Oregon Superdelegate Jenny Greenleaf: I'm for Obama
By Jenny Greenleaf of Portland, Oregon. Jenny was elected as Oregon's DNC Committeewoman in 2004. In 2006, she contributed, "Will you have Howard's back?"
The netroots is my political home and where I got started, so I have chosen to announce my endorsement here on BlueOregon.
The voters of Oregon have spoken, and I have listened.
I will be supporting Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in August. Senator Obama has the vision and leadership ability to move this country forward and to undo the damage done by the Bush administration. I am proud to support him in this endeavor and will do whatever I can to make sure Oregon's electoral votes are Democratic this fall.
Our Democratic Party of Oregon will be the hub for the presidential campaign in Oregon. I hope you will join me in volunteering with the DPO to turn Senator Obama into President Obama.
I have the utmost respect and admiration for Senator Hillary Clinton. She has run a great campaign and has contributed much to our national debate. She deserves our thanks for her service, her leadership and her candidacy.
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May 23, 2008
Posted in guest column. |
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10:02 a.m.
May 23, '08
Who hoo! Very cool that you announced here, Jenny. Very cool.
May 23, '08
Thanks, Jenny. Welcome aboard the Obama Express!
May 23, '08
Awesome! Thank you.
May 23, '08
Very welcome and excellent endorsement! Let's go kick McCain's butt!
10:09 a.m.
May 23, '08
Yes, thank you, Jenny! It's great to have a DNC member from Oregon who comes from the netroots. Thank you for everything that you do.
10:10 a.m.
May 23, '08
BTW, Jenny, I loved this quote in USA Today yesterday:
Your rock is waiting for you... all nice and cozy.
10:13 a.m.
May 23, '08
Well done, Jenny! It's awesome that you announced here...NETROOTS!
Btw..I love that cozy-under-the-rock, thing. :)
Carla--Netroots Outreach, Jeff Merkley for Oregon
May 23, '08
This is terrific news - thank you, Jenny, for coming out with your support of Senator Obama! He's truly a once-in-a-lifetime candidate and I'm so proud of Oregon for recognizing that so overwhelmingly.
Now, let's get him elected president so we can start taking this country in the right direction.
May 23, '08
Not that it matters - but Jenny - you have my 110% support on this!
Least we forget, Blue Oregon was about a week old (I exaggerate) when one of the first things of substance that happened was a discussion of the race for the DNC National Committee woman position. Mary Botkin had failed to answer questions regarding her position on rural issues, and Jenny stepped up and addressed those concerns. A great deal of that discussion happened right here - and well - Jenny got elected nearly 4 years ago. My how time flies!
So, it was a very good choice to announce here!
10:19 a.m.
May 23, '08
Confirmed!
Great job, Jenny! The race is over; let's get it officially wrapped up. Although I wonder if your TV is broken in order to have the utmost respect for Clinton and her "great campaign." I'd rather roll naked through smashed Coke bottles than give kudos to race baiting and smear-mongering...but that's just me I guess.
May 23, '08
Congratulations on your outstanding decision. You can't see me right now, but I'm giving you a standing O.
10:43 a.m.
May 23, '08
Jenny,
Thanks for deciding to cast your vote with the Democratic voters of Oregon, and letting us know. IMO that's the right way to go, barring something catastrophic on a scale that is much larger than anything happening in the current race.
Second-guessing "electability" just isn't on, despite the sometimes smeary efforts of the Clinton campaign to make it an issue, given Hillary's rising negatives, now up to 53% nationally (though this may be skewed geographically toward states Obama wouldn't win either).
I have to say I'm a touch concerned by this quote from Meredeth Wood Smith from the USA Today article Kari linked:
"The holdup is absorbing what the results are, and where we are nationally in the race," she said. "We are thinking about who do we feel would make the best president, who would be best for the Democratic Party."
This is in tension, at least, with something else she was quoted as saying recently about paying close attention to how Oregon Democrats would vote in the primary, which is the right criterion IMO.
I hope Ms. Wood Smith takes into serious account the high degree of alienation that overturning the will of the voters would cause, as she assesses what vote would be best for the party.
Very high degree of alienation.
May 23, '08
Jenny, Thank You, Thank You, you are truly honorable and a great democrat. Obama will be fantastic president and it is so important for the party to stop the division. So happy you made the right decision.
May 23, '08
Thank you and the state of Oregon for clinching the pledged delegate majority for the next President of the United States.
10:50 a.m.
May 23, '08
Hooray! Well done!
May 23, '08
Thank you Jenny! You make us all proud to be ORegonians!!
10:53 a.m.
May 23, '08
Also, if Hillary's people mob the May 31st meeting as is being reported as their intention, in a move that sounds reminiscent of the Republican mobbing to influence the Florida election outcome in 2000, I hope that the Rules Committee will not allow themselves to be intimidated.
And I hope that superdelegates will respond to any such efforts by endorsing Senator Obama. I specifically call on Governor Kulongoski to switch to Obama if the Clinton campaign makes any such intimidation attempt. We should prepare to bring organized pressure on him to do so, if they really try anything like that.
If her campaign actually does that, the incongruous ironies of Senator Clinton's idiotic Zimbabwe remarks will be redoubled. Though even so, nothing in this race is remotely like Zimbabwe and neither of the candidates is remotely comparable to Robert Mugabe, in person or in position.
But it was a stupid thing to say. And any efforts to intimidate the Committee should be made to backfire.
May 23, '08
Thank you Ms. Greenleaf. I am from California, but am very happy for your decision. It's time for our party to come together and put our country back right.
11:03 a.m.
May 23, '08
Jenny, I am delighted to hear this. Thank you for announcing it here!
11:07 a.m.
