Obama forgets to urge help for Clinton

[Hope And Change]

Obama forgets to urge help for Clinton

By AP/BETH FOUHY Thursday, Jul. 10, 2008

(NEW YORK) — It was all part of a careful arrangement: Democrat Barack Obama would get fundraising help from his erstwhile rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in exchange for his help retiring about $10 million of her campaign debt.

But Obama momentarily forgot his part of the deal at a major New York fundraiser Wednesday night, forcing him to retake the stage after he had concluded the event and said goodnight to the audience.

The Illinois senator spoke to about 1,000 donors in a Manhattan ballroom, all of whom had paid at least $1,000 to attend. Many were Clinton supporters until she dropped out of the race last month.

Obama praised the former first lady as tough and smart. "She wore me out," he said to laughs.

The Democratic nominee-in-waiting then wrapped up his speech and thanked the audience, moving to shake hands along a rope line.

After a minute or so, the music was cut short and Obama returned to the stage.


http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1821491,00.html">Read the entire article here

[CreekDog]

1. meanwhile in other news AP isn't covering

McCain said Social Security is a "disgrace". :eyes:

[MISSDem]

47. Someone explain to me why I should help a person who

is as wealthy as HRC to retire her campaign debt? Am i ignorant? I did not tell her to run for president or to spend so much money. What do I not understand?
I meant to reply to the original post with this. Sorry.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. I Guess Bill Clinton Has Forgotten To Endorse Obama

For more than a month.

Surprising.

[wyldwolf]

3. Except he has endorsed him

The grand speech you must be expecting will come when Obama wants it. Stating that he'll work to get Obama elected is an endorsement.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Got A Link?

All I saw was one sentence in am email from a Clinton staffer stating that Clinton will do what he's asked to do to help Obama get elected. Doesn't get more tepid than that.

[wyldwolf]

6. "All I saw was one sentence in am email from a Clinton staffer." ummm

So?

McKenna is a spokesman for Bill Clinton and said "President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," just as Obama spokesman Bill Burton said, "A unified Democratic Party is going to be a powerful force for change this year and we're confident President Clinton will play a big role in that."

That's an endorsement and an aknowledgement of an endorsement.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeWVXCJArcgqG7BdsJYhaX0-6-FgD91GLO4O0

[MannyGoldstein]

11. How Would You Rank That?

On a 1-5 scale, 1 = the absolute, bare minimum that could be done to cover his ass, 5 = a full-throated endorsement.

If your score is higher than 1, can you suggest what behavior would qualify as a 1?

[wyldwolf]

15. What does it matter how I would rank it?

We're discussing whether an endorsement has been made. It, in fact, has. Bill Clinton doesn't need to meet your expectations.

[MannyGoldstein]

32. Not An Endorsement - Simply A Pouting "I'll Do What I Have To"

Your non-answer probably indicates that you recognize that this was the very least that Clinton could do to avoid a shitstorm.

[Beacool]

37. Bill is not close to Obama.

So what? He'll appear with Obama eventually and campaign for him if asked. The man is busy and travels frequently for his foundation.

[MannyGoldstein]

40. He's A Former Democratic President.

He could easily endorse, but chooses not to. Very disturbing.

[Beacool]

42. As pointed out before, he did endorse him.

I guess Bill is still not ready to do the full kumbaya act, but he will sooner or later. After all, it's not like he didn't have a stake in this election.

[JoFerret]

44. Stop creating molehills

you are falling over them.
Stop the rumsfeldian dead-ender strategy.

[wyldwolf]

43. Newsflash: Bill Clinton doesn't adhere to YOUR definition of "endorsement."

You avoidance of the fact probably indicates blindness.

[JeanGrey]

5. They made over a hundred million. Remind me again

why we should retire her debt?

[Bake]

16. Uh, because our candidate asked you to?

If that's good enough on FISA, it ought to be good enough on this.

Bake

[JeanGrey]

49. Well I don't think he owes her a PENNY considering the shit

she pulled.

[BigDDem]

48. Ask Barack and Michelle, they both wrote checks.

[ecstatic]

7. Video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25618751#25618751

Uggh... I hope nobody is actually outraged over this.

[ErinBerin84]

8. Haha, I think I know now why Andrea has been obsessing over this debt repayment

She brings it up almost every day, asks it as a question to every Obama or former Clinton supporter. Bob Shrum was saying that though he is friends with De Rothschild, she went on cable news and called Obama an elitist, and said "Imagine that. A De Rothschild calling someone an elitist!" and Andrea Mitchell quickly said "She is a VERY good FRIEND OF MINE!"

[nc4bo]

9. Don't fall for it Democrats!!!!

The Clinton vs Obama problem is being used to divide the democrats. It's an old ploy that really does work.

Look, McLame is behind according to most polls. The Repuke's candidate is lame and can not compete with ours. They MUST find a way to erode our confidence and support of our nominee.

It's a ploy, don't fall for it.

I bet you will see this topic come up more and more often.

[Egnever]

18. As long as the clinton camp continues to allow it

We will have to deal with this topic.

[BeyondGeography]

10. I'd say it was a good and gracious recovery

plus:

"Things went a bit more smoothly a few blocks down Park Avenue, where Clinton introduced Obama at a smaller fundraiser that netted about $4.1 million for the joint Obama/Democratic National Committee Victory Fund.

"Whatever brings us here tonight I hope is understood to be not only unifying but transcendent," Clinton told the 125 major donors.

Obama, in turn, echoed Clinton's call for unity.

"With just half a wing this bird can't fly," he said.

