ON CONSIGNMENT: Amy Siskind is the founder of New Agenda, a women’s group which sprung up during the 2008 presidential election in defense of women’s rights.
Ah, the hacks that killed the women’s movement are back at it again. Yesterday, a young woman writer named Michelle Goldberg wrote a piece in The Daily Beast titled The Re-invention of Hillary Clinton, in which Michelle writes that she has apparently discovered (my emphasis added):
A year ago today, Hillary Clinton ended her presidential campaign-to the relief of many. But even her critics must admit that as secretary of State, she’s been a feminist hero to behold.
To the relief of who Michelle? You?
Yes – Michelle goes on (my emphasis again):
One year ago today, Hillary Clinton ended her presidential campaign, much to the relief of millions of ardent Barack Obama supporters like me. Throughout the primaries, I had been irritated and then outraged by those who argued feminism obliged women to back her… So when she made her rousing and gracious speech in the National Building Museum, conceding defeat but celebrating "18 million cracks" in that highest, hardest glass ceiling," I was too furious to really hear her.
Now, if you click on the "irritated" link above, you’ll be taken to an article the Michelle wrote titled "3 A.M. For Feminism" after the Democratic National Committee Rules Committee on May 31, 2008. The DNC RBC event is significant because, amongst other things, WomenCount, PUMA and Just Say No Deal were all born. Michelle, however, a self proclaimed "ardent Obama supporter" was not happy. Michelle interviewed me for her 3 A.M. article that day in DC after my speech: I’m Not Your Sweetie Howard Dean in which I described my disappointment with the DNC for turning a blind eye to the sexism directly at Hillary Clinton. Michelle, an ardent Obama supporter, didn’t like what I had to say. Now, let me pause for a moment and say this: if Michelle Goldberg is ever attacked in a sexist way, The New Agenda will come to her defense. This is what we do!We speak out against sexism directly at any and all women. That said, women like Michelle are exactly the reason why feminist has fallen on hard times to begin with. You see, Michelle is part of the clique, and if you don’t meet her criteria, then well, apparently you are not a feminist. Let me explain.
As many of you know, The New Agenda, along with many other organizations and blogs, spoke out about the Ms. Magazine Cover featuring President Obama. As a result of our speaking out, we were interviewed on CNN (see below) and as well, I wrote a piece
for The Daily Beast titled How Feminism Became the F-Word.
Ms. Magazine and its owner did not like that we were speaking out, and so, started a smear campaign. In an email blast to a listserve of feminist writers, as associate editor as Ms. sent around a note: The cover is generating some backlash online from Hillary supporters Michelle Goldberg was apparently part of this listserve – here was her response:
I quoted the woman who wrote about this for The Daily Beast months ago in my TNR piece about Hillary holdouts. She was cheering for John McCain. That’s not what a feminist looks like, as far as I’m concerned… (and apparently Michelle’s comment upset enough people on this listserve that my inbox got five copies.)
So, let’s see Michelle. First Hillary Clinton was not a feminist – oh until today when you discovered that she was. And any woman who is either a Republican or votes that way in any election is not a feminist either. Oh and I am not a feminist either since I spoke out about sexism in the DNC (sexism only counts if the Republicans do it). Who then Michelle is a feminist in your book?
You see this is the reason that feminism fell on tough times the membership ranks have dwindled in recent years. For Michelle, if you don’t fit every criteria on her list, then apparently, you are not good enough to be part of whatever she believes she is speaking for. But Michelle, you don’t speak for us. You speak for what has been and no longer is. You see, your clique is so small, you have become a self-contained unit of few. The future looks bright and frankly quite different. We call it Big Tent Feminism – it’s inclusive, it’s revolutionary, and it’s truly the way forward. So maybe Michelle, now that you are no longer too “furious to hear”, you can evolve to the next generation of the women’s movement and join us. Just like Motel 6, we’ll leave the light on!
P.S.: Just one side note: Michelle Goldberg actually had her publisher reach out to me in December 2008 to preview her upcoming book. I guess back then,
I was still a feminist!
Posted on April 13th, 2009 in On Consignment by hireheels
On Consignment by Hireheeler ‘Back Bay Style’
Years ago, when I told a friend I was heading out for leg wax, she blurted, “I thought that was something only rich women do!” True enough, thought I…
I’d first heard of waxing from a tony gal, that I met during my ten years living amongst the “HENRY’s,”— High Earning, Not Yet Rich. When I returned to the world of forty-something single women, I could not give up my indulgence— it does hurt (on the bod and in the pocketbook) to be beautiful. I had no problem leaving the big house, the vacations and the pricey dinners out behind, but my penchant for smooth, sexy gams and properly positioned show seats could never be denied…
I expected things to be a bit tough, beginning on the bottom rung of the professional ladder at age 41. But, as long as I could meet a friend for a light bite, afford to see a few shows a year and do so with silky, smooth legs— I never really missed being part of the affluent class. Well even preferred pampering needs to be dialed back in a crisis… Eventually, I was forced to get out the shaving cream. Natch, I still “get thee to the spa” for a proper wax, when a decent paycheck comes in.
Somewhere, during the past several years, monthly living expenses skyrocketed. Socializing became a burden. I was working as a professional, but didn’t feel like I belonged. Dining out digressed from the “chic” restaurants, to chains, to cheap eats, to ultimately staying home. The heating bill looked as if it should be warming up the Hancock Tower (which, btw recently went on the block for half of its worth) instead of my flat. Theater tickets in Boston climbed to the height of the newly renovated Opera House ceiling. After a $200.00 night, when I found myself gazing more at the ceiling than the stage, I went on ticket strike.
Though I realize not being able to indulge in my spa day or in the Dress Circle doesn’t constitute real hardship, the stress of trying to earn enough to meet the rising cost of necessities had me popping lots of those little purple pills (Prilosec). And imperceptibly, as the struggle seeped into my self-image of an urban, professional woman, I began to withdraw. I felt the “fraud syndrome,” a feeling that I didn’t really belong at events where the “it crowd,” the “successful people,” the “smart set” gathered. The need to attend a professional dinner at a swank downtown hotel brought on a full-blown panic attack… I spent three hours fussing with hair and make-up and endured more wardrobe changes than a first date would garner. Finally, a black wrap dress and classic Stuart W’s got me out the door.
A few weeks ago one of the most successful women I know divulged, “I’ve have no money. The business hasn’t been paid much in months.” “Why didn’t you call?” I knowingly asked… Admitting financial struggle is the professional kiss of death. I guess we can all come out of the closet and admit that times are really tough…
Finally, I relented. I packed my pride and my well-worn Pradas in the back seat and moved to a respectable, but very un-chic digs in the burbs. Those old status symbols don’t seem to matter so much now. I may have given up my beloved hardwood floors— but you can bet… I’ll be struttin’ on that sensibly safe wall-to-wall in my one cherished pair of Manolos!
Posted on March 21st, 2009 in On Consignment by hireheels
by: Mark Curtis, the author of “Age of Obama:
A Reporter’s Journey with Clinton, McCain and Obama in The Making
of the President, 2008 ”
- Visit him @ MarkCurtisMedia.com
Boy, did I strike a nerve! Earlier this week, I posted two blogs–one about the prospects of Hillary Clinton’s still becoming President and one about Sarah Palin’s Presidential chances. I received many responses, many of them very passionate one way or the other. Here’s a sampling:
John T. commented: “Mark, your analysis was brilliant. I think that if the economy rebounds as it does and should, then nobody worth a darn is going to run against an incumbent in a good economy. Look at history – Kerry, Dole, Dukakis, Mondale, even Clinton – NOBODY thought he stood a chance against Bush 41; talk about a shot in the dark. All of these folks, while good politicians, didn’t have the stuff to win. DOLE?!?! What were they thinking? Enter Palin 2012 just like you said. I can’t imagine that Biden will be looking to extend his career at that point. She will have the experience that she needed in 2008. Not that she didn’t have enough, she had more and better than Obama, but it wasn’t enough for the masses, obviously. Timing would be perfect.
It’s always good to see you in person. It is a true joy to see someone that is as passionate as you are about what they do.(You spoke at my Rotary club a few months back.)
Thanks, Mark”
Devi L. commented: “Mark – I think your comments are right on and interesting.”
Cory C. commented: “What political future??? She (Palin) has had her 15 minutes of fame…and, believe me, that was 14 minutes too long, Mark”
Ida C. commented: “Like Tiger for ESPN, a comeback and a return are two different things; Yes, they, Clinton & Palin, will return because of the love affair between them and the media – As for a comeback? Match Play – Clinton 1 – Palin 0.”
Diane M. commented: “I LOVE the Palin piece, btw!!!!! You are spot-on! Keep ‘em coming!”
Part of me wonders why the emotions for these two women run so hot and cold. There seems to be no middle ground. Are we still that gun shy about electing a woman President? During the campaign of 2008, it became very clear to me, wherever I went in America, that people were far more receptive to electing an African-American President than a female candidate. Was it because the African-American candidate was a man?
I don’t know, but I surely got that impression often!
Author’s NOTE: I will be on KPIX CBS-5 in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday to promote my new book, “”Age of Obama: A Reporter’s Journey with Clinton, McCain and Obama in The Making of the President, 2008″…The show is at 5:30 in the morning, so wake up early. Here’s the @kpix.dayport.com">link for online viewers around the country!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 in On Consignment by hireheels
by: Anonymous
At the risk of over-using a cliché… In the past three months, I’ve literally become a “starving writer…”
As, a Web Content Manager/Senior E-commerce Copywriter, who works in the tanking retail industry (btw— if you’ve got job— I’m your gal) being laid-off has been a nightmare for me, as it has been for so many.
I have been living without a paycheck for three long months, even though I properly applied for unemployment benefits that were due to me (the date I was allowed legally to apply was January 14th). After more phone calls to a single “hotline” extension than cell phone minutes allow, and receiving a 24/7 busy signal for eight weeks, I finally hit the “jackpot,” a voice on the other end of the phone— only to be passed on to another, to begin jumping through unemployment red tape hoops all over again.
My weekly check had been delayed (like so many others) because I was coming off FMLA and then filing for unemployment. Of course, nobody in the “know” in the home office thought (after almost a month went by since filing my initial request) to notify me that I would need to have an adjudication interview to solidify the transition. WHO KNEW?!? I certainly didn’t— and how could I, since I couldn’t get through to a body for weeks at a time. Finally on February 2nd, , to my relief, I had the needed “phone interview,” but NO check followed, nor did a follow-up call or letter. WHO WAS DIRECTING THIS SHOW ANYWAY?!? Apparently… no one.
In the cashless weeks that followed… first cable was turned off, then other utilities became passed due, then I began cutting back on food, as I had no choice. As I watched the numbers on the scale go down further and further on my forced diet of peanut butter and spinach, I had to suffer the humiliation of borrowing money from my parents for food. Meanwhile I continued to incessantly call and leave numerous messages on various officials’ voicemail mailboxes in the Adjudication Unit. ONE woman had the respect and decency to call me back.
“Mary” (The Madonna of Adjudication) said that my applications, as well as notes from the adjudication hearing, were still waiting for a “manager” to review. That horror coupled with lack of nourishment and months of total humiliation caused absolute hysterics. I told her, “My friends think I have anorexia,” I continued to sob, “I had the hearing almost 3 weeks ago, I have had NO income for over eight weeks; I have been living on PEANUT BUTTER AND SPINACH!!” Blessed Mary was sympathetic and told me she would have a manager review my application that day— BUT… still no check.
Hunger propels action and I was not going to be denied this time; I burned what was left of my cell phone minutes and called the Rhode Island Attorney General and left a sobbing message in the general mailbox. SHOCKINGLY, an extremely sweet gentleman returned my call and said he was so sorry for my hardships but he couldn’t help. “Why not try the, Governor’s Office,” said he.
Desperate to see the light at the end of the tunnel (and be able to shop in the meat aisle again at the supermarket), I rang the Governor’s office. The gal on the line patiently listened to me and perfunctorily stated that she would take care of it!… She promised to contact the head of the Unemployment Office that day and resolve the “inexcusable” situation. I thanked her through my tears and she repeatedly told me to “just take a deep breaths.” I hung up the phone with absolutely no faith in “the system” that was supposed to be there to help me. Hey, I pay my taxes just like everyone else. More than that, I live in CT and worked in RI— so I paid DOUBLE and for what!?1 I could only hope and pray for the best.
I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease… Within 4 hours, I received a phone call from someone from the Unemployment Office telling me my claim was approved and I could expect a direct deposit payment— including monies from my initial filing date of January 14th through to this week— into my account within 24 to 72 hours.
Well, power really does pay… Yesterday (ironically my birthday) I got the cash. I took yet another deep breath, and immediately I felt like I had been “saved.” I was both grateful and sickened by all of the bureaucracy BS that had occurred over last months.
What I learned besides loving to hate eating peanut butter on spinach, was the legal hoops we citizens have to jump through should not be there!! It shouldn’t have taken two months for me to have money for true necessities like FOOD. Something needs to be done, when the country goes to pieces over to the economy and unemployment rates being the highest in decades. One doesn’t have to be an Einstein to figure out, that maybe we need amp up the staffing in the unemployment and social service offices during this incredibly difficult time. Americans are falling flat on their faces and are literally thin enough to fall through the cracks!!
I am not so bitter, that I can’t understand that there are many people in the same position as I am and how LUCKY I am (all things considered). However, it shouldn’t take luck to reap the benefits that are in place to protect others and myself from drowning (or starving) in such troubled times. Just remember… that squeaky wheel does get the grease and tonight this squawker is HAVING A STEAK!!!
Posted on October 28th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
I’ve been a regular observer/sometime commenter at Just Say No Deal blogs since the beginning. You remember, ‘The Beginning,’ when Coward’s DNC/ RBC handed down that despicable Florida/ Michigan decision – the day the Party formerly known as Democratic died. (I feel ‘60s mood music coming on…”American Pie”?) As a self-identified PUMA, I went to Denver to lend my voice to the movement, and met lots of PUMAs — Will, Diane, Murphy, LadyBoomer, Riverdaughter, LaNell, Laurie, Shari, Shtuey, William, et al. I get a thrill (no, not up my leg) that there are so many PUMAs continuing to stand up, speak out and fight for our democracy and its core principles and processes. Certainly, the Party formerly known as Democratic no longer cares about those principles and processes –after flagrantly flouting them during the primary and since.
I’m in my late fifties, and endured bankruptcy and foreclosure this year. Yep, I’m now just one more casualty of the Democratic corruption/complicity in the subprime mortgage/housing market collapse, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac/ACORN debacle, ultimate economic meltdown, which That One has aided and abetted for his own selfish financial, political gain. A self-supporting independent writer for more than two decades, my key contract was terminated last year and I’ve been sans work since. Was all this the result of ageism, sexism and, yes, social engineering gone dangerously awry? You betcha.
With Gov. Palin as VP, certainly, lifelong women’s rights activists like me will have an advocate in the McCain WH. I’m ashamed of the national leadership of NARAL and NOW (which I’ve also ditched…too much mind control, just like moveon.org…not into being dominated, thanks) and women formerly known as activists such as The Gloria’s (Allred and Steinem) for what I can only describe as their ‘queen bee’ liberal elitist (and ultimately anti-woman) stance against Gov. Palin. This may sound weird, but I liken them to those old women-abusing radicals like Ayers, et al, whose main interest in women was to use ‘em and lose ‘em, after they schlepped the coffee and the joints and gave liberally of themselves (…ahem…). I’m proud of L.A. NOW Prez Shelly Mandell for seeing so clearly in Gov. Palin what those icons (perhaps alabastered from hardening arteries and hearts?) of the old feminist guard refuse to see — that Gov. Palin personifies everything for which we mainstream lifelong women’s rights activists have fought our entire lives: The right to self-determination in all matters.
Posted on September 19th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
All,
I confess – some days I pull the covers so far over my head that my toes are sticking out. I still dream that the DNC wakes up, Obama confesses to fraud, hubris and inexperience, steps aside, and as the electable Democrat, Hillary is the nominee, double digits ahead in the polls. But no, McCain leads in national polls, is even in PA and VA, and is ahead in CO, Ohio, and FL…
Sigh.
This is the third and final part of CONVENTION POST MORTEM in five sections:
1. ACTION ITEMS
2. MORE ON THE “ROLL CALL”
3. THE ELECTABILITY WATCH
4. ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY
5. HILLARY AT WORK – Simply the Best
From time to time over the coming weeks, I will write about the action items in #1 below. However, as I suspend not end these conversations on a regular basis, I do want to note that, for me, one of the saddest aspects of this remarkable experience is the tone of the discourse, the apparent inability to disagree on substance without ad hominem attacks and characterizations. This is a terrible corruption of the system and goes both ways – I have been shocked at some of the language and ugly attacks from Hillary supporters – we should know better. But rarely have I seen anything from a BO supporter that has not had some vulgar/offensive component. I have included several below. How anyone thinks this will be persuasive or unifying is beyond me…intimidating, yes.