May 23, '08
Seems you and I are in full agreement, right down to the evocation of the 3-piece mob in FL. I believe the best way to support that committee's ability not to be intimidated is to deliver a full 2026 delegates or more to Obama in the next eight days. Currently DemCon has the number at 56; 7 add-ons happen between now and then, all in Obama states. Six OR remain, sounds like neither Wyden nor Bradbury plan to talk before then, but there should be four more next week from the party officers. Would love to see Ted bolt, but I doubt it.
You're already under 50, and there are a lot of Obama-state or Obama-district people still out there. Over 200 in total.
So strong thanks to Jenny for leading her team a little closer by going first. Sometimes final unity can only be gained at the presentation of a fait accompli.
May 23, '08
Ms. Greenleaf, I am sorry to hear this. While Obama is a promising figure in American politics, he just isn't ready. I am depressed that you chose him over Sen. Clinton. Please exert some independent thought.
May 23, '08
Thanks for announcing it here, which is cool. But I have to disagree with you. Hillary Clinton is the best candidate who has truly progessive positions on health care. She will work for universal health care, and I'm just not convinced Obama cares much about the issue. I wish you had withheld your support until Obama agrees to put her on a fusion ticket of Obama-Clinton, perhaps where she gets to work on health care as VP. He and his campaign have been extremely dismissive of her for the last two months (and other 'sweeties' in general), and as a Clinton supporter, I am depressed generally and unhappy with Obama's behavior. Please don't reward his behavior with your endorsement.
11:14 a.m.
May 23, '08
Thank You so much. We will win in November and more importantly, the American public and people of the world will benefit. It won't be easy. Mistakes and challenges lie ahead. But we will keep our eye on the prize.
May 23, '08
Ms. Greenleaf, My Oregon cousins thank you as well as Austin, Texas supporters.
11:15 a.m.
May 23, '08
Remember people, don't feed the trolls.
May 23, '08
Thank you for your courage and your patriotism.
May 23, '08
Woo hoo. Thanks Jenny!
May 23, '08
Jenny, thanks for this endorsement, and for taking my call a few years ago. You're the best!
May 23, '08
Jenny, thanks for stepping up and casting a vote. I hope other uncommitted Oregon superdelegates will now do the same. The primary in Oregon is over. It's time to start unifying the Oregon Democratic party.
May 23, '08
Bless your soul Ms. Greenleaf. While I was not a supporter of Senator Barack Obama from day 1 and have evolved to support him, I believe that many thinking Americans recognize he is the right choice. We need to do our best also re-inform that misinformed who have been duped and deceived through fraud about the true nature of Obama's character. His qualifications are simply a keen intellect, a profound perspective about the state of our country and the common sense to seek out the right decisions and partners.
11:28 a.m.
May 23, '08
Thanks, everyone. I'm just relieved to be able to do this today.
May 23, '08
Mrs. Greenleaf, while I understand you have to make a choice at some point, I am disheartened that you did not go for Clinton. Oregon did vote for Obama, but there are a lot of Clinton Democrats (like me) in this state too. Will you pledge to support an Obama-Clinton ticket? I hope so.
11:42 a.m.
May 23, '08
Ethel, I will support the Democratic ticket, from the top down.
I would like to thank everyone for being so engaged. I started my political odyssey back in 2002 because I didn't like the way things were being done. I know there is a place for working both from within an organization and from outside, and I chose to get inside the organization to see what I could do. Others have worked to establish blogs, think tanks, and volunteer efforts separate from the party.
While it's hard to turn a barge, the renewed activism of Democrats and Howard Dean's 50-state strategy have strengthened our party immensely. I hope all of you will be out this year knocking on doors, making phone calls, and writing checks!
I look forward to beating McCain in November and taking back our country for the people. What this is really all about is getting out of Iraq, providing healthcare, strengthening education, and all the other things Democrats stand for. And while the presidential race is critical, it's also important to give our president a more Democratic congress to work with. So let's make sure we all support Jeff Merkley and Kurt Schrader.
May 23, '08
Jenny, thank you for reflecting the will of Oregon Democrats with your endorsement of Barack Obama! we'll win with 'real' not imaginary numbers...
May 23, '08
Breaking story- The SD tsunami begins-Rep. Cardozo of CA is the first of 40 Clinton SDs in California to flip: http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/
May 23, '08
How about briefing Sen Obama on Hanford and finding out why he voted for Dick Cheney's energy bill? Don't be a low demand supporter like many of Obama's.
11:52 a.m.
May 23, '08
Thank you Jenny.
I have known Jenny since the Dean campaign, she is a 'gate-crasher' and one of the good guys/gals and so her endorsement doesn't surprise me, but rather confirms she is working hard to remake the party (for the better) from the inside out.
May 23, '08
Thank you, Hopefully the other Oregon Super's will follow your lead soon.
May 23, '08
Thank you! There are others we hope will join you promptly.
11:57 a.m.
May 23, '08
Yet another thank you -- you make Oregon proud...
May 23, '08
As one of the "activist" young folks who are energized by the current election, I am very motivated that we are finally coming together as Democrats. I live in the state of NY. Hillary Clinton is my senator.
However, I moved here from the South, where most are brainwashed into blindly voting for Bush and now perhaps McCain. I was Republican before, but I could not vote for Bush even then.....Please America you know the right thing to do, so let's do the right thing!!!! Let's all come together and show our unity. We must practice what we preach to others!!!! Let's change this country for better, for once!!!!
12:02 p.m.
May 23, '08
Jenny, nice pick. Thanks.
I know all that neutrality was wearing on you!
12:03 p.m.
May 23, '08
Good for you, Jenny. For any Clinton supporters, I can say that the reason Jenny likely waited this long is because of the amount of thought and due diligence she's given to the two candidates. Anyone who knows her would never accuse her of not thinking independently or of jumping onto a bandwagon solely for the company of any crowd. I recall when she first became a delegate for the 2004 race and how much effort and intelligence she's brought to the position ever since.