[PVnRT]

12. Media desperation is sad

Seriously, guys, the primary is over. Move on.

[invictus]

13. The Clintons should pay their debts with their own millions. Why should I finance her vanity tour?

n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

34. Running for President is a "vanity tour"?

Jesus. :eyes:

[dionysus]

61. it was after the point that she was mathematically eliminated...

:shrug:

[Mz Pip]

14. How many times is Obama

supposed to encourage his supporters to pay off Hillary's debt? He's already done it and now should be focusing on his campaign and not making it about Hillary's debt every time they are together.

Good grief, why is this even news?

[Egnever]

17. The NY times said it best I think

No one wants to pay for her glory lap long after it was apparent she had lost. The idea that Obama supporters should be expected to do so is ludicrous. The woman couldn't even be bothered to talk to him on the floor of the senate yesterday. Full throated support my ASS.

When she gets done with her pitty party and gets with the program this obama supporter will consider hellping her retire her fucking obstinance debt. Till then she can suck wind.


Hell I got an email today from her selling T-shirts for $50 implying she is the only one that will stand up for people. Made me want to puke.

[wyldwolf]

19. The NY Times said all that?

[Egnever]

20. Pretty much

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/politics/09debt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Several Obama donors said in interviews that they were balking at Mr. Obama’s call for help because they believed Mrs. Clinton accumulated most of her debts after she had lost any mathematical chance of winning the nomination and was hanging on only in hopes of an Obama collapse. The idea of helping her now — and lining the pockets of Mr. Penn, a reviled figure in the Obama camp — is galling to them, they said, especially at a time when they say any available money should go to defeating Senator John McCain and the Republicans in November.


According to several Democrats who have spoken to Mr. Barnett, he has counseled the Clinton camp that honey will work better than vinegar in the debt talks. But Clinton donors say it is an open question whether the Clintons believe they should play hardball — signaling that they will not rally enthusiastically behind Mr. Obama unless he does more on the debt situation — or appear agreeable with the expectation that the money will ultimately come through.

[woolldog]

23. All democratic money needs to go to

1. Obama

And when that is maxed out:

2. DNC

And when that is maxed out:

3. Downticket local races

And then and only then should anyone even think of donating to Clinton.

[Beacool]

38. Well, it's a two way street.

Many of Hillary's top donors are not opening their purses for Obama. The mistrust is mutual, even though the candidates seem to have moved on.

[JoFerret]

50. No

But they did report people saying that - sort of. A very different proposition.

[democrattotheend]

21. Do you have a link to the article?

The Times piece, I mean?

[Egnever]

22. yup

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/politics/09debt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

James carvile apparently blew a gasket on CNN after reading it.

[wyldwolf]

24. it reprinted letters from Obama supporters. The NY Times writer didn't write it

You may as well have quoted DU or dkos.

[Egnever]

25. So sue me

[wyldwolf]

26. no lawsuit needed. Some of us will know to be skeptical of you in the future

[Egnever]

27. LOL ok wyld

you do that on this board full of shit.

[wyldwolf]

28. seriously. Passing off angry LTTEs as an article in the NY Times... kinda silly

[Egnever]

30. So is the OP wyld

Guess I will have to live with being forever diminished in your eyes.

And its not an LTTE its a full blown article despite the fact you may not like the article. It expresses my thoughts quite succinctly.

[Forkboy]

29. LOL...this is like a lecture on peace from Dick Cheney.

[wyldwolf]

31. LOL...

right.

So I guess you think passing off angry letters quoted in an article as "An article in the NY Times" is on the up and up. ok.

[JoFerret]

58. You are probably not worth the effort

but a paper reporting something is not the same as saying something.
You do know that. Right?

And why are you bothering with this anyway? What's the problem?

[JoFerret]

51. That's not what the NYTimes said at all.

You dead enders need to get ready for the victory party and stop the negativity.

[dionysus]

52. nice projection with the dead-ender phrase... i bet you don't even see the irony in it...

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

[JoFerret]

53. Those who insist on keeping up a hatred

toward Hillary and those who supported her bid are worthy of the rumsfeldian insult of deadender.
I see no irony in that. Seems pretty straightforward to me. Counterproductive to democratic victory. Counterproductive to the election of Obama.

[dionysus]

54. i don't see any hatred for hillary in this thread. some disgust that she wants others to foot her

bills perhaps.

meanwhile i have never seen you do anything but continue to insult obama and his supporters... who are the dead enders again?

[JoFerret]

56. There you go again sweetie

Stop deadending. OK?

[dionysus]

59. you gotta be kidding me...

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

[JoFerret]

57. The NYTimes said nothing of the sort.

.

[yourguide]

33. I was there...it was less than a minute.

No one had even stepped out of the room yet. And he mentioned the donation sheets under everyone's chairs.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Whoops.

And I accidently forgot to send in the check.

[BlueStateGirl]

36. Big Deal. I doubt it was intentional. n/t

[NattPang]

39. I don't recall Obama ever asking for money

at his functions.
but I guess he has
to get used to it.

[JI7]

41. this is a non issue

[Imagevision]

45. Hillary and Bill haven't done jacksh*t to help Obama, and they want 12+ million?!!

[azmouse]

46. Anybody remember the Let It Sink campaign....

This thread should qualify.

The primaries are over. Obama won. Stop with the sneaky negativity.

[JoFerret]

55. Agreed. Stop

attacking good dems (Obama and the Clintons)and work toward electing them across the board in November

[dionysus]

60. is that what it is supposed to be... sneaky?

:spray: