping everyone informed about what they are up to. So far I don't get any hints that Dean is about to fold on this. Quite the contrary. I think he knows exactly who and what he's up against, and the longer he resist these folks the stronger he seems to get.

[madfloridian]

44. I don't think so either.

[AllentownJake]

29. Why does he even take their calls at this point

Hi Howard...angry rich people for Hillary line 1.

[Why Syzygy]

45. He didn't. They did it in an INTERVIEW. No face time. Typical.

[madfloridian]

46. As he said...they bypass him at the DNC and go to the media first.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/...

Instead of negotiating, they bypass the DNC and head toward the media.

[burythehatchet]

30. Obama's 1.3 million donors collectively yawn. Film at 11

[BlooInBloo]

31. Clinton supporters do not support Democrats. It's that simple.

[madfloridian]

33. Top Clinton donors letter to Pelosi about her stance on superdelegates.

Once again they are putting pressure on party leaders. They did not like what Pelosi said about superdelegates either.

Clinton Fat Cats Hiss at Pelosi

But a brouhaha has erupted over recent comments made by Pelosi on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos", when Pelosi, who will chair the Democratic National Convention, seemed to give a boost to the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., by saying "If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."

Taking umbrage, a list of big Democratic donors who support the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have written a letter to Pelosi (subsequently released to the press) pointing out that "Several states and millions of Democratic voters have not yet had a chance to cast their votes" and arguing "None of us should make declarative statements that diminish the importance of their voices and their votes. We are writing to say we believe your remarks on ABC News This Week on March 16th did just that.

"During your appearance, you suggested super-delegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd , whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2. This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984…"

Then the donors -- Marc Aronchick, Clarence Avant, Susie Tompkins Buell, Sim Farar, Robert L. Johnson, Chris Korge, Marc and Cathy Lasry, Hassan Nemazee, Alan and Susan Patricof, JB Pritzker, Amy Rao, Lynn de Rothschild, Haim Saban, Bernard Schwartz, Stanley S. Shuman, Jay Snyder, Maureen White and Steven Rattner -- reminded Pelosi that they have given generously to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps fund Democratic House races.

Then there are the ones who threatened Dean about Florida delegates. The Patricofs, Hassan Nemazee, Chris Korge, and the rest plus this guy name Paul Cejas...

DNC gives money back to top Clinton donor and friend who accused Dean of incompetence.

Federal records show that Paul Cejas has given six-figure sums to the Democratic National Committee for years, NBC 6's Nick Bogert reported.

Cejas asked for his last donation back. He said he was angry with the party, particularly party Chair Howard Dean, over the failure to resolve Florida's delegate dilemma.

"Frankly, he's dropped the ball, and I told him, 'You're going to go down in history as the worst chairman of the Democratic Party if you do not fix and seat the delegates of Florida,'" Cejas said.

Cejas, a longtime friend of former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton, was ambassador to Belgium during Clinton's presidency. Because he supports Hillary Clinton, he said he would prefer to have her Florida primary win count, but he feels that Dean should have engineered a do-over vote by now.

Dean offered a do-over....both states loudly refused.

They are making power moves...controlling the party by their big money.

If only Dean had had the one million donors giving 20 dollars a month...these guys would have no power.

[Califooyah Operative]

34. I'm donating to the DNC and Obama! nt

[Skidmore]

35. It might just be time to make another donation to Obama and the DNC.

$25.02 each. My $.02 to counter their 2 big dollar bazookas. The ivory tower falls because termites nibbled away at the supports.

Join me. Be a termite. Add your $.02 to mine.

[madfloridian]

38. We did already this week again.

.

[Life Long Dem]

39. What's the problem with the SD's starting now?

Did they say? If not, then this seems more about dragging this out, and dragging down Obama against McSame than moving along with this primary to an end.

[SoFlaJet]

40. Fuck them and their fucking money MadFlo

they can either be good true democrats or join the LIEberman party and never win another seat again. WE THE PEOPLE will finance the candidates going forward if they won't.

on edit; check your PM for a question

[madfloridian]

47. Again, there are posts here today saying the "popular vote" should count

instead of delegates as the rules say.