Someday, her successor is going to find they have some pretty big shoes to fill.
12:03 p.m.
May 23, '08
Jenny,
Let me add my thanks to the chorus, but also thanks for having held your ground, staying neutral until after the primary and maintaining your good humor in the face of the hate mail, hysteria and hype.
I fully expect that some of our party leaders will be coming out in favor of Clinton in the coming days, and that's all good too. The discipline shown by our supers (excluding natioinal office holders and the governor) has been wonderful to watch and reenforces our decision for a new direction for the state party in the wake of the Dean candidacy.
We'll still be able to find you under that rock and we will come knocking.......
May 23, '08
Just finished watching Obama's speech at the Cuban American celebration in Miami, in regards to experience and being ready for the office; his command of the big 'world' picture is impressive. From that position he makes obvious and straightforward policy proposals that I find both logical and inspiring. The ability to motivate and energize a country to think big and global is a strength that trumps years of experience. One only needs to look at the wealth of 'experienced' individuals in Bush's cabinet to question at least some of that argument. (Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfewits (sp?))
Also, Hillary bashing should end, like Nancy Pelosi says "Let's all be patient and let the primary season come to a conclusion", however that shouldn't stop Obama from making speeches similar to the one he gave today.
May 23, '08
I especially think Obama has some clear contrasts in energy policy, smart growth, smart trade, which will only be accentuated in the general with more of the same from McBush, i.e. iraq, vouchers, NCLB, and more things which do not work, have proven to not be viable, are disastrous and yet are still advocated for....mccain will continue wasteful policies, saying all of a sudden he is "green" but then saying we will be in iraq 100 years..if we are going to scrutinize policies, let's START scrutinizing mccain's rambling, such as how an endless war in the WRONG COUNTRY for the WRONG REASONS to enrich ALREADY WEALTHY will make us safer or more secure...
Have we already forgotten how Halliburton has moved all its' staff and headquarters to Saudi Arabia???? Yet all but one of the hijackers were saudi arabian!!!! I thought that is WHY WE WENT TO WAR!!!! not to help halliburton (and blackwater) get more contracts!!!Even bill clinton recently status as much...if we forget even recent history, of course we are doomed to repeat it....mccain just had to fire staff associated with myanmar's junta...maybe one article mentioned it....
May 23, '08
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jenny Greenleaf!
May 23, '08
To Gary: The Hillary bashing shouldn't just end. It should never have occurred. I have no problem hard-nosed contrasts on policy, but I have been appalled at some of those in the netroots and their response to Hillary Clinton.
Jenny, I am glad you are supporting the Democratic ticket. I would still like to know if you would push Obama to choose Clinton as the VP nominee. That is what a lot of us want. I like both of them.
May 23, '08
Thank you so much Jenny!!
Its time for Obama and Clinton supporters alike to start pulling together!! Let's focus on beating McCain, not beating up on each other.
May 23, '08
Good job, Jenny. Thank you. I've been an Obama supporter since the last Democratic convention. 3 1/2 years ago.
I would like to encourage you to consider what someone else posted here: please talk to Obama about nuclear power, how we shut down Trojan, and why. If you get to speak to him, please encourage him to move away from nuclear power. It is not clean power; in fact, it's downright dangerous. Encourage him to invest in other alternatives.
Thank you.
12:55 p.m.
May 23, '08
"I would still like to know if you would push Obama to choose Clinton as the VP nominee."
God, please no. Jenny, cover your ears! LALALALALALALALALALALA!
May 23, '08
Way to go! Thanks for representing us and hearing what Oregonians said. And thanks for showing some spine and courage in understanding that now is the time to endorse and say no to all the blustering and drama.
And I hope you saw the comment on Daily Kos calling you "a smashing woman."
Please support an Obama/HIS best choice for VP ticket.
May 23, '08
thanks from me as well, jenny.
also, not to be confused with the other person who posted under the name "trish" above in disagreement w/ your decision.
i am wholeheartedly in agreement and applaud the move. the timing is perfect.
1:01 p.m.
May 23, '08
"And I hope you saw the comment on Daily Kos calling you "a smashing woman.""
That was me. Jenny probably doesn't want the compliment from me at the moment, since I dropped the tip on her announcement earlier, but it's definitely true--a simply smashing woman, a direct result and proxy of Howard Dean's impact on politics for Oregon.
May 23, '08
Well done...it's been a long wait. Good choice for Oregon. From your Rock...
Tom
May 23, '08
Way to stand up for what you believe in Jenny. And thank you to Howard Dean for the call to superdelegates to stand up and make their decision. We need to cinch this up and focus on the national campaign against Bush's 3rd term under McSame. Just look at what Putin did in Russia, it could happen here under McCain! Different name, different guy, same policies, same blunders.
May 23, '08
Every time I think Senator Clinton has FINALLY jumped the shark, she hurdles another one:
May 23, 2008 --
Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama.
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05232008/news/nationalnews/why_hill_wont_drop_out__bobby_kennedy_wa_112232.htm
THANK YOU FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING JENNY, I LOVE YOU!
1:25 p.m.
May 23, '08
I would still like to know if you would push Obama to choose Clinton as the VP nominee.
Um, yeah. Because Barack Obama is going to ask Jenny Greenleaf what he should do about a vice president.
No disrespect to Jenny, but I highly doubt that.
Perspective, people. Perspective.
May 23, '08
[Off-topic comment impersonating Cynthia McKinney removed. -editor.]
1:33 p.m.
May 23, '08
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out."
My God. That's disgusting. I should stay in because the black guy might get picked off? Is she insane?
Please. If it was ANYONE else...
May 23, '08
Jenny Greenleaf and all other superdelegates can have a hand in the selection of an excellent vice presidential candidate. The DNC convention rules provide for delegates to put the names of presidential and vice presidential nominees in. Since this was such a close race, it would be an excellent show of unity to do what Sen. Dianne Feinstein suggested: an Obama-Clinton ticket. It would be historic and would be a sign of people-powered grassroots support for both candidates and the party. Please don't forget all parts of the Democratic coalition and let's have the dream ticket!
1:37 p.m.
May 23, '08
Psychopathology. That's the word I've been looking for, and I just saw it in the Kos diary about her RFK remarks. It's psychopathology. She knows she shouldn't say that.
May 23, '08
Thank you Jenny. I knew you were going to endorse Obama when I read your piece in the Oregonian this past Winter. I think it was around the time Obama had campaigned in Idaho, one of those red states that the old guard had decided "didn't matter any more." Funny thing... there are some competitive races in Idaho this Fall.
Anyway, you spoke of the importance of the 50 state strategy, while Obama was doing exactly that (Dean 2.0, as some have called Obama's strategy.) So I just had this gut feeling that you were going to cast your vote for Obama.
And a note to Regina: You claim Obama lacks experience. Did anyone venture to guess just one year ago that Obama would be so close to the nomination. His campaign will go down as the most organized, innovative, intelligently run campaign in history. This is why he overtook Clinton and is why so many believe he would do a better job at running this country. He did something that was believed just one year ago to be unbelievable.
May 23, '08
I would still like to know if you would push Obama to choose Clinton as the VP nominee.
This is a popular theme at present amongst HRC supporters. I keep wondering:
(1) Why is it that in 2008, as opposed to every previous election cycle in my lifetime, the presidential nominee should NOT get to pick a running mate? (2) If the point is electing a Democratic ticket, don't we want to be damn sure that the two nominees are compatible? On message with one another? That the VP nominee is not going to try to upstage or derail the presidential nominee?
It's not about what Clinton supporters want. It's not about Hillary Clinton, either. It's about electing Democrats to be President and Vice-president.
To repeat: it's not about Hillary Clinton.
If Barack Obama is the presidential nominee, and if he thinks Hillary Clinton is the best VP choice, then by all means he should offer her the spot. I don't envisage him doing this, but I'm been surprised before.
1:44 p.m.
May 23, '08
hey Jenny, you know the Multnomah Dems will never ignore you. you are one of us!
great decision, of course.
May 23, '08
Since this was such a close race, it would be an excellent show of unity to do what Sen. Dianne Feinstein suggested: an Obama-Clinton ticket.
NO! She has alluded to a possible assassination.
RESIGN FROM THE SENATE NOW HILLARY YOU ARE SCUM
May 23, '08
Bravo, Jenny!! Thank you so much!
It's so exciting to see Howard Dean's 50-state strategy come to its full fruition. Let's get to work, folks!!
May 23, '08
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out."
excuse me, i have to go throw up now.
May 23, '08
I just printed out the NY Post article about HRC's assassination mongering, showed it to some co-workers, then tore it into tiny shreds and declared, "There went the last shred of respect I had for Hillary Clinton."
And to think I was leaning towards a vote for her a couple of months ago.
I feel sick.
1:58 p.m.
May 23, '08
Chris
you don't have to worry about Meredith overturning anyone's popular vote. no one in Oregon is more committed to true democracy. she fully understands the paramount importance of grassroots democracy and that the future of the Democratic Party in Oregon depends on developing those 'roots. as Chair of the DPO, she has to stay neutral in primaries until all voting-related matters pass. and right now, the determination of how the votes translate into delegates is incomplete. once that's done, she'll be free to announce who she supports. but there is no way on earth she or anyone else at DPO will do anything but the right thing. you can rest easy on that (at least i know i do).
May 23, '08
"Why is it that in 2008, as opposed to every previous election cycle in my lifetime, the presidential nominee should NOT get to pick a running mate?"
You must not be very old because this has happened. Further, our party is split in two, with a spectacular candidate, Barack Obama, getting slightly more delegates. This close of a race has not happened in my lifetime, where no candidate wrapped up a majority of elected delegates and there was only a 200-delegate margin where superdelegates like Jenny had to make the final call. Given this situation, it only makes sense for the superdelegates to push for Obama-Clinton. Go Dems.
May 23, '08
Hillary Clinton / Sirhan Sirhan '08
May 23, '08
Jenny, Thank you. You make me proud to be a Democrat, and proud to be a supporter of Barack Obama. Please use your influence to help bring other delegates to our growing coalition. And do whatever you can to help Hillary find the exits. Soon.
May 23, '08
Looks like Hillary's road to the White House involves assassination. As David Gergen so aptly put it, if Obama puts her on the ticket, he better hire a full time food-taster.
May 23, '08
Thrilled with your decision, and happy you've declared before the May 31 hulabaloo. Proud so many of us Oregonians think OBAMA o8. He really does inspire. I hope we make it in November....
2:32 p.m.
May 23, '08
"We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it..." - HRC
Jesus. That is beyond the pale.
I hope the remaining superdelegates step in and end Hillary's increasingly derranged campaign as soon as possible by casting their votes for the inevitable winner, Obama. And, no, he doesn't need her anywhere near him after cracks like the one above.
As for Hillary's supporters, please don't continue to speak of Obama's supporters as wearing rose-tinted glasses after Clinton has made remarks practically inviting an assassination of her opponent. Many of you seem prepared to follow Hillary anywhere. You should stifle the impulse.
May 23, '08
You made a great decision, Jenny. It shows you have the guts to reject the ever increasingly sweetened and daily dose of Clinton Kool-Aid that HRC is providing her enthusiatically guzzling followers.
Bringing up RFK like that...how much sugar can Kool-Aid be sweetened with? With crap like that, I would not be suprised if Barak chose Richardson or Edwards.
As the British say "What a twit".