I want to give special thanks to Mary Ellen Courtney who was the bus captain for most of the NY volunteer buses to many of the primary states, and without whom the Electability Watch would not have happened as smoothly; and Lucy Cristancho, my assistant who many of you have corresponded or talked with throughout the campaign. And to the amazing group that pulled together the nominating petitions! And to the 18 million and everyone who made that happen!
It will be no surprise to anyone that the DNC is making it as difficult as possible to get the lists of the votes, but we must push back on this very anti-democratic withholding of public information. So much for transparency.
We have the tally sheets for Oregon and New Mexico, so it can be done! Please forward to me other states so that we can distribute the comparisons for delegate accountability.
HILLARY DEMOCRATS: Please donate and get involved in “Down Ticket” Hillary Democrat campaigns. The need for your support is compounded by BO’s refusal to take public financing – down ticket Democrats need money that is now going to Obama’s campaign. Coattails?
To help support Hillary Democrats, please send me information on events and fundraisers along with a brief description of the campaign.
DEMOCRATS NOT OBAMOCRATS: For anyone who cannot vote for McCain, nor for Obama, please consider blanking the top of the ticket and voting for down ticket Democrats. This is a way to distinguish between Democrats and Obamorats, register a vote of no-confidence in the DNC and BO, and express yourself for party reform. Blanking is far preferable to writing in – the conditions vary from state to state and can easily invalidate your ballot, and a third party vote dilutes your message.
A vote for Obama in blue or red states is an endorsement of him and the DNC which I, for one, cannot do.
In addition to withholding contributions from the DNC and all its arms, I know of no other way to say to the DNC that we are in this pickle because they shoved aside the only electable Democrat, Hillary Clinton, and this must not happen again. If there is a large enough discrepancy between the totals voting for Democrats down ticket, and those voting for Obama, attention must be paid, and we may have a chance…
2) MORE ON THE “ROLL CALL”:
ANONYMOUS: “Ultimately, the roll call vote was a sham and did not even come close to reflecting Senator Clinton’s historic achievement. As of this writing, all of what went on behind the scenes has yet to come to light. From what we know thus far, it is apparent the vote was rigged. Unlike Jesse Jackson’s historic campaign for the Democratic nominee in 1984 when his name was placed in nomination and his 465 ½ delegate votes were accurately recorded for the history books, Senator Clinton’s delegate votes ultimately did not reflect the will of the voters. As a result, the fact that she won more votes and primaries than any candidate in history will forever remain obliterated from the official record.”
Karen Murphy, Alegre’s Corner: “Too many have worked too hard for too long to have this historic vote shoved under the rug like this!”
Let the record show that Senator Clinton led in the popular vote, and that there was only a separation of 47 pledged delegates, even with all the caucus fraud and manipulation.
Democratic Convention
Presidential Nominating Process
Automatic selection of unpledged delegates: Saturday 1 March 2008
Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting: Saturday 31 May 2008
45th Democratic National Convention: Monday 25 August – Thursday 28 August 2008
Candidate Popular
Vote Delegate Votes
Hard Total Floor Vote
Clinton, Hillary Rodham 17,857,446 48.04% 1,730.5 39.17% 341.5 7.73%
Obama, Barack Hussein 17,584,649 47.31% 1,747.5 39.55% 1,549.5 35.07%
Edwards, John Reid 994,022 2.67% 32.0 0.72%
Uncommitted 293,075 0.79% 908.0 20.55%
Richardson, William B. “Bill”, III 104,051 0.28%
Kucinich, Dennis J. 99,962 0.27%
Biden, Joseph Robinette “Joe”, Jr. 79,754 0.21%
Gravel, Mike 35,303 0.09%
Dodd, Christopher J. “Chris” 34,663 0.09%
No Preference 31,255 0.08%
Blank, Void, Scattering 28,698 0.08%
(others) 25,871 0.07%
Uninstructed 861 0.00%
Scattering 468 0.00%
Undecided 42 0.00%
(available)
(not voting) 2,527.0 57.20%
Total 37,170,120 100.00% 4,418.0 100.00% 4,418.0 100.00%
4,418 total delegate votes – 2,316 district / 794 at large; 456 Pledged PLEOs; 771 Unpledged PLEOs; 81 Unpledged add-ons
CALIFORNIA: Misha Houser: “This is such a pile of dung. I WAS a Hillary delegate from California and that’s not at all what happened. Hillary supporters flipped to Obama and we passed so as not to embarrass Hillary. Gloria Allred made a fool of herself in order to get publicity for herself and lost most of us in the process, her stunt was embarrassing and out of place. Ray Panko was NOT a delegate and had no knowledge of the real goings on if he even does exist. I have my doubts about many of your so-called respondents. NOT ONE DELEGATE that I spoke to (and I spoke to a LOT of Hillary delegates) was disillusioned after the amazing week so stop spreading these falsehoods.”
FP: “Gloria Allred was handing out the petitions to get a vote on the floor and Chris Lavery, who I had a run in with when volunteering for Hillary months earlier, came over to me and intimidated me by saying, “You realize you are an At-Large delegate for Hillary and Hillary does not want people to sign this. This would be an embarrassment to Hillary.” Later, in a message to my facebook account, Chris told me “he would remember what I had done” basically telling me I would never get an at-large delegate slot again for Hillary. I told him I could care less because politics was not my life and I was there to represent the public and to stand up for the constitution.”
COLORADO: Lila: “A request for Unity has no place in a political party until after the roll call vote is over and the candidate has been selected. The Democratic Party essentially committed suicide on August 27, 2008, with that joke of a roll call vote, thereby reaffirming yet again that Barack Obama was selected, not elected. The roll call vote essentially laughed at democracy. In the name of “Unity,” votes were taken wholesale from Hillary supporters and given to Obama, thereby creating more division. Authentic votes no longer matter just like in any autocratic country. Individual liberty and free speech are under severe attack. Obama cannot be vetted or criticized in any way, or you are a racist. Police force and Obama thugs now attempt to control behavior. You will support Obama or you will pay dearly. This is the message from the Denver Convention to those of us who have been watching from home. This message is loud and clear.”
DC: Susan Magee: “This past week I have been decompressing from the experience of the Denver Convention. I loved seeing my friends with whom I have shared this 19-month journey. What a roller-coaster of feelings I had during that week. I wept and applauded as Hillary addressed the convention with such strength and intelligence. I was happy with the selection of Joe Biden among the possible men as he is a good, decent and experienced person. Bill delighted me with the clarity and skill with which he laid out the argument in favor of the Obama-Biden ticket. I was deeply moved at the historical significance and the opportunity to heal our deep racial wounds as the first African-American, Barack Obama, was nominated for the Presidency.
However, as I listened to Senators Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and former VP Gore speak about passing the torch to a new generation, I wanted to shout out: WAIT, we have not yet had our chance. What struck me was that I was watching the patriarchy perpetuating its own power. The last night as I sat in the large Invesco Field, I became very quiet and profoundly sad that so many of our party leaders are unwilling to support a powerful woman becoming President of the United States. I genuinely believe that we will not have peace or harmony in our world until women and men serve in mature partnerships in all realms of life. I came home and said to my husband: ENOUGH. I WANT A REVOLUTION. I recommit myself to work with all of you to elect qualified women. Hopefully, we will see one elected to the White House before I die.”
FLORIDA: Lady Hawkke: “I’m faxing this out, don’t know if it will do any good. If anyone wants to participate, just change the officials to their STATES except for the US DOJ.”
BY FAX (850) 488-3680
Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning
400 S. Monroe St #P12
Tallahassee, FL 32399
BY FAX (850) 410-1630
Attorney General Bill McCollum, Office of the Attorney General
State of Florida, The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
cc; Matthew W. Friedrich, US DOJ, Criminal Div. By Fax: (202) 514-9412
Subject: Objections to Special Status Granted to the Democratic Party on FL State Ballots
Dear Sir:
I am writing to you to protest the state of Florida allowing the Democratic Party access to our state election ballots.
Upon contacting the Secretary Of State, I was told that state officials cannot intervene in the internal operations of any political party and was referred to the DNC. Why would I contact the DNC when they are the ones violating their own Rules? To whom do I turn to make them accountable? I am a taxpayer and expect our state officials to act on our behalf when it is obvious citizens are being deprived of their votes. Howard Dean made clear he would do nothing regarding FL & MI stating they violated the Rules by holding primaries out of turn although other states did that as well and they were not punished. However, at the Rules Committee meeting on May 31, the rules were again broken by giving uncommitted delegates to Sen. Obama and taking 4 pledged delegates from Sen. Clinton and giving them to Sen. Obama. After Howard Dean & Nancy Pelosi “selected” Sen. Obama as the nominee by pressuring and threatening super delegates to vote for Sen. Obama, they again changed the Rules to allow FL & MI a full vote.
At the DNC Convention in Denver, the DNC, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean and others, threatened and intimidated delegates prior to the Roll Call and did not hold a bona fide floor vote on the nomination. States were not allowed to go in order and others were passed solely for the purpose of keeping Sen. Obama ahead in the delegate count. Delegates were not told that some states had bound laws and they were bound to vote for the person who won the primary on the First Ballot. Investigations are ongoing in this regard.
We spend taxpayer money for elections that are fair and honest, and support the will of the people. The DNC has shown through its nomination of a candidate by dictum that they are not abiding by our state’s principles…
Furthermore, there are widespread reports and investigations of fraudulent voting irregularities in several states. In the Texas caucuses there was massive voter fraud and voter intimidation. In Oregon there were dead people voting. In Los Angeles, gang members were hired to walk neighborhoods and threaten people to vote for Obama. In some southern states there is an investigation of votes being sold for $20.00, or in some cases, for drugs. These problems affect the results of voting in all states, Florida included; please visit Dr. Lynette Long’s website on caucus fraud.
The foregoing fraud was seen by countries all over the world. I am alarmed that a rigged roll call and nomination was allowed to happen in the USA. Our soldiers are dying all over the world for democracy and to give others the privilege to cast an honest vote. Former Pres. Jimmy Carter goes to many countries to monitor elections for fraud, yet he did nothing to stop what was going on in our own country. Jimmy Carter endorsed Obama. No Party should be above the law and as a citizen I expect you to do your job. If it is not your job, then whose job is it? .
The spending of our state tax dollars to allow a private club such as the DNC to pick their own candidate in violation of even their own rules, and run that candidate on our state ballots is outrageous. . I assure you, I intend to work to amend our state laws so that from now on the DNC will not be allowed access to our state ballots without the requisite fees and petitions that the other political parties… must pay and supply, unless they return to holding fair elections based upon votes of citizens.
In the interim, I demand that you revoke the special status that our state laws grant to candidates from the Democratic Party to get on the ballot. I await your response.
OHIO: Lee Hakel: “Mrs. Clinton told her supporters in person at the convention that she had cast her vote for Obama and we should do the same. That was the only directive I received.”
MARYLAND: Dion Guthrie: “I was a Delegate from Maryland and a Councilman from Harford County. Maryland vote was 94 to 6 for Hillary. I was 1 of the 6″.
Paulie Abeles: The right to vote, it seems to me, is not simply about exercising your franchise—but actually having that exercise tied to a result. Whether we look narrowly at Florida and Michigan, or broadly at caucus and convention intimidation and fraud—what becomes clear—crystal clear—is that the delegates—both in number and composition– did not accurately represent the ‘will of the people’ that voted for them. And, as a tribute to their organizational skill, if not their integrity, the Obama campaign did everything in their power to ensure that that would be the case.
Just as importantly, throughout the nomination process, the Obama campaign did everything possible to curtail the free speech of those who opposed him. Whether it was as simple as harassing supporters at the local metro, or as brazen as intimidating delegates at state conventions and threatening members of the Black Caucus—opposition to Barack Obama put people at risk—to be taunted, insulted and harassed in a way I’ve never before experienced in a political campaign.”
MASSACHUSETTS: M. Saboori: ” Would you be suprized if Obama loses GE? NO, he never won the primary!”
MISSISSIPPI: Kelly Jacobs, MS Hillary Delegate: “I was pulled into the hotel hallway outside of our breakfast room on Tuesday because of the Denver Postcomments that were printed about my insistence on voting for HRC. Hillary’s MS whip, Gloria told me they didn’t want me to pass around the petitions, and that I would be able to vote for whomever I wanted but that Hillary was going to formally end the voting when it got to NY. This was the negotiated deal she made with Obama, there would be a paper trail recording the votes, this was the way she wanted the convention to go so would I please cease and desist the collection of signatures? OK, I did.
On Wednesday morning we had more than 2 hours of speakers before we could get our credentials, none were good. The sole purpose of the last speaker, a former DNC Chairman was to change the Hillary Clinton delegate votes to Obama. On Tuesday all 14 HRC delegates (in an unofficial straw poll) were voting for her, but..after one hour of this DNC guy, 6 switched. I felt the target of his speech because I was wearing a black coat covered only in Hillary buttons, but I just kept saying to myself, I am rubber and you are glue… So when the MS vote was announced at the Pepsi Center , 8 stayed with Hillary, 31 Obama and 2 (super delegates) refused to attend and vote. I think it was wrong to try to change our votes at the convention, and it appeared to me that many other states were subject to this arm twisting stuff also, and I wanted to share what happened to MS.
I’m leaving out the part about how I was threatened with assault by a MS Obama delegate/atty. who told me after an interview with a reporter from the the Congressional Quarterly that I was not entitled to my opinions and she wanted us to go outside so she could whip my ass (Monday night).”
NEW YORK: Stephanie Madden: “As I listen to the “lipstick on a pig” furor, I feel the need to call attention to the fact that Barack Obama would have a good deal more credibility in his charges of “manufactured controversy” and “phoney outrage” if he had not employed exactly those tactics against Hillary – specifically when his campaign deliberately misinterpreted her statement of historical fact about the synergy between Johnson and King. – though there were many other times. I’m still not sure how I’ll vote. But I’m certain I want to raise this comparison – because it’s important the party learn this lesson.”
OREGON: Bob Williams: “GO AWAY RICKI LIBERMAN WE KNOW YOU ARE JOE LIEBERMAN LITTLE SISTER AND ALL OF YOU HATE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.”
And, from DANMAN 626@aol.com:
“Yo… get over it.. and FUCK OFF. Also stop sending me your bullshit you pretentious crybaby.”
3) THE ELECTABILITY WATCH: “DOING THE EW” – The Super Delegates only job – to select the electable…
My comment: The Electability Watch (EW) was a no-cost, grassroots action where, over the summer, hundreds and hundreds of Hillary supporters all over the country took time each week to write thoughtful letters to over 650 Super Delegates, discussing the issue of electability, that electability should be the only consideration for SDs in making their vote at the Convention, and that the electable Democrat was Hillary Clinton.
The polls over the summer – in spite of a faux presidential seal, a trip to Berlin, and a plane with the vanilla ice cream ball melting on hot coals – remained static at a time when the conventional wisdom was that a Democrat should be ahead by double digits. The trends continued from the primary season – the more voters knew about BO, the more they had voted for Hillary. EWers demanded accountability from delegates and from the DNC which chose to flick us off, but not before having to confront the thousands of messages which said that we knew they had the power to intimidate and manipulate results, but urged them not to. That they did, that they simply persisted without a shred of embarrassment, will not easily be forgotten.
I so admire the work the EWers did with the SDs on the ELECTABILITY issue – that many of the Super and Pledged delegates stood their ground in the face of enormous pressure should make them and us proud, although we will probably never know exactly how many and who did so that we can thank them as they should be thanked.
That we all had to work so hard and basically beg for fairness and transparency is a sad commentary on the Presidential selection process. That we were even moderately influential is some consolation, but cold comfort. As an EWer wrote: “without the EW, the DNC would not have had to work so hard to rig the results…”
A small selection of many other comments on the experience and thoughts of EWers:
“The Electability Watch may not have been able to flip the election but it did pressure the DNC to let Hillary have her rightful place in the convention”
“What the EWers did with the Super Delegates over the summer – the high level contacts and cultivation – helped create the context where nomination and a roll call could not be dismissed, along with the focus on holding pledged delegates accountable to their constituents and urging recognition of her historic candidacy and 18 million voters.”