People are falling for it, too.

Uninformed people are susceptible to propaganda like the Clinton campaign is putting out.

I never believed the Clintons were this way...now I do.

[kevinbgoode]

48. I think there are some bigwig donors out there who are afraid

they ain't gonna get to sleep over in the Lincoln Bedroom. . .and get some other perks promised by the Hillary Administration.

[The Wizard]

51. They're pissed off

because Dean's 50 State strategy and fund raising from small donors is making the big money guys less relevant to the process. The big money decided early on that Hillary was the candidate. When the campaign took the nomination for granted and started running a general election strategy Hillary lost her lead and they've come to realize they have lost a degree of power. The political fund raising landscape changed and the big money guys are still using yesterday's model. It's not like they're using Vic Commodore 64s, but while most are using broadband, they still have dial up.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

52. Out with the old, in with the new

Clinton is the old, and that old style politics of big money being able to run everything is done. Dean was the first step in ending this process that leaves the people out. With Dean running the DNC and Obama at the helm of the party, we are going to end up stronger than ever.

[ClassWarrior]

53. I guess increasing irrelevance makes you do nasty things.

NGU.

[Infinite Hope]

54. "STARTING now"....don't those boneheaded donors realize it started over a year ago???

So what's wrong with asking them to "start now?" If they looked at the phrase, they'd realize it isn't asking them all to make their determination now.

They can go to hell.

[1trackmindGOP]

55. The elite will not turn over power without a fight!

A fight is what they will get...power to the people and for the people..that has a refreshing ring to it.

[rodeodance]

57. HA HA --its called democracy. Saddle up --you OP is nothing but a rant.

I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of those top donors who are constantly attacking Dean and the DNC for taking a stand on the issue of FL and MI delegates. They are becoming whiny and annoying. They have been doing this way too much.

From TPM

[madrchsod]

58. rendell said yesterday

she will win when the florida votes are counted

they are going to take down the dnc and dean when the supers back obama...or she`ll go independent

[Blue_Roses]

59. is this going to be the next big push after PA?

if she only squeaks by in PA do you think with inevitable loss, she will try to hatchet up FL and MI? Is this going to get even more dirty?

And BTW, thanks for all your insight

[mystieus]

60. Seriously

The Clintons have ripped in every Democratic figure around this cycle except themselves. Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson...Probably forgetting more. She really doesn't care about the party, or anyone else.

[w4rma]

64. Hillary is a selfish witch. Her actions have always put herself above everyone else.

Its just more obvious now that she has to show her true colors or be absolutely assured of a total loss. I said years ago that if she ran she'd destroy the "Clinton legacy". And she has done just that.

[Irishonly]

61. You Did Tell Us So

I always believed the goal of the democratic party was to place as many democrats as possible in all government levels from local all the way to the president. I guess I was wrong. According to the big money donors it seems to me they want to decide. It doesn't matter what the real base of the democratic party wants, it what they want.

Dr. Dean gave us the 50 state strategy and IMHO you can see which candidate has followed his lead. Senator Obama has gone to every state and fired up the democrats. Dean has done an outstanding job in chairing the DNC. He has answered with grace Tweety's questions. He has made his point over and over again with all pundits who seem willing to listen to the DLC and not hear what rank and file democrats say. Carville was never a favorite but his tricks the past few years are disgusting and are more Rovian than democratic.

I feel badly for the voters in Florida and Michigan but I wish blame would be placed squarely on the shoulders of the people responsible and it isn't Dean.

[madfloridian]

62. I never thought I would feel this way about the Clintons.

Hubby is worse than I am. We absolutely refuse to watch her on TV. It is painful to see what they are doing to the party.

[Irishonly]

63. It Is

I don't even know what to say anymore and it's very sad. I was an Edwards supporter and then had decided I would just vote for the nominee but the last few days have just been depressing. I have been furious about the statements about Dean. He's practically perfect in my book.

The DLC needs to go away, far, far away. The fact they are lying about him makes me madder. The DLC has tried to undermine him no matter what he has done.