May 23, '08
With Hillary suggesting Obama may be assassinated, I have no doubt her people are looking to "Vince Foster" Obama. From what I've been reading Obama security detail has been beefed up, but one can only hope he will remain safe.
Thanks for your support Jenney.
May 23, '08
Regina,
I think Obama's life would be in severe danger if Clinton were his VP.
May 23, '08
SidAnderson,
I don't like what Hillary said either, and I am glad she apologized. But seriously, the pathology of Hillary hatred is very strong here--please read Stanley Fish on this. Does anyone actually believe the garbage that Hillary Clinton assassinated one of her best friends, Vince Foster? This is Rush Limbaugh material, not BlueOregon.com material. I am strongly supportive of Hillary Clinton for VP and Barack Obama as president. They greatly complement each other and the unity ticket would bring an end to this long and difficult nomination process in which no one received a majority of delegates through elections. And if anyone is interested in pushing Hillary Clinton out of the Democratic party, then I don't want to be part of that party. I want to be part of the Democratic party where Obama, Clinton, and others are all bright lights as we work toward important policy goals together.
May 23, '08
i agree that this statement was horrendous and, as one poster put it above "beyond the pale". but let's leave it at that and not continue with the accusations that clinton is a murderess.
that, too, is beyond the pale.
i don't want her as the veep, either, but otherwise i think regina makes a good point. let's be blueoregon, not rush limbaugh here.
3:09 p.m.
May 23, '08
"Hillary Clinton / Sirhan Sirhan '08"
Sick and twisted, but devastatingly funny.
May 23, '08
Its not hatred, Regina - Just some common sense that HRC is seriously lacking because of her uptight nature and her political mission to force herself into an office she really isn't psychologically fit to be in.
May 23, '08
Its not hatred, Regina - Just some common sense that HRC is seriously lacking because of her uptight nature and her political mission to force herself into an office she really isn't psychologically fit to be in.
May 23, '08
Its not hatred, Regina - Just some common sense that HRC is seriously lacking because of her uptight nature and her political mission to force herself into an office she really isn't psychologically fit to be in.
May 23, '08
Sorry about the multiple posts like that....computers hiccup at the oddest times....
May 23, '08
I think Hillary's comment today gave us a snapshot of her fantasy life, it leaked out from fatigue or whatever.
May 23, '08
Jenny, I appreciate your service and your vote in support of the candidate who won Oregon. I'll be there door knocking, phone banking, house partying and doing whatever I can to elect our Democrats, including Obama, right there with you (well in Washington County, but you know what I mean).
Go Dems!
May 23, '08
Dear Senator Clinton,
I DO remember RFK's assassination. I was a 13 year old in Southern California and went to bed thinking RFK had won the primary and was on the way to the nomination. I awoke the next morning to find my mother weeping in front of the TV and learned what had happened.
"Until this moment, Senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or your recklessness...Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
May 23, '08
I think Hillary's comment today gave us a snapshot of her fantasy life, it leaked out from fatigue or whatever.
Guess she was fatigued in early March when she said the very same thing, almost verbatim. No, it is one of her talking points. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1719900,00.html
May 23, '08
Um, all you uncommitted superdelegates out there, haven't you been embarrassed enough yet by this woman?
May 23, '08
Sorry, Regina, but I am a stickler. Clinton did apologized to the Kennedy family but not to Senator Obama. Of course, he is a second class citizen and doesn't deserve one. I have seen Dianne Feinstein come out and try to explain Clinton, but I have not seen one Democratic leader come out and say that this is abominable. What they will do in the end, and what they have done many times before, is end up saying how BOTH of the candidates are so wonderful, or tarring Obama with the same brush as Clinton and saying how BOTH of them need to knock it off. That is why my money goes straight to Obama and not the DNC, the DCCC, or the DSCC.
May 23, '08
I have seen Dianne Feinstein come out and try to explain Clinton, but I have not seen one Democratic leader come out and say that this is abominable.
Speaking of Senator Feinstein, any reason why Hillary Clinton is held up as some particularly gifted female Democrat, instead of, say Feinstein? Or Feinstein's colleague Barbara Boxer? Or various other senators, governors, and representatives?
Someone, please, tell me what exactly sets Hillary Clinton head and shoulders above those other women.
May 23, '08
Sigh. Those were very unfortunate comments indeed. She owes the Obama family and all of us an apology. T
4:46 p.m.
May 23, '08
“Earlier today I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged in California in June 1992 and 1968 and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nomination primary contests that go into June. That’s a historic fact. The Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that, whatsoever. My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to, and I’m honored to hold Senator Kennedy’s seat in the United States Senate from the state of New York and have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family.”
That's an apology? No, it's an absolutely classic "I'm so sorry you mistakenly found what I said offensive" statement.
5:29 p.m.
May 23, '08
t.a. -- thanks for the reassurance. Didn't mean anything against Meredeth Wood Smith, whom I don't know and of whom I have mostly a vaguely good impression. Your testiimonial strengthens that.
The Vince Foster smear was a "big lie" lie and invocation of it is IMO on a par with the "big lie" lie of Obama being a Muslim.
That said, many Clinton supporters have actively circulated just that lie, and Hillary has not shut them down, instead saying "as far as I know." Imagine if Obama had said Clinton wasn't involved in Foster's death "as far as I know."
Which leads me, Regina, to say that your criticisms of the extremes of Hillary-hating are quite fully matched on the pro-Hillary, Obama-hating side, and the portrayal by persons such as yourself that this is only an issue of Hillary-hating are not helpful nor likely to gain you allies among those of us who do not hate Hillary but don't love her either. Ditto with accusations that we treat Senator Obama as a divinity or a saint or whatever. Most of us just don't. Those who have a strong emotional attachment to him (I don't) are no different from those with strong emotional attachments to Senator Clinton.