Doris Meyer: “The EW made it easy for me to contribute more than money to Hillary’s campaign. Even though we ultimately did not succeed, I think that many of us (certainly the women and men with whom I was communicating) felt passionately that we needed to do something constructive to advance her candidacy. The EW gave us that opportunity, and for that I am very grateful”.
Joyce Kusmersik: “I live near Buffalo, New York, and our group of Hillary supporters were so grateful for your daily e-mails offering us encouragement as we all worked so hard to make Hillary our next president. We all watched together with tears in our eyes last week as Senator Clinton delivered her amazing speech. She showed us she’s stronger than all the rest of them to be able to stand up there and face the delegates who treated her so unfairly at what should have been her convention and try to show her support for the most unqualified candidate… It was so difficult to watch as all our hopes were crushed by the powerful DNC leaders who selected their own candidate regardless of how the people voted. With all their cheating and fraud they managed to steal an election. I still don’t understand what they’re thinking or what their hidden agenda could be, but I know they’ve lost the respect of millions of democrats, which is really sad and detrimental to the Party. I guess there’s not much we can do at this point to show them how wrong they were to have wasted precious years in getting our country back to where it should be.
Thank you again for all you’ve done. Please keep us posted on anything we can do to help in the future. I’m really going to miss your daily messages.”
“The EW allowed us to deal with the abuses and distortions of the process by letting the Supers and Pledged Delegates that we were watching and holding them accountable.”
Susan Elin: “We EWers really did influence the convention….I really do believe that little respect for Senator Clinton or President Clinton would have been shown without our tireless work on behalf of history, the feminist movement and our country.”
Aaron Baxter: “We EWs knew that Clinton was far more Electable than BHO, and we know it still to be true…”
Many EWers commented on Hillary’s brilliant, Presidential speech, saying that the issue remained electability and that the convention and the Democratic Party failed us and the country by failing to nominate the candidate who can and should win in November.
4) ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY:
WE ARE THINKING DEMOCRATS – NOT YELLOW DOGS by Bill Boe
Hillary’s speech answers the burning question that has been on the minds of her supporters since that Saturday afternoon when she suspended her candidacy—quo vadis? (i.e. dear girl whither go’est thou?). Are you still the war goddess we saw on the night of the South Dakota victory just waiting for the right opportunity to launch a counteroffensive; or have you abandoned the quest and if so why? The answer is neither. Instead, Hillary has decided to wrap herself in the tattered principles of the party, and the highest ideals of our nation, and to dare the rest of us friend and foe alike to follow her lead. In this safe haven, she finds personal and political salvation. She knows who Obama is and supports him only to that extent.
The more I think about it the more I realize that this is the right answer for Hillary. Consider the matter from her perspective: you have given everything you have to this ship of fools called the Democratic Party–everything. During the past eighteen months you made a clear, cogent and convincing case for your candidacy, your party and this nation. It resonated with the American People. You made them feel that they were a part of something wonderful which was about them and more than them. Big Media dismissed the historic nature of your candidacy but we did not. You re-energized women and caused conservative men to rethink the whole issue of women’s rights at a time when this country needs all heads in the game. You connected with real people and changed the world for the better.
At the same time, what you have done for this country has come at a high personal cost– in terms of heartbreak, betrayal, and disappointment. We admire your commitment to duty and the self discipline it requires. But no human being is immune from such sentiments. Thus, we can only imagine how it broke your heart to see two of your closest friends and allies suffer tragic deaths in the days leading up to the Convention. Or to see your beloved daughter savaged by the likes of David Schuster and his MSNBC cronies.
Likewise, we can only imagine how it felt to see people like Bill Richardson forget all you have done for them and turn their backs on you in your hour of political need—after they promised to support you. Or to be targeted by traitors like Dean, Pelosi and Brazille who conspired with the likes of Karl Rove to undermine your candidacy, and the standing of centrist Democrats in the party. Or insiders like Patty Solis Doyle who betrayed your confidence and made you wonder who you can trust. Finally we understand the bitter disappointment of winning the popular vote only to be cheated out of the nomination by the forces of corruption, and thus deprived of the rightful opportunity to do great things for the country you love.
The Democratic Party has made a fatal mistake in nominating Barack Obama to be President of the United States. Now they will do everything fair and foul to foist that mistake on the American People. They will hack voting machines in key states, they will lie cheat and steal, and they will launch the same misogynistic attacks against Palin that they did against you while Obama maintains plausible deniability. No doubt, you will do what you can to prevent this but it is not in your hands. Rather it is in the hands of people like Axelrod who are devoid of moral scruples and in the primary we saw the lengths to which they would go to disenfranchise voters… and if they fail then they will try to make you a scapegoat.
These people cannot connect with the traditional base of the party and they know it. Therefore, they will cast you into the breach. They will ask you to sell their candidate to the same audiences who previously rejected him in favor of you. Then they will ask you to spearhead the attack against Palin to neutralize the gender issue. I hope you will tell them that Obama and Biden must sell themselves to these audiences—it cannot be done by proxy. Furthermore, I hope you refuse to attack Palin personally and confine the discussion to policy related issues. Everyone knows your candidacy is what made hers possible. And, you know that if you attack her on behalf of Obama then you will diminish the good will you have worked hard to establish with those audiences. Lest we forget, it is Biden’s job as vice presidential nominee to handle any attack on Palin. If he is sane, sensible and sober, then he will keep it to a bare minimum…
We are your supporters and we are thinking Democrats—not yellow dogs. The party of Barack Obama is no place for centrist democrats. When Howard Dean calls the Republican Party the white peoples party, when the Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party tells black voters to not support white candidates, when Obama himself claims that people who live in small town America are bitter, cling to guns and religion, and when former Democratic Chairman Don Fowler hopes a hurricane will hit New Orleans during the Republican Convention, something is clearly amiss.. But the Obama cancer is metastasizing throughout the party.
VETTING, ANYONE? Biden has deep ties to Rezko accomplice JOSEPH CARI | 30-year friend of VP pick guilty in kickback scheme BY DAVE MCKINNEY /dmckinney@suntimes.com
DENVER — No matter what help Barack Obama might get from Sen. Joseph Biden, his newly named vice presidential running mate won’t give Obama much cover on the Tony Rezko front. Biden has described himself as a 30-year friend of a key figure in the Rezko trial who’s pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge in Chicago and is awaiting sentencing. When the Delaware senator began contemplating his own 2008 presidential run, he initially was helped by Chicago lawyer Joseph Cari Jr., who also served as Biden’s Midwest field director in his failed 1988 bid for president.
In 2005, Cari admitted to taking part in an $850,000 kickback scheme that prosecutors say was part of a larger political fund-raising operation for Gov. Blagojevich overseen by Rezko, who was convicted in June of wide-ranging corruption involving state deals.
On the day Cari’s name first surfaced in the federal probe of the state Teachers Retirement System, the former finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee and for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was to have hosted a Biden fund-raiser in Chicago. Cari was a no-show at that July 25, 2005, event. Offering Cari a vote of confidence at the time, Biden said, “All I know is Joe Cari is a friend, and he’s an honorable guy, but I don’t know anything beyond that.”
“Strategy involved G.O.P. crossover voting to take out Clinton, marketing newcomer Obama, stripping battleground delegates, threatening violence at the convention, and (if necessary) declaring martial law to prevent November’s general election. Meanwhile, revelations about the Illinois senator’s ties to Chicago political fixer Antoin Rezko and Iraqi war profiteers are downplayed by the press. For their part, Democratic Party leaders have circumvented the official nominating process, declaring Obama the nominee by breaking their own rules and allowing superdelegates to “vote” before the convention.”
CORRUPTING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FOR TEN POINTS Tom in Paine Wed, August 27, 2008
The roll call vote tonight is shaping up to be what the DNC wanted all along — a show as fake and as rigged as a Fifties quiz show, where there will be no chance for an honest vote and no chance or an honest result and where the pre-scripted outcome has been rigged before hand. The question is will Clinton’s delegates go along with the script? No one really knows except the delegates themselves.
The news is that Clinton has agreed to release her delegates prior to the vote but that Maggie Williams, her campaign manager told them they were free to vote their conscience. To show the depths that the Obama campaign, the DNC and the media have sunk, when news of this leaked it was interpreted and characterized by some in the Obama camp and the media as Clinton potentially trying to sabotage Obama. Think about that.The DNC, Obama and the news media have now gotten to a point where someone voting their conscience is considered “sabotage”. Which makes the DNC have a lot more in common with the old soviet Politburo in 1968 than Philadelphia in 1789…
And for those concerned about the corruption of principles by the Democratic Party leadership headed by Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi as well those super delegates whose constituents voted for Clinton but who declared for Obama after taking cash bribes, they can punish those responsible the best way possible — with their vote.
…What these people need to learn is that most Democrats think for themselves and put the country ahead of the party and cant be whipped into line. There will never be unity behind a corrupt system. The fact that Joe Biden said that Obama was ready to be President and lead on day one, shows the depths a politician is willing to sink for the sake of his own ambitions and that of “the party”.
HILLBUZZ writes: There is no longer a 50-state strategy in play. It’s now, apparently, down to a 7 state strategy: 1. Ohio 2. Nevada 3. New Mexico 4. Indiana 5. Iowa 6. Colorado 7. Virginia
Obama has not only dropped the fantasy of turning Georgia blue in the fall, but has also pulled out of NC, Mississippi, Kansas, and other GOP strongholds, too. They’ve backed out of Montana and the Dakotas as well, and have completely written off Florida.
How Obama lost the election By Spengler …By all rights, the Democrats should win this election. They will lose, I predict, because of the flawed character of their candidate http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JI03Aa02.html
Remembering Stephanie Tubbs Jones: Connie Schultz – Plain Dealer Columnist
In all the years I have known Stephanie Tubbs Jones, I have never written about her in this column. She was a public figure, but she was also my friend. That made her off-limits for me as a journalist. But hiding behind professional boundaries now strikes me as not only cruel, but cowardly. Stephanie mattered to all kinds of people, including me.
“Girlfriend,” she’d say, her eyes full of mischief. “What is up with . . .” Loyalty prevents me from completing the sentence. Let’s just say she was full of opinions, and I was only too eager to hear them.
We became friends after I started dating her congressional colleague, Sherrod Brown. She was the star attraction at our wedding reception in 2004, where she called my burly father “baby,” then pulled his face into her bosom and squeezed him like a teddy bear.
He looked like he was about to faint, but for the rest of his life he bragged about the big hug he got the first time he met “that Congresswoman Jones.”
Our friendship was forged by her to-the-bones understanding of what it means to be a woman willing to stick your neck out for your beliefs. I so appreciated never having to explain the punch line. She’d seen it all.
During the Democratic primary season, Stephanie supported Hillary Clinton early and with the kind of enthusiasm and energy that could humble campaigners half her age. She stumped for Clinton across the country, and she never let Barack Obama’s growing momentum whittle away at her loyalty for her friend Hillary.
She paid a price for that, although she never saw it that way. She’d just shake her head at the foolishness of anyone who thought they could bully her into submission, but I worried about the long-term stress of so much hate. There were death threats, and behind-the-scene machinations by some leaders in the black community to intimidate her. Their warning was hardly subtle: Support Obama, or we will defeat you in 2010.
My word is all I’ve got,” she told me during a reception in Washington shortly before Ohio’s primary. “This isn’t about race. It’s about experience, and personal history. I gave my word to Hillary that I would fight for her to the very end, and that’s exactly what I am going to do.”
She did, too, knowing full well that forces were underfoot to make her pay. “No fear, girlfriend,” she told me. “I got no time for fear.”
Stephanie once stood in my kitchen and pointed to a magnet I’d stitched years ago: Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say. “Got that right,” she said, kissing my cheek and laughing. “And we’re not shutting up anytime soon, are we?”
Stephanie Tubbs Jones has been silenced by the only force that had the right, or the might, to say her time was up. God always has his reasons, but I am at a loss to explain them. This I do know: I am braver because I knew her. And I ain’t shutting up any time soon. Count on it, girlfriend.
Hillary’s Orange Pantsuit POSTED BY PUGET SOUND ISLAND GIRL “Everyone knew when Obama gave Sen. Hillary Clinton the finger. The crowd knew and they loved his big F-You to Hillary. I believe it was the day after she cleaned his clock in their last debate – remember, Obama wouldn’t debate her anymore —
Well, when Hillary gives the finger to Obama, et al. it is done in such a classy way that I am sure the Obots missed the big “F-You!”
I saw the photo of the different colored pantsuits that her aides were holding by the podium… I think there were five to choose from. All I know is that I was hoping she would pick orange. It looked good with the background and I knew what the color orange would signify.
Orange is the symbolic color of the Ukrainian Revolutionaries who protested the “selection” of the President in a rigged election. There was massive corruption, voter intimidation and direct electoral fraud. In the end the Orange Revolution was successful. There was a re-vote that was watched by world observers (that’s what we needed here!) and Yushchenko became the President. I guess only “rigged” elections in foreign countries get world outcry.”
Democrats Need to Shake The “Elitist” Tag Lynn Forester De Rothschild
Despite Mr. Obama’s assertions that his campaign is about “you,” much of his campaign is, in fact, all about him. In the months since the primaries ended, his creation and display of a mock presidential seal with his name on it, his speech at a mass rally at the Prussian Victory Column in Berlin, and his insistence on delivering his acceptance speech in front of fabricated Greek columns in a stadium holding 80,000 chanting supporters have crossed the thin line that separates galvanizing voters and plain old demagoguery. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122109030550621451.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Nata Koerber to James Carville: I am one of your biggest fans, and a die-hard Hillary supporter.I was highly offended by David Axelrod’s article in the New York Times suggesting their desire to pimp Hillary to do their dirty work against Palin, while they sneer in the background.
Hence, I must express my dismay with you joining in the piling on the media is doing regarding Gov. Palin. Your face added to the fray gives the impression that Hillary condones the mounting sexist and unsavory narrative being leveled against another woman in government, and makes Hillary look like a hypocrite.
While I understand Hillary must help promote the Democratic ticket, David Axelrod and the Obama Campaign have shown they are well capable of doing their own dirty work, and conducting their own smear campaigns, as demonstrated against Hillary during the primaries.
It is fair to contrast Democratic and Republican policis, but please let Axelrod and Obama dig their own dirt, and wallow in it , if they must. And if push comes to shove, let them make Biden do it. After all, he’s the one they trust.
An Open Letter to Senator Hillary Clinton Marcia A. Pappas, President of NOW NYS August 28, 2008
Dear Senator Clinton:
You gave a fabulous, eloquent, and dynamic speech at the Democratic Convention. It brought tears to the eyes of the millions of women who worked so hard for you. One phrase in your powerhouse delivery rings on in my ears. In your call for us to back Obama you asked: “Were you in this campaign just for me or were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?”
For some people your question was a turning point. I was one of those people. And I need to answer you, not just because you are my wonderful Senator from New York, but because I want to give you the answer I know many are thinking, but lack the forum to express.
… for me, the only answer can be: “Yes, Senator, I was in it for YOU, precisely because YOU were in it for those people who feel invisible, and because YOU were the candidate who saw clearly that over fifty percent of the population was being ignored.”
Who are those people? Why they are the poor, the hungry, the underinsured, i.e. women and their children. YOU are the person who addressed the issues of that fifty-plus percent. YOU are the person who worked her entire life for that fifty-plus percent. YOU are the person who, in the face of rife opposition and ridicule, stood firm in favor of health care for the invisible. YOU are the person with a proven record on Emergency Contraception for all women, because YOU understand that without reproductive freedom, women are held hostage to unwanted pregnancies. And it is YOU who has proven, over and over, that you can deliver for the invisible.
YOU were the candidate whose followers felt they knew so well, they could call her by her first name. Little girls yelled “Hillary” because they knew their future was in your hands. Single mothers saw hope for the future, knowing that their struggle would lessen under your leadership. Older women came out in the wintry Iowa Caucuses to finally vote for the first truly possible woman president. They looked into your heart, into your eyes, into your soul, and saw something different. And those of us, who traveled around the country, working for your campaign, watched you emerge as a new kind of politician. We saw YOU.
Today, your popularity endures, bigger perhaps than even you imagined. Why? Because YOU represent the invisible. YOU persist as our symbol of hope, justice and equality. Please don’t be afraid of it. Please embrace it. YOU inspired us, brought us to tears, made us laugh, and made us finally feel that we were not voting for the lesser of two evils. There are eighteen million people out here who are, like me, not ashamed, like me, to say: “Yes Hillary I was in it for YOU.”