Whether or not it involves Hillary's fantasy life, the assassination comment reveals an extreme lack of judgment. The risk is always an issue and perhaps more so with figures who inspire strong feelings, and perhaps also with those who represent change that some people find threatening -- neither restricted to one candidate in this race. Bringing out in the open raises risk.
This doesn't seem calculated to me. I think Hillary Clinton has raised her own risk as well as Barack Obama's. She doesn't gain anything from having said it -- if something bad happened to Obama that took him out of the running, say a heart attack, she would have had a strong claim anyway even if she had suspended her campaign today, or last week, or a month ago.
This extreme bad judgment, whatever its source, which is now reflected in a string of such statements, renders her utterly untrustworthy to me.
5:58 p.m.
May 23, '08
Just wanted to stop by and say thanks again. Reading all your comments is really heartwarming, and I'm getting great emails from people I haven't heard from in awhile.
Regina, Kari's right....I'm not going to get consulted on who Obama's running mate should be. I was very sincere, however, about having a lot of respect and admiration for Senator Clinton. I know there are a lot of people here who don't like her, but I do.
I made my decision based on Oregon's vote, because I believe voters should make the decisions. I also feel that Obama's strategy ties in better with my belief in the 50-state strategy and empowered activists.
So, rest up for a week, but then get out from behind your keyboard and find a campaign to volunteer with!
6:57 p.m.
May 23, '08
tj, no - not a damn bit funny. looking back at the events of my life, i think the most tragic by far was the death of RFK. what a different world we would live in had he beaten Nixon -- and i think he would have. the Vietnam War would have ended in 1969. nuclear disarmanent would have begun in earnest and been fruitful. and most of all, the care that America's, and the world's, poor and struggling needed would have been there. Bobby was a brilliant, driven and compassionate man. instead we got an insane person surrounded by thugs and war criminals. Sirhan committed the most heinous political crime in our nation's history -- matched only by the assassination of Lincoln and the theft of the 2000 election.
and Hillary used that as an object lesson for her staying in the camaign? jfc.
8:29 p.m.
May 23, '08
we laugh to keep from crying, ta...
May 23, '08
'Bout damn tahm, Greenleaf!
Love you. ;-)
Kelly
8:48 p.m.
May 23, '08
Thank you, Jenny. You do us all proud.
9:11 p.m.
May 23, '08
Yea! Now we're Jenny/i's for Obama!!
I have to say that I don't really support Clinton for VP. You want a VP that is compatible with the nominee and has strengths where the nominee has weaknesses. I really think we need someone from the South (and I mean someone who is really from the South - people in the South are insulted if you call Clinton a Southerner, as she isn't).
But it's Obama's choice. He needs someone he can trust, someone he can work with, someone he can have friendly disagreements with, etc. And only Obama knows who that person could be.
There have been some blog posts today about John Edwards reclaiming his campaign space in North Carolina.
May 23, '08
Thanks Jenny!
I appreciate that superdelegates may support whichever candidate they want. However, do you think you'd hold any sway over Ted and Darlene if you asked them to switch their endorsements to Obama? I'm going to write to both of them and ask them to consider doing that. I've been proud of how Obama has carried himself in this primary season. He will be a strong opponent against McCain in any debate, and I'm looking forward to voting for Obama in the fall.
Thanks again for your endorsement of Obama!
Liz McC Gladstone, OR
9:20 p.m.
May 23, '08
Good move Jenny! I knew that big Bill's lobbying wasn't going to work. As to Obama, the Oregon vote goes to show that at least our voters understand that leadership trumps experience. Now I'm looking forward to Frank and Wayne declaring for Obama.
10:25 p.m.
May 23, '08
Thank you, Jenny, for supporting Barack Obama, the only Presidential candidate who believes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should be fully repealed. As a Democratic member of the GLBT community, I am glad to have your support for the candidate who best supports my community.
Unfortunately, Senator Clinton continues to support DOMA, to the extent it ensures "States' rights" to discriminate against same-sex relationships legalized by other States. This means that, under President Clinton, an LGBT couple married in California, or partnered in Oregon, would be stripped of their rights and responsibilities if they moved to almost any other State in the Union. Senator Obama wants to end this.
Imagine if we still stripped mixed-race couples of their rights if they dared to move to another State? Until the U. S. Supreme Court upheld fundamental equality in Loving v. Virginia, many States argued in support of "States' rights" to pretend mixed-race couples do not exist, and deserve no recognition, within their borders. Currently, many States hold the same anti-equality position against same-sex couples.
Any LGBT or supportive American asking themselves which candidate to support should read Senator Obama's Open Letter to the Gay Community. While I'd take either Clinton or Obama over McBush, there is no serious question which candidate best supports the LGBT community, given Clinton's continuing support for DOMA.
10:29 p.m.
May 23, '08
Thanks Jenny.
Obama/Clinton would probably be a management disaster even apart from the question of how well the two of them would be able to work together.
My take on what Hillary said was not that she was suggesting that Obama might be assassinated. She was trying to say only that it is not unusual for campaigns to go into June before they are resolved. The two campaigns that came to mind were Bill's and RFK's because those were the two that went into June and made enough of an impression on her that she remembers they went into June.
Hillary deserves every bit of pushback she's gotten on "white Americans" and the Zimbabwe comparison but I think she's being tarred unfairly on this one. What she said came out in a horribly inappropriate way but I don't think what people heard was reflective of what she was thinking.
And practically speaking, what people are suggesting she was suggesting doesn't even make sense. If the leading contender for the presidential nomination is suddenly not available to be nominated--for whatever reason--it wouldn't make much difference whether the second place contender had stopped his or her primary campaign or not. That person would still be available to be nominated but the nomination would not be automatic just because they were still contending in the remaining primaries.