So What Is Fair Game With Sarah Palin? Look at the Rules Hillary Clinton Had to Play By. Anne E. Kornblut Sunday, September 7, 2008; B01
Watching Gov. Sarah Palin explode onto the national scene over the last week got me thinking back to a cold evening earlier this year, just before the New Hampshire primary. I was half-listening to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speak at an auditorium when a strange noise interrupted the event: two young men shouting, in muffled voices, “Iron my shirt!”
At first, Clinton seemed as taken aback as the rest of the audience, unsure of what was going on. Then she saw the yellow “Iron My Shirt!” sign one of the young men held, figured out what was being shouted and brushed the interruption aside. “Ah, the remnants of sexism, alive and well,” she said, then continued with her remarks. When security officers removed the young men from the audience, I joined several other reporters in following them outside to find out who the hecklers were and what had motivated them to make such a spectacle.
Little did we know that the bizarre incident was a precursor of what was to come — of the debate over sexism, feminism and the role of women in public life that would emerge as one of the defining aspects of the 2008 campaign. My fellow reporters and I never really did resolve the mystery of the “iron my shirt” episode; the two young men refused to give us their names and offered strangely vague reasons for being there. But we were put on notice that night: Gender politics was going to be a part of this race in ways that no one could foresee…
Obama’s woes have nothing to do with ‘lipstick’ Howard Fineman
For two years, Obama played the golf course of presidential politics with the ice-cold self-assuredness of a Tiger Woods. But since securing the Democratic nomination, he’s made a series of strategic errors that could jeopardize his chances in November.
After traveling with him on the trail, watching him in Denver and talking to Democratic operatives and insiders, here’s my list of his errant shots:
Declining to take federal financing for the general election: This mistake is two-pronged. Obama stands accused of flip-flopping on the matter, saying in 2007 that he’d accept those funds and the cash limits that come along with it. In relying solely on private money, Obama appears to have ceded some higher ground to McCain, who, with his public funding, appears slightly more immune to interest groups. On a more practical level, Obama will have to leave the campaign trail more often to headline fundraising events. He’ll likely spend more time than he should in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles and less than he needs in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Declining McCain’s offer to hold ten town hall debates: When Obama was leading the race in leaps and bounds, he blew off this GOP proposal…
WHERE IS HILLARY WHEN WE NEED HER? Reba Shimansky: One of the many reasons I supported Hillary was because the Clintons are the only democrats who have successfully stood up to the GOP slime machine. Nobody would ever tell Hillary that she was not fighting back hard enough as they have recently done with Obama. With Monday`s stock market crash and the collapse of Lehman Brothers Hillary would have been the perfect candidate. After all she was associated with an administration that brought us the largest peace time expansion of the economy where the stock market tripled. However the theme of the Obama campaign was to reject the 1990s and Bill Clinton`s accomplishments as president.. Obama throughout the primary season trashed Bill Clinton`s record as president while praising Reagan as a transforming president-his role model.
If Hillary were the nominee she would be ahead by double digits.This would not be a close race.
Nothing angers me more the way the Dean/ Pelosi leadership of the democratic party rigged the primaries to ensure an Obama victory. However nothing changes the fact that Obama just like Palin does not have the experience to be president and that he does not transcend race. However Monday`s disaster and the fact that all the major issues favor the Democrats Obama could still win but it would so much easier if Hillary were the nominee.
Legislation Introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton Fights for Pay Equity in the Workplace NOW New York State thanks Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for calling attention to the wage gap’s impact on women in New York and around the country. As was revealed in last week’s US Government Accountability Office report, the Bush Administration has neglected to monitor pay-equity law enforcement and failed to investigate violations.
TAKING ON THE PENTAGON’S HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT Just this week, Hillary introduced legislation to improve the Pentagon’s handling of sexual assaults on service members. She acted as a result of troubling reports that too many sexual assaults in the military go unreported and the finding by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which criticized the response by the Department of Defense to sexual assaults.
inspriation…
a reminder…
and simply the best…
AND FINALLY,
Regardless of where your thinking is today, I cringe when a longtime Democrat writes, “The Obama campaign is attacking Sarah Palin in the most sexist of terms as well. How did the Democrats become the party of sexism?”
In this context, WomenCount writes, “we’ll be watching closely to see how she is treated when it comes to gender bias. We need you to be our eyes and ears on the campaign trail. If it happens, WomenCount will be right there. Let us know if you see signs of sexism in this election. Remember, it’s time to stop the silence.
Hallie Travis in response to DNC talking points on how to deal with Palin: “those of us that are HRC people are a bit tired of the constant trashing of another woman. THIS is not the way to win us over or to get to our contacts or our money. Time for a new playbook, rather than the same one used against our candidate”.
Grace O’Rourke: “Obama showed his immaturity & inexperience with his inability to make a simple and obvious VP choice that would have not only benefited this country but made it a certainty to win in November – his ego got in the way…”
AND FINALLY, FINALLY -
Madeleine Albright: “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
Posted on September 9th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
by ricki lieberman
Rasmussen: Obama 46%, McCain 46%
Gallup: McCain 48%, Obama 45%
SurveyUSA: Washington State: Obama 49%, McCain 45%;
Obama led by 17 in June, 16 points in July, 8 points in August, 4 points today.
***********
All,
We all deserved better and fairer. Does anyone doubt that Hillary would have been 10/15 points ahead? WOE IS WE.
As part of these Convention Post Mortem conversations, many people involved in the so-called roll call have sent me stories and reports, and also questions about why, when Senator Clinton received more votes during the primaries and was seen by many as the electable Democrat, that the vote was so distorted in Denver? Were HRC delegates simply worn down, replaced or flipped? Had some decided to “move on with unity”, citing Senator Clinton’s call to do so? And did some believe they would be able to cast their votes for HRC in appreciation of her historic candidacy, but then were pressured or not able to do so?
Some commented that in some states the process became like a caucus with delegates threatened and delegation chairs making unilateral decisions to reduce Hillary’s delegate count. And when CA “passed” early in the roll call – did the Clinton delegates insist on being counted which would have put her ahead in the roll call?
While what you have written and reported will not change the results of the Convention, it is clear to many that the process was corrupted and distrusted. Ideally we would see the total votes and how each delegate voted so that “thems who sent them” will know and be able to hold them accountable, but this seems unlikely in spite of many requests to the DNC.
In Convention Post Mortem Part One, I relayed reports about manipulations by the DNC which, for many of us, go very deep. The first section of this Post Mortem, Part Two, continues with some of the delegate reports and first hand experiences, as well as observations about the convention, the roll call process, and the sullying of the Democratic Party. Lots about California and its Rashamon feel.
The second section deals with the strategy of blanking at the top to distinguish between being a Democrat and being an Obamocrat. The audience for this is not those of you who are firm in your decision to vote for either Obama or McCain, but for those of you who, like me, cannot vote comfortably for either of them.
In the first section, I have also included some corrections to quotes I apparently transmitted incorrectly or were inaccurately reported, as well as a taste of some of the gratuitously nasty and unpleasant comments that some people continue to feel free to make about my maturity and mental health and which take the place of substantive views. Although I prefer messages to be civil and intelligent, some of you have dared me to print your messages, regardless of how vulgar or ungrammatical. OK.
For a couple of you who directly questioned the authenticity of my material, let me be clear: whenever possible, I ask each writer if I can use a quote, with or without that person’s name. However, anyone who writes abusively takes a chance of simply being quoted. Basically, I am a trusting sort. Could someone send me a false report? Sure. But I try to screen those out.
What is worth noting is that in response to my inquiries, at least half of the reporters requested anonymity with comments such as, ‘I have to live or make a living in this community’ or I could lose an appointed position’ or ‘I am running for local office’. There is a lot of free-floating fear out there. Very scary.
Part Three, of Convention Post Mortem
will include charts of delegate voting, some comments about the ELECTABILITY WATCH, and assorted articles. I am also gathering information about Hillary supporters and surrogates who have competitive elections and/or are facing a challenge because of their loyalty to Hillary. I firmly believe that we all need to be contributing time and money to these Hillary Democrats!
GO GO GO!
Ricki
SECTION I. DELEGATE AND ACTIVIST REPORTS
CALIFORNIA: Marilyn Grunwald: I voted in the morning, but I ‘m sure a lot of people skipped the breakfast. Never heard the result…
Aleita Huguenin, Chair DNC – Western Regional Caucus: I was a pledged CLINTON delegate and no one in the California Democratic Party did anything to stop me from voting for her! I have to say they were down right pleasant about it! They took my vote as I signed in at breakfast– I didn’t need to wait until the 1:00 o’clock meeting with HRC.. delegates were not “coached”"forced” ,etc….the “HRC delegates” that wanted their vote to count should have VOTED when requested (breakfast or when they got to the floor!) and/or paid attention!
Ray Penko: While the DNC requires delegates to vote on the first ballot, in good conscience, for the candidate they were elected to vote for by their state voters, 15 States, including the State of California, require a “binding primary.” This means no matter how many ballots are at the convention, it is illegal for the delegates to vote for anyone else but the candidate they are voted in to represent at the convention.
“Ms. Allred was prevented from informing the delegates from California of this fact by the State of California Democratic Chairman. This is why Hillary won 200+ delegates in California during the primaries and Barack Obama won 163, but at the convention Hillary only won 163 delegates from California and barack won 270+. People in California need to contact the state Attorney General to complain about this. Regardless of the fact that we knew Hillary was going to lose the nomination, she should have had the appropriate legal number of delegates on record vote for her. This is just one of the many illegal acts the DNC allowed to happen at the convention. The list goes on. The convention was one scam after another.”
“If Gloria Alred, being an attorney can’t do something about the corruption, no one can”.
Pat Bakalian to Party Activist: “We were told by Harold Ickes on Hillary’s last conference call, the votes we cast on Wednesday morning in our respective hotels are the official PAPER TRAIL of the ballots we each cast. Art Torres told us at breakfast Thursday morning that the reason that CA passed was that not everyone had voted. That seems strange because my understanding is that the roll call was not to start until the cut off time of 4:00pm when all the votes where supposed to have been cast.”
Party Activist: 273 to 166 for Clinton and 2 supers not there. They started roll call at 3:45 and we were still counting when they got to us; when you have 441 delegates and some being voted by alternates it takes longer than Alabama with 60 votes;
Pat: So are you saying that the roll call started before 4:00pm which was the official time of the cut off to vote? I have been asked by many CA Hillary delegates and delegates from around the country what the roll call tally of CA delegates was. Along with the final numbers (# who voted for Obama and # who voted for Hillary) I would like the list of who voted for whom. Can you please send me that information? I would also like to know how every state voted, the total for Hillary and Obama. When will this information become available?
Pat: 9/3 I am checking in again because I am hearing from even more people from around the country who are asking for the final tally. It has now been a week since the vote. This is public information. Please give the name and contact information of the person who has: the list of CA delegates who voted for Hillary the list of CA delegates who voted for Obama the list of how each state voted (# for Hillary and # for Obama).
Party Activist: we do not have copies of the ballots. The DNC has it all…
Alice Germond, DNC Secretary: The State chairs have the results.
Pat: This is public information how each delegate voted. It is not a secret ballot. The DNC/CA Democratic Party must have copies of these records for California and each other state. If they are not released, then the UNITY is going to fall apart. We were promised a roll call vote of each state. Since the voting was stopped by Hillary and her call for acclamation, that does not do away with the tally from each state for Hillary and Barack. It is in the Democratic Party’s interest that each state shows its total delegate count for Hillary and Barack.
Garry S. Shay: “There is apparently on additional non-conspiracy fact involved as well. The vote cam about 30 minutes earlier than expected and the tally sheets were not delivered to Art in the most timely fashion one might hope for under such circumstances.”
Robert F. Egenolf: Your diatribe could not be further from the reality I have seen. I am a Clinton delegate from CA and I was fully aware of what I could and could not do with regard to my vote. I did indeed vote for Hillary and did so quite comfortably and was not under any mistaken idea about my available choices
How the votes were ultimately counted is now quite irrelevant because Obama is our candidate. I have reviewed the options available to me and contrary to your email, I am very enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama. Hillary acquitted herself magnificently at the convention and has maintained her ability to be a senior statesperson for the party with many option for future elected office.
However, for you to continue to wallow in the loss is not only not helpful to the party or the country but is not helpful to Hillary either. To the extent that sore losers like you maintain the counterproductive dialog you want to perpetuate, Hillary will continue to suffer within the Party to her future disadvantage. It does not help her or you to maintain what I view as adolescent behavior. It is time for you to remember that you are an adult, and accept the loss with dignity, and move forward to help our country recover from the destruction the Bush Administration has inflicted upon us for nearly 8 years. I implore you to forward this view to all on your email list so that others can understand a clearer perspective.
Richard Ascher: I was a Hillary delegate from CA. After CA passed, which was announced by Art Torres who usurped the roll of chairman of our delegation, we were shocked. We never elected anyone to replace Diane Feinstein. I was asked to confront Barbara Boxer on the floor to get some answers. Some people around me supported my requests….
Normita Fenn: The world is watching. It’s time for the Obamas to fight their own battles and earn their way and not lean on the Clintons.
Heidi Li Feldman: AS TO WHETHER VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD THEIR DELEGATES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR VOTES: “From the wicked to the absurd: the saga of the California “pass” heidilipotpourri.blogspot.com/2008/09/from-wicked-to-absurd-saga-of.html
I had previously thought might have been a principled refusal by the California delegation to the Democratic National Convention’s rigged internal election of its nominee (otherwise known as the roll call vote). The LA Times decided to look into the matter. In its first story, on August 28th, on the situation the Times wrote, “The state takes a pass simply because a tally of its 441 delegate votes wasn’t completed when the state’s name was called.”
Then yesterday, September 2, the Times followed up…announcing that only by September 2 did the state complete its tally and reporting the following about its inquiry to the DNC the about the total roll call vote tally:
As for the total vote, well, Democratic officials were still working on it as of late this afternoon. A spokeswoman for the DNCC, Natalie Wyeth, said paperwork had been shipped back from the convention site in Denver, but that the Labor Day holiday delayed the tally. Wyeth said she expected the official count to be released soon, perhaps by day’s end.
Say what? Let me get this straight. In their rush to fake a roll call vote, first the DNC does not give one of the largest and most populous states inthe country a full opportunity to have its tally completed and reported at the convention; then the DNC gives a major news paper the lamest excuse I ever heard for its failure to have a final tally completed as of yesterday. Labor Day weekend made it hard to count any sooner. Say what? I worked over Labor Day Weekend but would happily have headed over to the DNC to help count if that was the problem. And you can be sure that if the DNC can’t count votes any quicker than this, no way are they going to be ready any time soon to gather and ready to release information about which delegates chose to vote against the way they were pledged.
Rank and file Democrats need that information – facts about which delegates decided that their consituents’ interests would be most faithfully carried out (the standard defined in the Party’s rules) by voting for somebody other than the candidate the consituents voted for – so that ordinary Democrats can decide whether they want to entrust their franchise to these particular representatives should any try to become delegates again.
Now, maybe it was sheer ineptitude that led to California’s inability to count its delegates in time to actually participate in the sham roll call. Or maybe Nancy Pelosi – DNC official, Obama supporter, and prominent California politician – thought that by not giving California time to finish its tally she would preempt the possibility that one of the early states to vote would assign a large chunk of its delegates to Senator Clinton.
Whatever the case, the California experience epitomizes the wrongfulness of the DNC’s approach to this entire primary/caucus season. The DNC has consistently enabled or facilitated interference with free, fair, and open elections whether it be at caucuses in the states that held them or at its own convention.
COLORADO: “We held 15 votes for HRC, and we think at least one or two DNC super delegates voted HRC with us, so that means we lost 5 or 6 pledged delegates who took it upon themselves to flip without having been released. That’s legal, but for me it goes against the concept of a pledge – which is one’s honor and one’s word. That’s just my individual opinion.”
CONNECTICUT: HRC team leader: “For 17-18 months I have been working on and for HRC I could not figure out what was wrong with the politicians in Ct something was wrong I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Then many months ago I revc’d a call from a women who is very active in the Dem party in Ct. She had told me at that time that the politicians in Ct were getting threatened by Dodd with their political careers if they did not support/vote for BO. Of course I tried to verify this info but could not, though people did admit to hearing that. Then at a fundraiser I held in Ct for HRC I was told this again to my face by an elected Dem town chair person and elected HRC delegate. Prior to the convention two elected HRC delegates switched and announced their support and vote for BO, one a mayor the other state representative.”
DC: WHAT AN EXCELLENT WAY TO EXPRESS THE SADNESS THAT SO MANY OF US FEEL AT THE WAY IN WHICH SEN. CLINTON and HER 18 MILLION SUPPORTERS WERE “flicked off.” I SHALL BLANK THE TOP ON ELECTION DAY. (angry black woman – Yes, of course! But do not use my name — people’s behavior is bizarre, these days).
FLORIDA: Nancy Hoppe: The night before the vote I spoke briefly with an Arkansas Hillary Delegate who was very upset about how his state’s vote was to be cast. Apparently some kind of pressure was being put on the delegates.
Jack Shifrei: I simply do not believe you when you write about how many delegates & others supposedly have e mailed you. I was a very active & visible delegate to the convention in Denver & what you claim just does not wash.
Mitch Mallett: You are the 2008 version of swift boating.
GEORGIA: Bernita Smith questioned that the text message I quoted had come from a GA delegate.
ILLINOIS: Elizabeth Cunniff: Ever since the DNC RBC meeting, I have been in a state of suspended disbelief. I don’t understand how the votes of 2.35 million American citizens are not more important than party rules about primary dates. If they wanted to punish the states of MI and FL, they should have simply fined their respective legislatures, rather than rob the people of their voice. This act in itself shows a model of political ruling that is like that of a dictatorship. Don’t we the people elect our candidates? Also, Obama’s caucus wins gave him 16% of the delegates which represented only 3% of the vote–and how does this make sense? This is a democracy?
I am a life-long and passionate Democrat. I know that Senator Clinton was the best possible candidate that we could ever have. We have been robbed of a candidate who would have been the best president of our lifetime.
KANSAS: “how can we obtain information about which delegates voted for Senator Clinton and can we expect that even if something ‘surfaces’, can we believe in its authenticity or accuracy?”
KENTUCKY: A campaign volunteer: “I was there in Denver and witnessed Ky delegates being berated and strong armed. Lots of people in the Kentucky delegation witnessed an Obama delegate screaming at a Clinton delegate and saying she was a racist because she wouldn’t change her vote. For the first time in my adult life, I am ashamed of being a Democrat.”
MAINE: “I was approached by a member of the Maine delegates on Tuesday night and was told that if I didn’t vote for BO I would regret it. I then said to
them that I came here representing a lot of Hillary supporters and would vote for her every time I could. I then said I have nothing else to talk to you about so please leave me alone.”
For the roll call “We where sitting right behind ARKANSAS. When it was their turn for the roll call the women that was talking was the widow of the head of the democratic party talking. She was reading what was written to be said. She stopped because she couldn’t believe what the note said. A man stepped in and said the Arkansas votes where all for BO. Cell phones started to ring in front of me.
MASSACHUSETTS: Murphy: Seems like stealing the nomination wasn’t enough for Obama — now he expects Hillary to go out and fight his battles for him.
MICHIGAN: “And as with MI at the RBC, during the roll call, unearned votes were taken from HRC and given to Obama. How can anyone from michigan even think of voting for him?”
MISSOURI: Joan Lipkin: I am just back from Denver and still reeling from the hypocrisy I personally witnessed and the press’s inability to do their job of telling the real story behind the scenes. Over the past weeks, some people have expressed disbelief when I have talked about delegate harassment. As people of good faith, they couldn’t imagine that their fellow citizens wouldn’t be allowed to support the candidate of their choice and the one they were elected to represent.
In Denver, I met many delegates and heard more of their stories. Least there be any question about the coercion of the Clinton delegates, many of whom were harassed, race baited, threatened, socially isolated or bribed at the Democratic Convention, here are just two videos to convey the atmosphere at the convention, the tightly controlled story behind the colorful faca de of balloons and the banners.
In this youtube video, Clinton delegate and lawyer Gloria Allred describes how she was not allowed to talk with her fellow CA delegates :
In a link from the Chicago Sun Times, you can hear the story of how Delmarie Cobb, a political consultant, Clinton delegate and member of Clinton’s Illinois steering committee was called an Uncle Tom the night before the convention in a hotel lobby by Obama supporter Emil Jones. Jones is the president of the Illinois State Senate and is commonly recognized as Obama’s political godfather. http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/1124667,CST-NWS-dem25.article
There are many such stories. Some caught on tape, others shared in fear individually or in small groups behind closed doors.
Many, many people were courageous (delegates, supporters working overtime to try to ensure a fair and open roll call) but in the end, the foot of the DNC and the Obama campaign was on everyone’s neck: the delegates, Hillary’s. I had hoped it might be different, that actual justice might prevail. But I am not surprised that she could not get a fair hearing. After all, the DNC turned their back on the massive fraud in some of the caucuses and stripped Hillary of her delegates in Michigan and Florida.
The story of the caucuses is coming out. I saw a film in Denver about the caucuses called The Audacity of Democracy and I know of two more documentaries on the topic. And what the DNC was not willing to examine will probably get picked up by the Republicans as well as historians in years to come as they try to understand how an outstanding candidate like Hillary Clinton could not prevail. Yes, there are many factors that led to her defeat. But the caucus fraud, stripping of votes and denial of a fair and open roll call are surely prime factors.
While I know that politics can be dirty business, I never expected this level of corruption in the Democratic party, especially to promote a lesser qualified or vetted candidate. I always believed that our adherence to principle and fair representation was one of the things that made us distinctive. Having witnessed the injustices and worked hard to intervene, it is very distressing and not my idea of democracy. I know some people would prefer not to hear about this. They want to focus on getting a democrat in the White House. Others are struggling with the idea of principle over party.
I respect individual choice because democracy should be about choice as well as civility. But I also think it is important for people to know what is going on in our party and to encourage reform.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: (corrected) “Our state voted strongly for Clinton, but was threatened that funds would be withdrawn.” The state cast its votes for Obama.
Kathy Sullivan: I am from NH, and was a NH delegate, and your NH comment is so far off base to be ridiculous…There were not threats at all; the Clinton delegates had an open discussion with no one present from the state party or the Obama campaign, and made our decision based on what we thought made the most sense for Hillary Clinton. Also, our state voted unanimously for Obama at the convetnion, not “most”.
I am very sad that you are choosing to print lies about my state and my co-delegates.
If you are truly a Clinton supporter, please include my comments in your next e mail, so that people will know the truth, not fiction. Based on the stuff you printed about NH, I have a difficult time believing anything in your e mail. Shame on you.
Your tactics aren’t aimed at preventing the election of John McCain and your tactics include misleading Hillary’s supporters with misinformation about the Denver convention. You are spreading the views of a handful of disgruntled individuals whose views, like yours, are warped by bitterness and who can’t accept the fact that Hillary didn’t lose because of sexism or Howard Dean but because her senior strategists did not have a campaign in the caucus states.
NEW YORK: “the entire NY delegation was not even sitting in their seats, choosing instead to be in protest.”
Gerrie Nussdorf: “I strongly feel that the logical conclusion of the disgust, which your email so aptly documents, over how BHO supporters behaved during this primary season needs to go a step beyond simply not voting for Obama in November. I had been a lifelong Democrat. But, I will be taking that next step and will be voting for McCain in November. Voting for McCain counts twice as much as not voting at all in the Presidential race. Not voting in the Presidential race is a statement of being so disgusted that one is willing to just let the chips fall; voting for McCain is a statement that disgust wont result in paralysis but action signifying the total unacceptability of the behaviors of BHO, his supporters and the DNC. Sure, I disagree with and am saddened by some of McCain’s positions but that isn’t the main point determining my vote in November. It’s about Integrity. My former political party lacks integrity, so I will oppose it as strongly as possible.”
Ruth Dube: “I can no more vote for Obama than I can for McCain. Although I agree with McCain on almost nothing, and I do agree with Obama more, I think I secretly, unconsciously hope that McCain wins. It is just plain ANGER! It is not just that Hillary lost the nomination; it is the way the DNC, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, to name just a few, treated her. I am convinced that they had decided quite a while ago that Hillary must not win, and groomed Obama to be their puppet.”
Taryn Hammond, noting Obama’s comment that how you campaign foreshadows how you’re going to govern. “Hmmm…caucus fraud, intimidation and threats…I’d say Obama’s off to one hell of a start. He has a record of ruthlessness and eliminating anyone that gets in his way. So now we know how he’s going to govern. Is this a man we want in the White House?” What were Dean, Pelosi and the rest of the “brilliant minds” of the DNC thinking? It absolutely sickens me to see what this Party has become.”
Risa Levine: “No need to discuss Hillary’s speech. It was everything I expected. But what really moved me beyond every any form of self control was when she moved to suspend the roll call. I could not stop bawling. While some may say how big it was of her to make the move for party “unity”, I just can’t believe how much penance this woman is forced to do, how many Ashamnus she has to say, for the sin of having dared to run for the Democratic nomination, and for the unforgivable sin of being so successful.
I am so proud of her dignity. I really am. But so angry that she keeps having to be the one to deliver this incredible message of support for this guy. And has to be the one to step away from her moment to shine and make it all about him. I keep trying to find some historical parallel, but cannot think of anything where someone in her position had to sacrifice and atone again and again. Maybe next they’ll make her give up her Senate seat for the benefit of some man whose turn it is.”
FJ: Message to HRC: please do not become “a total apologist for someone appearing to be more and more unelectible”.
OREGON: “I am a delegate from Oregon. I voted for Hillary and no one could change my mind because I was sent by the voters of the rd district to do exactly what I was committed to do! I did question why so many states voted for obama when she actually won their primaries. I asked people around me and no one had an answer.”
Hallie Travis: I am one of those delegates trying to get the elusive tally sheets from my party chair. I have requested them. I have written Alice Germond requesting them as well. What am I to do? I am leaving the democratic party in total disgust. I have no other choice. I worked myself to the edge of bankruptcy for this party – not only for Sen. Clinton but for the entire PARTY. Now all they want is my ROLODEX. Who the hell still keeps a rolodex nowadays? I am so disgusted that they have finally run me smack dab out of my own party. I am totally disgusted.
I own my vote. It has never been for sale. I voted for Senator Clinton the morning of the 27th. Why can’t I see those tally sheets? I was a delegate. They held us hostage across town when the roll call vote started so that we couldn’t make a peep of a sound on TV. So that nary a “NAY” could be heard across the land. Still, we ran as hard as we could, JUST IN TIME we yelled at the top of our lungs when California passed. My voice is still gone, here more than a week later. What BS is that? He would have won anyhow. Why the need to kick us in the teeth? They wonder why we aren’t “Coming around”? Hmmm, why I won’t write a check, why I won’t work for the down-ticket candidates? Any candidate associated with this party is part and parcel to this corruption in my opinion.
I was called a cunt, a bitch (at least a dozen times) by Obama delegates. I am tired. I have been emotionally, spiritually, financially bankrupted by this party. I have had enough. I have been on the inside of these “secret” conference calls with the Obama senior staff. They are chewing up Palin in terrible ways, using the same playbook they used against Sen. Clinton. While I don’t agree with many of her stands, I have to say I was jailed for my stand against the war, so I too can disagree with a politican and still move ahead. It is time for a woman to be in the executive branch. Mr. Obama had the perfect candidate. This is not my party. It is not the party of Jefferson. I am done. Not another dime. I am done.
TENNESSEE: Alma Sanford: “I agree we should register our protests with the DNC. We had whips ‘forced on us’ who did nothing to get total numbers of votes from our delegation…. In fact, a DNC member from TN admitted to me that our state had been warned that we had to produce 50%+1 vote for Obama…. even though our state has a state statute that requires pledged delegates to vote on the first ballot for the candidate to whom we are pledged. At the time we voted in the hotel on Wed. morning, Hillary had definitely NOT released her delegates. About a dozen people in Tennessee broke the law!!!! I am thinking about reporting it to our Attorney General.”
TEXAS: Ann MacNaughton: The DNC had plenty of opportunity to nominate the best-qualified candidate in the country, and she is Hillary Clinton
And, a few stateless comments:
No name: “personally I think you are a shadow Republican operative”.
Prof. Catherine Leisek: GET over it, the supreme court is at stake! Women’s rights are at stake! Our children’s lives and education are at stake. Join your local, state and national Democratic organizations and make sure the by laws are changed so it never happens again. Sometimes dreams need to be restructured, energy needs to be re routed, do what is needed now. You can’t change the past but you can creatye a new future. Please publish my comments.
Marian Buros: YOU HAVE TAKEN LEAVE OF YOUR SENSES IN YOUR BITTERNESS. GOODBYE ROE V WADE; GOODBYE DEMOCRACY; GOODBYE LOWER TAXES FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE; GOODBYE MORE TAXES FOR THE RICHEST. THIS IS POLITICS. IT’S NOT FAIR BUT CUTTING OF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE IS BEYOND CHILDISH; IT’S NUTS. I DARE YOU TO SEND THIS OUT TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST.
Lynette Long: I have given my loyalty to the Democratic Party for decades. My party, which is comprised primary of women, has not put a woman on a presidential ticket for 24 years. My party refused to nominate my candidate, Hillary Clinton, for president or vice president, even though she received more votes than any other candidate in history. My party stood silently by as Hillary Clinton was eviscerated by the mainstream media. My party was mute while MSM repeatedly called Clinton a bitch and symbolically called me and every other woman in this country a bitch. My party was disturbingly silent when the MSM commented on Hillary’s body or the shrillness of her voice, reminding me and every other woman the fundamental disrespect we endure on a daily basis. My party’s candidate was mute when Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger openly mocked Senator Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ. My party’s candidate was silent when the rapper Ludicrous released a new song calling Hillary a bitch. My party and it’s candidate gave their tacit approval for the attacks on Senator Hillary Clinton and consequently women in general.
SECTION II: BLANKING AT THE TOP
…My POV…
The anti-democratic shenanigans of the DNC have deprived us of an electable Democrat. Denver did happen and it must never happen again. The Democratic party has been hijacked and with it our best chance of a Democratic president.
As a result, I really want people to think about blanking the top of the ticket as a way of registering that we are Democrats not Obamocrats, and as the best way of sending a vote of no confidence to the DNC. By blanking the top spot and voting democratic down ticket – that way they know that it is a Democrat who rejected BO but not other Democrats. We are thus able to distinguish between being a Democrat and an Obamocrat.
I have been quite clear that I will not vote for McCain. In blue New York, and other blue or red states, my and your votes only counts if there is a significant difference between the number of total Democratic votes and the ones for BO. How else can we send a message to the DNC that because of what they did, we do not have Hillary as a candidate? We need to hold the DNC accountable, and in places like New York we have that opportunity.
I want a Democrat in the White House and am deeply saddened that the DNC has denied us all that opportunity. BO may win but he may not. Hillary was the electable Democrat, easily. If McCain wins, we will know where to place the blame. Its name is Dean/Pelosi/Obama/Axelrod.
Sample language/letter:
I am a Democrat, not an Obamocrat. I cannot vote for McCain nor for a man who sat in that church for 20 years and willingly exposed his children to that hatred and vitriol, who has as friends terrorists who regret not having bombed more, and crooks who took vast sums of taxpayer funds with BO’s blessing and created uninhabitable housing in BO’s district. This is too much for this very progressive Democrat to support. To me, these are grave moral failings, especially in someone who wants to lead our country.
The DNC and BO robbed us of our best opportunity to bring a Democrat back to the White House, and I will blank the top of the ticket to register my disgust with the anti-democratic corruption that has marked this election. I cannot support a DNC which took anti-democratic measures such as countenancing fraud at caucuses and stealing delegate votes in MI and again in Denver.
So, in blue NY, I will blank the top of the ticket and work for and vote for Hillary Democrats down ticket toward a veto proof Congress. Please think about this as a strategy.
Signed,
I think we have to be strategic about how to organize a protest against the DNC and BO. In this context, blanking becomes a clear vote of no confidence. Writing in is very complicated, varies from state to state and can often invalidate a whole ballot. Third party votes just dilute any protest and can be easily dismissed.
Think about it please, and encourage others as well. We want it to be discussed publicly so that it is not just dismissed as a statistical anomaly.
…My POV…
AND FINALLY,
AN ACTION ITEM: To restore the core Democratic principle of one person one vote, we should turn our attention to caucus states and insist that 1) as a condition of financial and other support, all candidates for any office in those states pledge to eliminate the caucus system in favor of a one person one vote closed party primary, and 2) these demands be made of the State Democratic party as a condition of financial and volunteer support.
Posted on September 6th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
On Consignment Editor and Veteran newspaper man Rick Ansorge criticizes media’s treatment of Governor Palin
Although I have a jaded view of the profession where I spent 20 years of my life — mainstream journalism — even I was surprised at the ferocity of the vicious media campaign designed to destroy Sarah Palin before she could even get out of the starting gate. The commentary I saw on the so-called progressive blogs — which seeped into the MSM in less than 48 hours! — even exceeded the vile attacks against Hillary Clinton.