May 23, '08
Shame on you Jenny, you should have waited until every American has had the chance to have their vote count. Oregon got to count for once, why shouldn't South Dakota, Montana and Puerto Rico have their chance to count too? What did they promise you? What was so important you couldn't wait a week and a half?
May 23, '08
Jenny, You have acted like a lemming, following Oregon voters blindly off the cliff. You have betrayed your charge of supporting the best candidate for the Democratic Party and the best candidate to win in November.
If Obama cared about the good of the party and the country he would withdraw and instruct his rabid attack-dog supporters to back off Hillary. She is the only candidte left who can beat McCain. Where are our priorities as Democrats or are we destined to continue nominating candidates who have no chance in November?
Jenny, have you been promised a ticket to the McCain inagural ball?
May 23, '08
Thank you Doretta for being a voice of reason. I am so sick of the crazy attacks on Clinton.
Did you hear, she breathed again today, depriving millions of their due oxygen. What a selfish *itch! And you know what? She ate food, drank water, and occupied space! How DARE she!!??
Seriously, I was genuinely offended when Obama attacked someone recently and used the insult "low class" to describe their undesirable behavior. I truly believe that if Hillary had used that term we would have seen negative blogs a mile long. I saw nothing criticising Obama for that blatantly classist and insensitive remark.
Please, vehement Obama supporters, try to play fair. You are causing much more damage to your party than Hillary Clinton. You cannot blame her for your vicious name calling and attacks. All that negativity is YOU. Seek therapy instead; you've clearly got issues.
11:38 p.m.
May 23, '08
If Obama cared about the good of the party and the country he would withdraw and instruct his rabid attack-dog supporters to back off Hillary.
Comments like this are just ridiculous. Yes, I'd love people on both sides to stop all the attacks. But Obama drop out? Why should the candidate with the most votes, the most states won, the most super delegates, and the one with more than half the pledged delegates available, drop out?
11:42 p.m.
May 23, '08
So did Ted Kulongoski and hundreds of other supers who have come out for Hillary deprive people of their votes?
"Please, vehement Obama supporters, try to play fair."
Did you know that Hillary Clinton is a Muslim? I was neutral in this race for a long, long time. I've watched supporters on both sides and I've watched both candidates. And I know where the balance of the weight of negativity lies among supporters, and it isn't the Obama supporters. And I know which candidate has dabbled with the smears of the most extreme supporters, and it isn't Barack Obama.
May 24, '08
I'll take this opportunity to thank Jenny Greenleaf for all the time, energy, and money she puts into being our DNC representative. Sometimes Jenny and I agree to disagree, but I don't know anyone I trust more to act from deep thought and principle. I'd also like to thank her for her tolerance for all the difficulties involved in being an uncommitted automatic delegate and doing so with such grace and intelligence.
I'd also like to thank her for being my friend, as difficult as that can be at times. Chuck
8:50 a.m.
May 24, '08
Thanks, Jenny. Looking forward to working with you on this and other races for the fall.
May 24, '08
Great decision, Jenny. So glad I'm an Oregon Democrat.
May 24, '08
Thanks Jenny,
I'm an Obama supporter from Bowie, Maryland just following the links about superdelegate support. Glad you chose my candidate. Truly I appreciate your reasoning, i.e. the 50 states electorates, activist type, and the will of your state.
I'm 46 yrs old and have never participated in any election but I'm highly involved this year.
I'm not sure the dream ticket some are pushing would be such after the win in November. The last thing we need is an administration full of contention and strive with all the work needed to try to put the country back on the right track. But I like your response to that question as well, as I too believe it should be his choice if he becomes the nominee. Clinton's tenacity is starting to look like something else and I don't like what I see.
Many of my family members who support Obama still like the Clintons they just don't like their politics. I guess I will agree with them as well. So for those Clinton supporters who think all Obama supporters are against her, that's simply not true. Some of us don't like her politics while we still think she can be a person of integrity. She's just lost much of it in this race.
I've read all the posts here and my first impression of the dialogue here is impressive. I am especially impressed with how you handled this situation of posting to netroot and taking the time to respond to you the folks represent.
Thanks again!
May 24, '08
Thanks Jenny
I want all undeclared, in states that have voted/caucased, to state their preference. Their is no reason to wait. This race has more information on it then any 5 primary races ever. If you can not make up your mind you should not be a delegate,
When I read stuff like the following: "If Obama cared about the good of the party and the country he would withdraw and instruct his rabid attack-dog supporters to back off Hillary. She is the only candidte left who can beat McCain. Where are our priorities as Democrats or are we destined to continue nominating candidates who have no chance in November?"
It makes me feel like my party is getting more like the Repubs everyday. People are so blinded by hatred of their opponent that they do not see the damage they are creating. To believe that either Obama or Clinton have no chance is a sickness we must overcome. Statements and feeling like the one above is exactly why we lost in 2000.
So folks if you want the Dems to lose keep it up, but then the lost is on you - not on the candidate.
May 24, '08
"I am strongly supportive of Hillary Clinton for VP and Barack Obama as president. They greatly complement each other and the unity ticket would bring an end to this long and difficult nomination process in which no one received a majority of delegates through elections."
WHAT??? They complement each other??? What universe are you living in??? She has done nothing but insult him for months. She said that McCain was better qualified to be President than Obama! He has NEVER said anything derogatory about her.
May 24, '08
Please reconsider. Sen. Clinton will end the primary with the popular vote. How can our party, the one that rightfully asserted that Bush had "stolen" the election in 2000, now claim that the popular vote doesn't matter? Superdelegates, like you, are the only way to correct for this. We do live in a democracy. The will of the people matter. Obama's failure to win the popular vote will have dramatic consequences this November, as he fails to beat John McCain in FL, OH, WV, and PA. Wait till June 3 to see who is ahead in the popular vote. Sen. Clinton having passed historic legislation impacting children's and veteran's health care and a fighter for reproductive rights (the morning after pill purchased over-the-counter) deserves your reconsideration.