Over the past few days, I’ve thought about how Sarah Palin should respond to the yapper dogs in the national media who are demanding that she submit to a round of press conferences.
If I were her, I would summon the TV cameras and issue a brief statement that goes something like this:
“Dear Esteemed Members of the Fourth Estate. Although I appreciate that you have an important job to do, I must respectfully decline your request for interviews. You’ve let it be known that my nomination for the Vice Presidency was greeted with laughter in newsrooms across this great land of ours. That’s OK. I’ve been laughed at before. Well, today, the joke is on you. Since you have demonstrated your utter contempt for me, and your eagerness to trivialize this election by focusing on unimportant personal issues, I will not take any questions from you until further notice. Between now and Nov. 4. I will only take questions from everyday American citizens who appear at the series of town hall meetings I’ve planned. Now I don’t mind if these questions are tough, but I will insist that they be serious. The real issues in this election — from the economy and war on terror to health care and the environment — are too important to waste precious time talking about things that have nothing to do with the well-being of the American people or the future of this great nation. So, for now, I kindly suggest that you take your cameras, recorders, and notebooks and stick them where the sun don’t shine. After I’m elected Vice President, I may agree to press conferences if you’ve shown that you’ve developed some rudimentary manners. But if you haven’t, I will happily once more tell you to stick your weapons of mass destruction where the sun don’t shine.”
Then I would smile, wave, and blow them a lipsticked kiss.
Of course, Palin would never do such a thing. But if she did, it would earn her millions of adoring fans and votes.
Because Palin is a conservative Republican, she has nothing to lose by denouncing a corrupt media culture that is bent on destroying her (as it did Hillary Clinton), and everything to gain by refusing to cooperate with it. Although there’s no way I can support Barack Obama because he’s part of the same corrupt culture, I still don’t know if I can support a McCain-Palin ticket. What I do know is that when Sarah Palin told a national TV audience that she was running for office not to earn the “good opinion” of the media elites but to serve the American people, I felt like standing up and cheering.
Posted on September 4th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
All,
In the days after Denver, so many of you have written and there is certainly no unanimity about next steps at the conclusion of Hillary’s 2008 campaign. You can imagine the combinations and permutations. In a completely unscientific selection, some of you will leave the party and enthusiastically vote for McCain or blank the President line; some will reluctantly vote for McCain; some for Obama but no-one, so far, enthusiastically; some simply want a Democrat out of habit or tradition, or believe they are following Hillary’s wishes and are ready to move on. No takers for Barr or Nader.
I find it hard to look at the polls without thinking about the large bounce Hillary would have received had she been the nominee. Here too the opinions run the gamut, from tears and appreciation for her grace and dignity, to fury with the way she was treated/compromised, with some who felt she “caved”.
Among those who will support Obama, tepid is certainly the descriptor. So far few seem inclined to give money to him and none to the DNC; many think he will not, or should not win. There are certainly issues of accountability and trust that will have to be rebuilt, some on a very personal level.
Virtually everyone seems tired, wrung out, disillusioned. Some express total alienation; others say they will regroup and be “back” although unclear how and to what degree. Some speak of a grieving process. “Angry”, “sad”, “cynical” pepper your comments. Some report crying in frustration or sadness. One broke a favorite glass while anxiously listening to the roll call totals.
Several of you wrote in confusion as to the discrepancy between state primary votes and votes cast in the “roll call”. Some delegates reported hearing that in the preliminary vote, Hillary received anywhere from 1650 to 1920 votes. Between that time and the convention roll call, no-one can quite explain what happened to many of those votes. Many delegates said that the roll call was like another fraudulent caucus, writ large. Many report intimidation, threats and yelling.
Call me naive, but after all she has done, ways she has extended herself, could BO not have been a bit more gracious, let people vote their conscience, represent their voters and celebrate her candidacy? We owe deep appreciation to all the Clinton pledged delegates and Super Delegates who understood her to be the best and only electable Democrat. If my inbox is any example, HRC delegates with feet of clay will be hearing from many of you who sent them to Denver to vote for Senator Clinton.
Where do we go from here? Even as many hundreds used the ELECTABILITY WATCH to try to make change we could believe in – Hillary as the nominee of the Democratic Party – on some level I think we knew the convention would be a farce, hoped not, but were still shocked to see how overt and deep the corruption and abuses of power have become.
Some have called me a “bitter” Hillary supporter. NOT. I am a lifelong, deeply committed Democrat, but not to the Democratic Party as currently constituted and its anti-democratic practices. The party joined with the Obama campaign to steal our best chance for a truly great President. It is NOT just that HRC lost – but rather the way she and her 18 million voters were flicked off, except for some of our rolodexes.
I am concluding that the only way I and many of us can register our disappointment/disapproval/distrust is by blanking at the top. It is the only way to convey my disgust with the party and its choice, by having a large differential between those who vote Democratic and those who vote for BO. It is important that it be publicly discussed as a strategy so it is not just treated as a statistical anomaly.
I will also be working for down ticket Democrats to ensure a veto-proof Congress, letting you know about candidates who backed Hillary and need our help. This is one of the ways we try to remedy some of the more extreme distortion of values and systems we have all experienced from the Obama gang and the DNC and its leaders.
To understand some of the results of the Convention and the aftermath below, by state, are some of the comments and observations I have received. Part Two will focus on the ELECTABILITY WATCH, charts of the so-called roll call vote, and some of the other commentaries.
As for the so-called roll call, almost without exception reports are of chaos, rumor, contradictory information and outright misinformation as to where, how and when to vote, and then who really voted for whom. Donna Brazile’s mother may have told her there were rules, but mine told me to be generous and gracious in victory. According to the first hand accounts I am receiving, Barack Obama’s mother failed to instill this in him. There is widespread agreement that he could have been gracious in victory, and his inability to do so is really a characterological flaw.
A number of writers asked their comments be listed as anonymous out of fear of retribution, including:
“Regarding the roll call vote. I’ve spoken to many delegates in many states. It appears that the delegates who were pressured the most were in the Swing States. Anyone who had any sort of job in politics or the DNC were pressured the most to switch. Many Governors demanded that their delegates switch because they would not get any money for their state races if they did not. It boils down to the fact that the Obama campaign had power over the State Party Chairs. These State Party Chairs get the money for all of their candidates. If they did not switch they were threatened. The delegates who stood firm with Hillary… took their pledge seriously. It still does not make any that Obama felt compelled to threaten the delegates. He would have won anyway. I guess they used these tactics all along, and they could not help themselves. What the experience in Denver resulted in is a bunch of angry delegates going home to tell their constituents what really happened. In the end I think it was a terrible move by the Obama campaign. I don’t think he realizes that his moves throughout the primary has ultimately de-energized a large part of the base which will result in his loss. Eventually it will go down in the history books as what not to do to voters. The voting results should be public but we have had a few delegates request the results to no avail.
I will not vote for McCain, but I will be leaving the top of the ticket blank.”
ARKANSAS: “I was so angry at the sham of a roll call that I just wanted it to be over… ” “the last time I felt such unbearable group pressure was on a jury” ” Obama representatives yelling, you’ll be sorry” to “hold outs”. It was brutal.”
An alternate kept calling out that the state voted 70% for Hillary yet recorded its 47 delegate votes for Obama – “how could that be?”
CALIFORNIA: Chris Stampolis reports “I cast my signed vote for Hillary this morning. It will be added to the roll call count for California”. Except, we may never know how California voted…
Delegate Ray Panko reports that, “The California vote was about 230+ for Obama to 160+ for Clinton which did not reflect the state vote. The process was completely controlled by the DNC and the Obama campaign. They had us all vote at breakfast. They took our votes and tallied them. They did this to see how close the numbers would be between Obama and Clinton. The aim was to prevent the public from seeing the closeness of the race. California passed because the Obama/Dean,Nancy Church(DNC) told it to pass. It was a sham, show, farce, gimmick.
Overall, the process was reprehensible. Each delegation was told a different story. No one was told the actual rules of the DNC which say delegates are required, in good conscience, to vote on the first ballot a vote that reflects the will of the voters who sent them to the convention. Gloria Allred was prevented from speaking to the California Hillary delegates to inform them of this rule and that it applies regardless of whether or not the candidate releases us or not.
People understood that pledged delegates would do what they came to Denver to do – vote for one of the nominees to reflect the votes of those who sent them. We expected there to be respect for the 18 million votes and Hillary’s historic candidacy. We even thought that Super Delegates would be allowed to do their job – to select the electable Democrat. But that was not to be. Instead, the roll call turned into one chaotic caucus rigged to be sure that the final vote would never be known, without any sublety or reverance for the sanctity of the vote or individual obligations.”
A Super Delegate reported that “CA “passed” without ever recording its votes because the Hillary delegation stood firm and had the vote been given accurately, Hillary would have been temporarily ahead in the roll call”.
Clinton delegate and LA attorney Gloria Allred grabbed a napkin from the tables at the California delegation breakfast and wore it as a gag to protest not being allowed to speak at the breakfast. “I was not elected to be a potted plant,” Allred said through her gag, holding up DNC rules that say delegates must vote as they are elected. Californnia had 204 delegates pledged to Hillary Clinton, versus 166 for Obama.”
CONNECTICUT: “I felt blindsided, bullied, mugged. I saw delegates being verbaly arm twisted with threats of loss of positions.” “One Obama delegate was bright red, yelling right up in my face”.
FLORIDA: Barbara Bassett to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Do not be party to the DNC and its efforts to further disenfranchise the voters of our state. Had our votes counted on Jan 29, 2008, we would be looking at the nomination of Senator Clinton. Again if our votes counted on May 31, 2008 we would be looking at the nomination of Senator Clinton… Stand up and say, ‘We the People of the great state of Florida vote for Hillary Clinton’. I want to be heard, once during this election. I want to be heard. ONE person, ONE vote. I count, I matter. We voted, we spoke and we look to you to honor the integrity of our vote”.
Ladyhawwke: To Former President Jimmy Carter BY FAX: (404) 331-0283. “I am one of the 18m who supported Senator Hillary Clinton in her quest to become the first female president in history. I had hoped for a fair roll call in order that Sen. Clinton’s delegates would have the opportunity to vote for her as our Party’s nominee. I am angry and disillusioned. I have never seen such a farce that was perpetrated upon the American people by the sham roll call. Where were you when our voices were crying out to be heard? Why is it important to have fair elections abroad and not in the U.S.? Why were the delegates threatened by members of congress, Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean?”
A delegate insisted that someone take notice that the state, which voted heavily for Hillary and was punished by having its delegates halved, somehow announced 136 votes for BO and 51 for Hillary. At least 6 Clinton delegates had been replaced by Obama supporters before the Convention. Others were intimidated and warned their jobs and positions would be pulled.”
GEORGIA: (text message) “This is insane. They are yelling at the delegates to vote bo or their political careers are over”.
IDAHO: A delegate: “the feel was of a Republican convention, totally controlled and scripted. No humor or mistakes”.
ILLINOIS: “Bill and Hillary did way MORE for Obama than he ever deserved!! I am anxious to see how he will return the favor for them! He owes them both, big time!”
IOWA: “Does anyone think this has been a fair, open, transparent process? Voting before nominating speeches? Voting in front of people who have power over many of the delegates? No clear process to avoid ballot fraud? Remind you of caucuses??? Chaos and lack of clarity and consistency?”
KENTUCKY: Moretta Bosley: “I was overwhelmed by e-mails in support of Hillary. I want you to know that kept my word and voted for Hillary despite strong pressure to do otherwise.”
A delegate: “Our Hillary delegation was shouted at, told that they would be perceived as racists, told that their careers would be over if they voted for Hillary. Perhaps because of this, Hillary had a private meeting to thank our delegates. Clinton won the state by nearly 40 points. Nonetheless, the roll call was annnounced as Obama 36, Hillary 24.”
Martha Ziskind, a prominent Louisville attorney: “I’m feeling pretty disheartened right now, particularly by the media’s vitriol. Hillary didn’t just speak for the “undereducated”. If anything, her story strikes an all too familiar chord with well-educated, highly competent women of a certain age… My only comfort is that I know she will continue to make a name for herself in the Senate — and perhaps the Supreme Court”.
MARYAND: Donna Inches: I am extremely proud of the Clintons, however, I am no longer a democrat. I cannot forgive the DNC as easily, I cannot forget the caucus fraud, nor can I forgive the democratic leaders who allowed the mass media to treat Hillary in such a horrendous manner. I cannot ignore Obama’s unscrupulous associations or his dirty politics. He is not my candidate… My mom called me after Hillary called to suspend the roll call vote. I don’t believe I have ever heard my mother cry before. It broke my heart. She told me that her vote for Hillary is the last time she will ever vote. The despair in her voice was unbearable… I can only say, I will not be voting for McCain, but I will be voting against Obama.
MASSACHUSETTS: “What a contrast to the Olympics where in spite of the cutthroat competition, there is at least a veneer of sportsmanship and mutual support”.
MICHIGAN: Not only did Hillary not “lose by a tiny margin”, she lost through thuggery and cheating. And this is the man around which we’re supposed to rally?” “And as with MI earlier, unearned votes were taken from HRC and given to BO.”
MINNESOTA: “I voted for Senator Clinton today, and my delegation chastised me. I was told, ‘You just made your worse political decision, and it will be your last.’ At least I can sleep at night knowing I voted for what I believed in”.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: “What thugs they are. They make it clear that they really do not need us and have no intention of doing anything about the unity they mouth.” “Our state voted strongly for Clintonhas but has a close senate race and the candidate, the head of our delegation, was threatened that funds would be withdrawn. The state cast most of its votes for Obama”.
NEW JERSEY: “We overheard delegates from our state which had voted strongly for HRC saying that they understood DNC funding for local races in their state would be dependent on a unanimous delegation vote”.
A delegate was told “he needn’t worry about his vote – the totals for New Jersey were irrelevant, that the delegation was going to announce as unanimous”.
NEW YORK: “My guess, with no inside information at all, is that no-one expected her votes to melt away or be driven away – that the BOs would be gracious enough to let her have her votes and she would then nominate by acclamation. That she did, but they had snarked away her delegates for maximum humiliation value”.
From her office, after being quoted as saying she would vote for Obama, a note that “Carolyn B. Maloney has asked me to inform you that she will be voting for Sen. Clinton tonight on the first ballot”. Except we may never know how New York voted…
Jeanne Wikler: “Driving west through the golden hills of the California desert I realized why, to me, Hillary is the true leader. While Obama gives you the impression that he is a special person, Hillary gives you the impression that YOU are a special person”.
Lady Boomer NYC: (excerpts from Null and Void: Democrats Roll Call in Retrospect) “What exactly did we see on the “Democratic” Convention floor last Wednesday, August 27, 2008? Why was the roll call halted halfway through? Why did state after state in which Hillary won the primary election and a majority of delegates declare their votes for Obama? Who and what do all those delegates’ votes represent? As each “Great State of” our Union called out its numbers, I wondered, what was the actual delegate count? … The delegate count in this election was not a fair reflection of the Democratic Party electorate. 1) Hillary Clinton WON the popular vote. 2) There exists growing documentation, that caucus fraud was rampant. This occurred in the form of systematic, deliberate suppression, misinformation, pressure, and bullying, mishandling of voter and caucus rolls, and ignoring basic caucus rules. 3) Each delegate elected from a district or region in a primary state represents approximately 12,225 primary voters, but only 2,110 voters in a caucus state. Accordingly, a caucus delegate represents about 5.8 times fewer voters than one elected in a primary. So, when Obama “won” a caucus, each of those delegates stood for far fewer voters. This is especially important in the general election in the red and swing states.” http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/null-and-void-democrats-roll-call-in-retrospect/
Edith Padilla: ” Hillary was just fantastic! I was so proud of her. So proud to have been part of her campaign. The lady interviewed at the end on CNN said so much of what we all felt last night. Hillary is the one that should be our leader, we love and support her no matter what happens. Our party should be ashamed of themselves expecting her and Bill to clinch the deal for BO!”
Marcia Pappas: “On a personal level”. Those words are so true. I have personal friends who did not stand up for Hillary. I can’t even look them in the eye, break bread with them, or even make small talk. I have taken this very personal, and I know many other women who feel the same. I have professional friends as well, who did not support Hillary. Mind you, not many, but they were out there, and the tension was so great I could cut it with a knife.”
GN: I don’t know if in the future I’ll support the women who didn’t understand the importance of supporting the greatest symbol of women’s achievement. In sadness I wonder, where has all the Sisterhood gone? Generation gap? But even the women ‘of a certain age’ couldn’t reliably be counted on. And my closest friends didn’t necessarily get it. For how long has sisterhood imperceptibly been slipping away?
Mike Brady: “Watching her these past two nights….she amazes me with her grace and strength. Her friend Eleanor Roosevelt would be proud.”
“Getting up with grace, especially in the face of injustice and indignity is indeed a rare quality!!!”
PENNSYLVANIA: An elderly weeping delegate who wanted to vote for Hillary was consoled by several fellow delegates who said they were all sent to Denver by their friends and neighbors to vote for Hillary but, “no-one seemed to care”.
OHIO: Flo Gurwin After watching the convention proceedings in Denver, I certainly do believe in HIS change–his ability to continually change his mind. I do not trust him. I think he’s a snake and the scumbags surrounding him leave little doubt in my mind that he is not the sort of person I want for my president.”
Mary Anne Saucier, writing from the “home front” reports, “The Obama people are really angry, upset, scared, and thereby potentially dangerous people. After getting selected but not elected by the corrupt Democratic Party, Obama and his minions are now confronted by uncooperative voters.
Yesterday, my neighbor, three doors north of my house called to say that two Obama canvassers, aggressively working both sides of the street, were on their way toward my house. “They are trying to find out how people are going to vote,” she warned. My neighbor, just recovering from back surgery, is a feisty independent lady, as am I, and would not say. She figures that is her business and she owns her vote. My comment was that they probably would not stop at my house because I have a “Hillary for President” sign in my yard.
We live on a busy street and my sign has been there since the early days of the Democratic Primary. Over all the many years I’ve put political signs in my yard, none have ever been stolen or in any way damaged or mutilated. What happened yesterday is a first, but not unexpected after what has happened this year to so many who have refused to support unqualified Obama.
No one stopped at my house, but I immediately found my Hillary sign in a crumpled heap with one side slit to cut it off the metal frame.
Now, I have another treasured war trophy to encourage the faint of heart to join the crusade for substance, democracy, and valid votes over vapidity, intimidation and fake control.”
OREGON: Sue Castner: “I DID scream “nay” when Pelosi called for the unanimous acclamation. When I told the Oregon DNC state committeeman I wanted it recorded, he said it didn’t matter. It was already recorded. So much for celebrating the passage of the 19th Ammendment on Tuesday.”
RHODE ISLAND: “I think the whole party just blew what should have been a Democratic shoo-in”. “Nancy Pelosi and The DNC insulted and humiliated the Clintons during this convention and it I can’t be the only one who noticed.”
TENNESSEE: Jackson Slade: To the Editor, NYT: “After hearing Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s superb speech, I must express my admiration for Senator Barack Obama’s confidence. By choosing Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. as his running mate, he obviously feels that he can win without her and her passionate supporters.”
TEXAS: Frances Morey: “I was less than enthusiastic about the impeachment of Bush AND Cheney because Pelosi would have been next in line for the Oval Office”. She also noted that “going into this convention Obama was flat-lining in the polls. If there is a bounce to follow we know who is responsible–The Clintons”.
“This morning I got my credential and was directed to go to another room. There I showed my badge and my id and indicated my presidential preference on a sheet next to my name and signed my name. This is the state tally sheet. Texas delegation officials, Boyd Richie’s staff and volunteers, have total control of this. They will use this tally sheet to report the Texas delegation totals for todays roll call vote at the Pepsi center later today.”
Blanche Darley, wearing a button saying ObamaNation Scares the Hell out of Me, on the impact of HRC’s speech: “We love her, but it’s our vote …we don’t trust or like him…”
Nata Koerber: “Hillary has a life-time of service to the Democratic Party and has done everything required and then some to encourage support of Obama. The responsibility of uniting the Party lies squarely in the lap of Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, Obama’s preferred choice for VP.”
A HRC pledged delegate, realizing that it did not matter how his delegation voted, announced that “it is obvious that the Obama campaign has no regard for the Clinton delegates or voters, that they were making it clear that Obama does not feel he has to treat us with even minimal respect.”
VERMONT: A demonstrator wondered if we would ever see totals, if there is a paper trail, and then corrected himself asking why anyone would believe it if one surfaced?
VIRGINIA: a delegate: “Maybe you noticed, excuse me but wasn’t that HER health care plan – the same coverage as offered to members of Congress???”
WASHINGTON: a delegate reports that the delegation chair did not hold a breakfast vote, telling the HRC delegatess to vote after what turned out to be the deadline, But in the end, “the WA HRC delegation held firm, but never got to register its votes”.
WASHINGTON, DC: Nancy Beang: “Barack Obama…the audacity of hype. It’s really unfortunate that people are so wow’d by…nothing. Nobody I’ve met, young or old, black or white, (and I meet LOTS of people) can tell me WHY they support him, except to say he represents change. No list of accomplishments…even when I ask “what has he accomplished?” all those people just scratch their heads and look embarrassed. The anointers are going to be sadly & sorely disappointed. This was our Democratic year to pull it out, and I’m just afraid it ain’t gonna happen…it’s a good thing Hillary isn’t on the ticket…she won’t EVER be thought of as a loser.” “after her speech last night, no one can blame her when he loses. Obama funders and delegates heard grumbling that she did not praise BO enough or apologize for saying during the primaries that he had no experience. Unity or appreciation anyone? Guess not…”
A DC delegate: “Donna Brazlle in spite of her bluster that she would quit the Democratic Party if the SDs cast deciding votes, did not quit as promised and cast her vote with the DC delegation.”
Heidi Li Feldman, The Denver Group From the wicked to the absurd: the saga of the California “pass”
Posted: 03 Sep 2008 12:15 AM CDT
Let me begin with a credit to somebody who left a comment on the previous post on this site, And the Wickedness Goes On…. That commenter=2 0drew my attention to what I had previously thought might have been a principled refusal by the California delegation to the Democratic National Convention’s rigged internal election of its nominee (otherwise known as the roll call vote). The LA Times decided to look into the matter. In its first story , on August 28th, on the situation the Times wrote, “The state takes a pass simply because a tally of its 441 delegate votes wasn’t completed when the state’s name was called.”
Then yesterday, September 2, the Times followed up with this story, announcing that only by September 2 did the state complete its tally. Furthermore, the L.A. Times reports the following about its inquiry to the DNC the about the total roll call vote tally:
As for the total vote, well, Democratic officials were still working on it as of late this afternoon.
A spokeswoman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, Natalie Wyeth, said paperwork had been shipped back from the convention site in Denver, but that the Labor Day holiday delayed the tally.
Wyeth said she expected the official count to be released soon, perhaps by day’s end.
Say what? Let me get this straight. In their rush to fake a roll c all vote, first the DNC does not give one of the largest and most populous states in the country a full opportunity to have its tally completed and reported at the convention; then the DNC gives a major news paper the lamest excuse I ever heard for its failure to have a final tally completed as of yesterday. Labor Day weekend made it hard to count any sooner.
Say what? I worked over Labor Day Weekend but would happily have headed over to the DNC to help count if that was the problem. And you can be sure that if the DNC can’t count votes any quicker than this, no way are they going to be ready any time soon to gather and ready to release information about which delegates chose to vote against the way they were pledged.
Rank and file Democrats need that information – facts about which delegates decided that their consituents’ interests would be most faithfully carried out (the standard defined in the Party’s rules) by voting for somebody other than the candidate the consituents voted for – so that ordinary Democrats can decide whether they want to entrust their franchise to these particular representatives should any try to become delegates again.
Now, it appears that a large number of Clinton delegates from California, where Senator Clinton won big in the primary, did not care to switch their allegiance from Senator Cinton to Senator Obama on the first ballot.
Now, maybe it was sheer ineptitude that led to California’s inability to count its delegates in time to actually participate in the sham roll call. Or maybe Nancy Pelosi – DNC official, Obama supporter, and prominent California politician – thought that by not giving California time to finish its tally she would preempt the possibility that one of the early states to vote would assign a large chunk of its delegates to Senator Clinton.
Whatever the case, the California experience epitomizes the wrongfulnes of the DNC’s apprach to it
And the wickedness goes on… Posted: 02 Sep 2008 06:16 PM CDT
How [X] has conducted himself while winning campaigns is a subject of no small controversy in political circles. It is frequently said of him, in hushed tones when political folks are doing the talking, that he leaves a trail of damage in his wake—a reference to the substantial number of people who have been hurt, politically and personally, through their encounters with him. [X]‘s reputation for winning is eclipsed only by his reputation for ruthlessness, and examples abound of his apparent willingness to cross moral and ethical lines.
Almost precisely these words appeared in The Atlantic magazine. I say “almost” because where I have inserted “X” The Atlantic article refers to Karl Rove.
The day has come, however, where we can almost substitute for Mr. Rove, a person from whom I stay immeasurably distanced, any of the following: Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and various others. These political operators and the people who they control seem willing to cross any and all moral and ethical lines in their relentless insiste nce on depriving Democrats of internal due process. I say we can “almost” substitute their names for Mr. Rove’s because they do not seem nearly so adept at actually gaining their stated objective – the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency, an outcome that seems less likely with every gaffe and every new poll result.
The newest evidence of the wickedness of the current crop of DNC leaders is the fact that nobody in the DNC is willing to supply the following information: how the delegates actually voted in their private morning caucuses on the day of the roll call rigamarole orchestrated by Democratic Party state and national leaders. At those meetings the state party leaders, made fearful of any sort of “floor fight” (read “honest, open, legitimate, unrigged roll call vote”) cajoled, pressured and demanded that delegates pledged to Senator Clinton switch their votes to Senator Obama. Wickedness.
I have been informed by various sources that delegates cannot get, from either the DNC or their State party chairs the following information: the actually tallies and ballot sheets from the morning caucuses. This means that nobody can check whether in fact Clinton delegates did switch or which of them did and which of them did not.
There is every reason to ask for this information if one cares about the Democratic Party’s integrity which is rapidly reaching the vanishing point. When delegates ask for this information they are being told things like “We don’t have copies of the ballots” or “W e are too busy with campaigns”. They are being told, in essence, to take a hike; process be damned, all that the Democratic Party cares about is result, with no heed to how it is achieved.
That type of thinking brought America an attorney general and a President who decided torture is not torture if it gets you what you think you want.
The DNC’s own rules disqualify secret ballots at the convention. If the Party does not release full and verifiable tallies and ballot sheets post haste, they are not only in violation of this rule, Party officials become ever more indistinguishable from the man who stole Florida and deprived Al Gore of the Presidency in 2000.
Voting rights are at the foundation of any legitimate democratic institution. Ballots disappearing, delegates being given the runaround as they try to verify the result that was announced at the convention – these are wicked tactics, much like the threats to de-accredit delegates who at all tried to treat the Democratic Party Convention as the “deliberative body” is is supposed to be, according so “delegate guru” Phil MacNamara over on the DNCC website.
The purveyors of such political wickedness are tearing apart the Democratic Party and corroding its foundations. I for one shall remain immeasurably distanced from them and from the candidate who has capitalized on the leadership’s wicked ways.
HILLBUZZ: DENVER – Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech last week seemed vastly different from the stands of this city’s Invesco Stadium than it did to the 40 million who saw it on television. Melancholy hung like think smog over the reserved seats where I sat with Democratic Party staffers. The crowd, of course, cheered mechanically at the tag lines, flourished placards, and even rose for the obligatory wave around the stadium. But its mood was sour. The air carried the acrid smell of defeat, and the crowd took shallow breaths. Even the appearance of R&B great Stevie Wonder failed to get the blood pumping.
The speech itself dragged on for three-quarters of an hour. As David S Broder wrote in the Washington Post: “[Obama's] recital of a long list of domestic promises could have been delivered by any Democratic nominee from Walter Mondale to John Kerry. There was no theme music to the speech and really no phrase or sentence that is likely to linger in the memory of any listener. The thing I never expected did in fact occur: Al Gore, the famously wooden former vice president, gave a more lively and convincing speech than Obama did.”
On television, Obama’s spectacle might have looked like The Ten Commandments, but inside the stadium it felt like Night of the Living Dead…
AND FINALLY,
HILLARY FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: For those who would like to sign this letter, please go to http://tdg.typepad.com/hrcsenatemajorleader09/
Posted on August 24th, 2008 in On Consignment by hireheels
BERG vs OBAMA THE CASE SUMMARY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
PHILIP J. BERG, ESQUIRE :
:
Plaintiff :
vs. : CIVIL ACTION NO.
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA,
a/k/a BARRY SOETORO, a/k/a
BARRY OBAMA , a/k/a
BARACK DUNHAM, a/k/a :
BARRY DUNHAM, THE :
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL :
COMMITTEE, THE FEDERAL :
ELECTION COMMISSION AND :
DOES 1-50 INCLUSIVE :
:
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND FOR EXPEDITED DISCOVERY
Plaintiff Philip J. Berg, Esquire [hereinafter “Plaintiff”] hereby offers this Memorandum in support of his motion for a temporary restraining order, to enjoin Defendant Barack Hussein Obama, a/k/a Barry Obama, a/k/a Barry Soetoro, a/k/a Barack Soetoro, a/k/a Barry Dunham, a/k/a Barack Dunham [hereinafter “Obama”] from running for the office of President of the United States; to enjoin Defendant, Democratic National Committee from Nominating Defendant Barack Hussein Obama, a/k/a Barry Obama, a/k/ a Barry Soetoro, a/k/a Barack Soetoro, a/k/a Barry Dunham, a/k/a Barack Dunham’s and placing his name on the ballot for Presidential election, and for expedited discovery in this case. Plaintiff’s Complaint challenges Defendant Obama’s eligibility to run for the Office of President. Defendant Obama is unqualified and ineligible to run for United States Office of the President, as he is not a “natural born” citizen as required by Article
II, Section I of the United States Constitution. The Democratic National Committee [hereinafter “DNC”] has failed to perform due diligence, and to verify the eligibility of Defendant Obama to run for the office of President of the United States.
As set out in Plaintiff’s Complaint, to allow Defendant Obama to continue running for Office of the President will violate the United States Constitution and Laws, which our forefathers set out to protect.
Plaintiff seeks focused and expedited discovery, so that he can demonstrate to the Court, as soon as possible, the full breadth of innocent people affected by Defendant Obama’s fraudulent campaign.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, in order to serve as President, one must be a “natural born citizen” and may not hold dual citizenship or multiple citizenships with foreign Countries. U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1.
There appears to be no question but that Defendant Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was a U.S. citizen. It is also undisputed, however, that his father, Barack Obama, Sr., was a citizen of Kenya. Obama’s parents, according to divorce records, were married on or about February 2, 1961.
Defendant Obama claims he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961 and it is uncertain in which hospital he claims to have been born. Obama’s grandmother on his father’s side, his half-brother and half-sister all claim Obama was born not in Hawaii but in Kenya. Reports reflect that Obama’s mother traveled to Kenya during her pregnancy; however, she was prevented from boarding a flight from Kenya to Hawaii at her late stage of
pregnancy (which, apparently, was a normal restriction, to avoid births during a flight). By these reports, Stanley Ann Dunham Obama gave birth to Obama in Kenya, after which she flew home and registered Obama’s birth. There are records of a “registry of birth” for Obama, on or about August 8, 1961 in the public records office in Hawaii.
Upon investigation into the alleged birth of Barack Hussein Obama in Honolulu, Hawaii, Obama’s birth is reported as occurring at two (2) separate hospitals, Kapiolani Hospital and Queens Hospital. Wikipedia English Version, under the subject “Barack Obama,” states Obama was born at Kapiolani Hospital. Wikipedia Italian Version, under the subject “Queens Hospital,” states Barack Obama was born in Queens Hospital.
There are further references circulating on the internet claiming examination of the hospital’s records in Hawaii show no birthing records for Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama), Obama’s mother. However, there are records of a “registry of birth” for Obama, on or about August 8, 1961, in the public records office in Hawaii.
Wayne Madsen, Journalist with Online Journal as a contributing writer and published an article on June 9, 2008 stating that a research team went to Mombassa, Kenya, and located a Certificate Registering the birth of Barack Obama, Jr. at a Maternity Hospital, to his father, a Kenyan citizen and his mother, a U.S. citizen.
At the time of Obama’s birth in 1961, Kenya was a British Colony. There is a purported Canadian Birth Certificate, posted on the Internet, in the name of Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.; however, the date of birth is shown as August 23, 1961.
Under the Independence Constitution of Kenya, Obama became a Kenyan citizen on December 12, 1963. Chicago-based Internet journalist, broadcaster and critic Andy Martin states that Obama has never renounced his Kenyan citizenship. Andy Martin further states that, on Obama’s Senate web site, Obama tap dances around his own dual nationality when discussing his father. Obama obviously knows, because his father told him, that he (Obama) also held/holds Kenyan nationality.