May 24, '08
Let me add my voice to those thanking you for choosing Obama and representing the Netroots Nation!!
6:03 p.m.
May 24, '08
"WHAT??? They complement each other??? What universe are you living in??"
Of COURSE they complement each other! Are you blind?
He's good; she's evil. He's looking out for the people; she's looking out for HRC. He ran a good campaign; she ran a lousy one. He has high ethics; she doesn't. He has money; she helps his credit rating by bringing massive debt. His states don't count, hers do. At his rallies you can hear people whistle; hers, not so much unless your ears are trained properly. She represents K Street; he has the rest of the alphabet. Obama's supporters didn't believe they'd ever be able to vote a black man for President, Clinton's supporters...well, OK, that's the same, sort of.
And who can forget: He won; she lost.
Like yin and yang!
May 24, '08
Thanks for making your endorsement, Jenny. Since Oregon has voted clearly for Obama, I would hope the superdelegates who have yet not announced their positions, would do so and reflect that choice as well, if they can. As a past delegate to two National Conventions and as a political veteran, I know that regardless of first choice preferences, its time to get on with uniting the party behind the candidate who has the majority of delegates. There is no way that Clinton can get that majority and that has been clear for some time. Obama already has it. The sooner the remaining superdelegates come out in the open with their choices, the clearer this will be and the easier it will be to resolve the Michigan/Florida situation without it being entangled with the nomination fight, ..and the easier it will be to move on to focussing on what we need to do to unite for victory in November. The DNC needs to be supported in resolving this and learning from the ramifications of the current rules and the impact of superdelegates. That can best take place without the everchanging arguments over process generated by the campaign.
Clinton has already shown that a woman can be taken seriously as a national presidential candidate. That cannot be underestimated as a contribution. As a feminist , I certainly appreciate that.
However, it is important that we take back the White House and put that goal first and foremost. Obama is right on the issues, has already caused a tremendous increase in Democratic registrations, voter turnout and participation with a grassroots effort. He has managed a successful campaign with superior fundraising and fiscal management. He has earned his status as presumptive nominee.
I am confident that the Democratic tide will raise all boats from the national level down to local races...but we need to unite and not allow the infighting to take away from our excitement, sabotage the rejuvenated idealism , divide us, and drain resources best devoted to beating McCain. Let us move on to that effort.
May 25, '08
What a bunch of morons people in Oregon are, backing an inexperienced, naive bamboozler, when we have a sure winner in Senator Clinton, not to mention her experience and intelligence. Obama can not, and will not, beat McCain, everyone needs to get behind Hillary. If we get stuck with the sure-loser Obama, it will be the fault of the Oba-morons when we get stuck with President McCain.
www.electoral-vote.com
see the facts, Obama is destined to be a LOSER!!!!!
May 25, '08
"What a bunch of morons people in Oregon are ..."
This message brought to you by the Republican National Committee: the crap-stirring, war-mongering debt-pigs who win big when Democrats fight instead of unite.
May 25, '08
H Clinton's experience equals her being entrenched in the Washington DC establishment. Remember that before she was against the Iraq occupation, she was for it. And, what is seen as weakness in B Obama is nothing more than carefully thought out phrases that he can live with. He 'fights' so carefully and craftily that many do not notice.
Does that mean that each of them do not make gaffes from time to time? No. Her statement about R Kennedy may have been two fold - though many see the one reference only. I think that whichever it was, whatever takes her out, is good. Clearly B Obama ran a better campaign. If he runs this country half as well, each of us will be better off.
I do not trust her; I trust him to do every thing in his power to keep his promises - as difficult as it is likely to be. The Washington crowd is not likely to want to change 'business as usual'.
Thank you Jenny.
May 25, '08
Thank you, Jenny for making a wise choice.
This statement: We live in a democracy
Um, Mike we live in a Federal Republic...you vote and in the primary it determines the DELEGATE count for each state. The whole popular vote is false since it's a matter of who has the most Delegates that elects our nominee...plus, you conveniently leave out the caucus states, some which do not keep a popular vote count. Please learn how your government really works. Thanks.
May 26, '08
Sign the Petition to Oregon Superdelegates calling for Democratic Party Unity:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Or4DU/petition.html
May 26, '08
Mike, first, Terra is right that the "popular vote" idea is an irrelevancy that Clinton's spinners spun out of pure moonshine.
And in any case, Clinton has a slim advantage in the popular vote only if you think it's a good idea to disenfranchise the voters of Washington, Iowa, Nevada and Maine -- caucus states that did not record individual votes.
You also have to count her votes in Michigan, where she had no significant opponents (Dodd, Gravel and Kucinich were also on the ballot, but Dodd had already dropped out of the race) -- you know, the classic route to victory for such proud names as Saddam, Noriega, Marcos, Castro -- and where she still couldn't do any better than 55%. And at the same time, you have to decide to disenfranchise the whopping 40% of Michiganders who voted "uncommitted," most of whom told exit pollsters that they would have preferred Obama.
Jun 4, '08
Hillary is the RIGHT kind of change to lead this country. If the super delegates choose Obama, it's political suicide for the democratic party. Whatever happened to democracy? The last time I checked, Hillary has the popular vote. She should get the nomination hands down. Obama is just too liberal for my liking. I'll just have to switch parties and pull the lever for McCain. Hopefully, you super delegates will come to your senses before it's too late.
Jun 4, '08
Dr James Cone's Description of BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY, from his book "BLACK POWER AND BLACK THEOLOGY", used as the basis for the vision statement of Obama's Church, Trinity United:
"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."
Among the Obamas' charitable donations in 2007 was $26,270 to Trinity United Church of Christ.