If, in fact, Defendant Obama was born in Kenya, under the laws of the United States, in effect at the time of his birth, if a child was born abroad, and one parent was a U.S. citizen (which here, of course, would be Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham), Obama’s mother would have had to have lived ten (10) years in the U.S., five (5) of which were after she reached the age of fourteen
(14). At the time of Obama’s birth, his mother was only eighteen (18), and therefore did not meet the residency requirements under the law to give her son (Obama) U.S. Citizenship.
The laws in effect at the time of Obama’s birth did not recognize U.S. Citizenship at birth of children born abroad to a U.S. Citizen parent and a non-citizen parent, if the citizen parent was under the age of nineteen (19) at the time of the birth of the child. Obama’s mother did not qualify under the law on the books to register Obama as a “natural born” citizen. Section 301(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of June 27, 1952, 66 Stat. 163, 235, 8 U.S.C. §1401(b), Matter of S-F- and G-, 2 I & N Dec. 182 (B.I.A.) approved (Att’y Gen. 1944).
Obama could only have become a U.S. citizen if naturalized, and a naturalized citizen is not qualified and/or eligible to run for the office of President of the United States. U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section I. Furthermore, if Obama was born in Kenya, his birth father Barack Obama, Sr. was a citizen of Kenya; therefore, Obama would necessarily have become a citizen of Kenya.
Furthermore, if Obama had been born in Kenya, his birth father Barack Obama, Sr. was a citizen of Kenya; therefore, Obama would have automatically become a citizen of Kenya.
Even if Obama was, in fact, born in Hawaii, he lost his U.S. citizenship when his mother re-married and moved to Indonesia with her Indonesian husband. In or about 1967, when Obama was approximately six (6) years old, his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, married Lolo Soetoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and moved to Indonesia with Obama. At this time, if Obama was registered in Indonesia as a “natural born” citizen of that country (which, in the absence of any proof that he was born in Indonesia, or that either of his birth parents, for that matter, was Indonesian, he was not) Obama lost his U.S. citizenship, when his mother married Lolo Soetoro, and took up residency in Indonesia. Loss of citizenship, in these circumstances, under U.S. law (as in effect in 1967) required that foreign citizenship have been achieved through “application.”
Such type of naturalization occurred, for example, when a person acquired a foreign nationality by marriage to a national of that country. Nationality Act of 1940, Section 317(b). A further issue is presented that, at least according to information in circulation on the Internet, Obama’s Indonesian stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, may have adopted Obama.
The Nationality Act of 1940 provided for the loss of citizenship when a child became naturalized in a foreign country upon the naturalization of his or her parent having custody of such child. Obama’s mother expatriated her U.S. Citizenship when she married Lolo Soetoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and relocated with her son (Obama) to Indonesia.
Obama was enrolled by his parents in a public school, Fransiskus Assisi School in Jakarta, Indonesia. Plaintiff has received copies of the school registration, in which it clearly states Obama’s name as “Barry Soetoro,” and lists his citizenship as Indonesian. Obama’s father is listed as Lolo Soetoro, Obama’s date of birth and place of birth are listed as August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, and Obama’s Religion is listed as Islam. This document was verified by Inside Edition, whose reporter, Matt Meagher took the actual footage of the school record.
In or about 1971, Obama’s mother sent Obama back to Hawaii. Obama was ten (10) years of age upon his return to Hawaii.
Sometime after the return of Obama to Hawaii, Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, returned to Hawaii and divorced her second husband, Lolo Soetoro. At the time of this divorce, Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, could have regained her U.S. Citizenship. In order to regain her U.S. citizenship, Obama’s mother would have had to take the Oath of Allegiance required. Such Oath of Allegiance may be taken abroad, before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, or in the United States, before the Attorney General or the judge or clerk of a Court. Such Oath of Allegiance would have been entered in the records of the appropriate embassy, legation, consulate, court, or the Attorney General; and upon demand, a certified copy of the proceedings, including a copy of the oath administered, under the seal of the embassy, legation, consulate, court or the Attorney General shall be delivered. The certified copy shall be evidence of the facts stated therein before any court of record or judicial tribunal and in any department or agency of the Government of the United States. 8 U.S.C. § 1435.
As stated above, the Nationality Act of 1940 provided for the loss of citizenship when the person became naturalized abroad, upon the naturalization of his or her parent having custody of such person. Obama’s mother expatriated her U.S. Citizenship when she married Lolo Soetoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and relocated her and her son (Obama) to Indonesia.
Plaintiff believes that Obama’s mother failed to take the oath in order to regain her U.S. Citizenship. If that be the case, Obama could not have regained the U.S. citizenship that he lost upon his mother’s re-marriage and relocation to Indonesia, until he reached eighteen (18) years of age, and unless he took the Oath of Allegiance before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, or in the U.S. before the Attorney General or the judge or clerk of court.
Plaintiff is informed, believes and thereon alleges that Obama (assuming he had had United States citizenship, by reason of his claimed birth in Hawaii, in the first place) failed to regain his citizenship by taking the Oath of Allegiance. Since the oath of allegiance would have been entered in the records of the appropriate embassy, legation, consulate, court or the Attorney General, if Plaintiff is incorrect, then Obama should be able to produce, in Court, a certified copy of the proceedings, including a copy of the oath administered.
Investigation further showed that, in 1981, Obama traveled to Pakistan, using his Indonesian passport. At the time of his travels to Pakistan, Obama was twenty (20) years old. He certainly knew that he retained his Indonesia citizenship, and it is implausible that he could not have known that he had failed to regain his United States citizenship (if, again, he had been born in Hawaii). Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship. Had Obama regained his United States citizenship, he would have been traveling on a United States Passport.
Obama and his campaign office have been asked for Obama’s Certificate of Birth, in order to prove he is a “natural born” citizen as required by the U.S. Constitution.
After many requests by the media and members of the public for a copy of Obama Obama’s Certificate of Birth, a Hawaiian Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) was placed on Obama’s campaign website. However, as posted all over the internet three (3) independent document forensic experts have performed extensive forensic testing on the Certificate of Live Birth posted on Obama’s campaign website. The forensic experts’ findings were the Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) is in fact a forgery.
It was further discovered that the original Certificate of Live Birth which had been altered and forged was issued to Maya Kasandra Soetoro, born in 1970. Maya Kasandra Soetoro is Obama’s half-sister, who was born in Indonesia, and her birth was later registered in Hawaii. The altered and forged COLB is still on Obama’s campaign website located at http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert.
Further investigation led to Obama’s State Bar Registration and Public Disciplinary Record. On the Illinois State Bar Registration and Public Disciplinary Record, it specifically asks for “Full former name(s). Obama put “None”, when in fact he went by the name Barry Soetoro, and Barry Obama. It is further believed Obama has used the name Barry Dunham. Obama lied on the State government form that he signed under the penalty of perjury.
Even if Obama had and maintained United States citizenship (which Plaintiff believes he failed to do) he also holds citizenship in Kenya and Indonesia. Obama has divided loyalties with foreign countries. Thus, Obama carries multiple citizenships, and is ineligible to run for President of the United States. United States Constitution, Article II, Section I.
All the efforts of supporters of legitimate citizens, candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination were for nothing, because Obama cheated his way into a fraudulent candidacy, and cheated legitimately eligible, natural-born citizens from competing in a fair process, and the supporters of their choice of an eligible U.S. citizen for the nomination.
Voters donated money, goods and services to select a nominee, and were defrauded by Obama’s obfuscations. Obama clearly shows consciousness of guilt by his actions by posting a forged birth certificate on his website, and by and the falsifications he told to cover his loss of citizenship.
Obama proclaims himself a Constitutional scholar and lecturer, but apparently failed to detect his own ineligibility to become President.
Injunctive relief must be granted, because failing to do so will permit the perpetuation of a fraud and the disenfranchisement of every person who voted in a Democratic primary in 2008. Failure to grant injunctive relief would allow a corrupted, fraudulent nomination process to continue.
The denial of injunctive relief would not only allow such a process to continue, but would foster an overwhelming degree of disrespect and cynicism for the electoral process (already sullied in the public mind by irregularities in the last several election cycles) and threaten to confirm the unfortunately widespread belief that no potential candidate has to obey the laws of this country, respect our election process, follow the Constitution, or even suffer any consequence for lying and defrauding voters to get onto the ballot, when they have no chance of lawfully serving if they fraudulently manage to get elected.
If declaratory and injunctive relief is not given, it would be extremely unfair to the country for candidates of either party to become the nominee, when there is any question as to the nominee’s eligibility to serve if elected.
As stated above, Plaintiff as well as tens of millions of American voters, Democrats and persons disinclined to vote for the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Senator McCain, will suffer irreparable harm, if declaratory and injunctive relief is not granted. Plaintiff does not have any other way of redress regarding these very significant and important issues.
The DNC has failed Plaintiff as well as voters across the country, by its failure to perform due diligence, and to properly ascertain Obama’s ineligibility to run for Office of the President.
Should Obama become the Nominee of the Democratic Party, and it should then be discovered by virtue of malfeasance, or negligence, on his part not to have revealed material evidence showing him to be ineligible for the Office of President of the United States of America, presumably his nomination or his election will at some point be voided, to the irreparable harm of Plaintiff and others, including but not limited to:
A) Functional, or actual, disenfranchisement of large numbers of citizens,
being members of the Democratic Party or other persons wishing to
vote for a viable candidate other than Senator McCain, who will have been deprived of the ability to choose and to elect a Constitutionally eligible candidate of their liking;
B) Irreparable Harm to the structure and integrity of the Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. In turn this too would lead to Disenfranchisement; and
C) A severe and genuine likelihood of turmoil or even civil disturbance, by virtue of reaction to such disenfranchisement.
II. THIS COURT SHOULD GRANT PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND PUT A STOP
TO DEFENDANT OBAMA’S FRAUDULENT CAMPAIGN SCHEMEPlaintiff is plainly entitled to a temporary restraining order, pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to halt the use of Defendant Obama’s fraudulent campaign schemes to secure the Office of President of the United States, knowing he is not eligible under the provisions of the United States Constitution, Article II, Section I.
Specifically, this Court must grant Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) because: (1) there is reasonable probability that Plaintiff will succeed on the merits; (2) they will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of relief; (3) there will be little or no harm to the Obama if relief is granted; and (4) the public interest demands a grant of relief. See, e.g. Swartzwelder v. McNeilly, 297 F.3d 228, 234 (3rd Cir. 2002); Alessi v. Pennsylvania Dep ’t of Public Welfare, 983 F.2d 1444, 1447 (3d Cir. 1990); Prison Health Servs., Inc. v. Umar, Civil Action No. 02-2642, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12267 (E.D. Pa. May 8, 2002). The standards for a preliminary injunction and a TRO are the same. Mertz v. Houstoun, 155 F. Supp.2d 415, 425 n.12 (E.D. Pa 2001); Bieros v.
Nicola, 857 F. Supp. 445, 446-47 (E.D. Pa. 1994). While the degree of probability of success on the merits required to obtain such relief varies among Federal Courts of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit requires only a “reasonable likelihood” of success. See Johnson & Johnson Orthopedics, Inc. v. Minnesota Mining & Mfg.Co., 715 F. Supp. 110, 112 n.1 (D. Del. 1989). Plaintiff easily meets each of the four requirements for a temporary restraining order.
A. Plaintiff Has A Very Strong Likelihood of Success in Challenging Obama’s
Eligibility to Run For Office of President of The United States
If in fact Obama was born in Kenya, the U.S. laws on the books, at the time of his birth, stated if a child was born abroad, and only one parent was a U.S. Citizen (which plainly applies to Obama) Obama’s mother would have had to have lived ten (10) years in the U.S., five (5) of which were after she reached the age of fourteen (14). At the time of Obama’s birth, his mother was only eighteen (18), and therefore it is an impossibility that she met the residency requirements, under the prevailing law, to give her son Obama U.S. Citizenship. The laws in effect at the time of Obama’s birth withheld U.S. citizenship from children born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-citizen parent, if the citizen parent was under the age of nineteen (19) at the time of the birth of the child. Obama’s mother did not qualify under the law on the books to register Obama as a “natural born” citizen. Section 301(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of June 27, 1952, 66 Stat. 163, 235, 8 U.S.C. §1401(b), Matter of S-F- and G-, 2 I & N Dec. 182 (B.I.A.) approved (Att’y Gen. 1944). If born in Kenya, Obama could have become a United States citizen by naturalization at some date subsequent to his birth — but a naturalized citizen is not qualified to be President, and it would be a terrible travesty and disservice to the public and to an orderly electoral process to permit an unqualified non-citizen or naturalized citizen to be placed on the general election ballot. U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section I.
Section 301(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 states in pertinent part: “(a) The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth: (7) a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States, who prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than ten (10) years, at least five (5) of which were after attaining the age of fourteen (14) years.”
Furthermore, if Obama had been born in Kenya, his birth father Barack Obama, Sr. was a citizen of Kenya; therefore, Obama would have automatically become a citizen of Kenya.
Even if Obama was born in the United States — which Plaintiff believes he was not — he apparently lost his United States citizenship when he was six (6) years old. Obama lived in the care and custody of his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. Obama’s mother married Lolo Soetoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and relocated with Obama to Indonesia. There is no indication that Obama’s mother, during his minority; herself took the Oath of Allegiance necessary for her to regain her U.S. Citizenship. Presumably, therefore, Obama could not have regained his U.S. Citizenship until he turned eighteen (18) years, and upon taking the Oath of Allegiance before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, or in the U.S. before the Attorney General or the judge or clerk of court. Plaintiff is informed, believes and thereon alleges Obama failed to regain his citizenship, by taking the Oath of Allegiance.
If Plaintiff is incorrect in making this allegation, it should be a simple matter, as the oath of allegiance would have been entered in the records of the appropriate embassy, legation, consulate, court or the Attorney General, for Obama to produce in Court a certified copy of the proceedings, including a copy of the oath administered — if, in fact, he took the oath. 8 U.S.C. § 1435, Nationality Act of 1940.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is supposed to represent and protect the interests of working Americans, which includes securing a Democratic Nominee on the Presidential Election ballot who represents the Democratic vision, and who is qualified and eligible to run for the office of President under the qualifications of the United States Constitution.
The DNC has failed to make adequate inquiry into Obama’s eligibility status.
Should Obama become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, and it should then be discovered that he concealed information showing him to be Constitutionally ineligible to serve as President, as every major party nominee has political enemies with resources behind them sufficient to institute and to maintain court proceedings to that end, it is unthinkable that there would not be an effort made to disqualify Obama, to strike his name from the ballot, to declare him ineligible to assume the Office of President if elected, or even to force him to resign or be removed from office, were he to be elected and sworn in January 2009. Any of these outcomes would be a disaster to the political stability of the United States, to our country’s standing in the world, and to public confidence in the electoral process, and would inflict irreparable harm upon Plaintiff and others, including but not limited to:
A) Functional, or actual, disenfranchisement of large numbers of citizens,
being members of the Democratic Party, who would have been
deprived of the ability to choose a nominee of their liking; and
the disenfranchisement of voters of whatever affiliation who would have
liked the opportunity to select a Constitutionally-eligible candidate other
than Senator McCain;
B) Irreparable Harm to the structure and integrity of the Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. In turn this too would lead to disenfranchisement; and
C) A severe and genuine likelihood of political turmoil, and even civil
disturbance by virtue of reaction to said disenfranchisement.
B. There Will Be Minimal Harm To Obama If Relief Is Granted
Granting Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order will result in negligible harm to Defendant Obama, or the DNC. The Obama campaign and the DNC have raised millions of dollars to support his candidacy for the presidency. If Obama was born in Honolulu as claimed, it should be short work for him (or a person acting in his behalf) to obtain, and to present to the Court, a verifiably genuine, certified copy of his birth certificate. Likewise, assuming proof of Obama’s birth in Hawaii, if Obama’s mother (during his minority) or Obama himself (after reaching the age of 18) regained the United States citizenship lost by reason of Stanley Ann Dunham’s second marriage to the Indonesian Lolo Soetoro and her relocation with Obama to Indonesia, those facts will be susceptible of proof from public records, as Obama (given his considerable resources) should be able to produce in court in a matter of a few days, at most.
Should it be the case that, as Plaintiff alleges, Obama is either a non-citizen of the United States, or is a citizen only by virtue of naturalization (as in the case that, in
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fact, he was born in Kenya) manifestly it is better that those facts, which is to say Obama’s ineligibility to be President of the United States, come to light now, rather than hereafter.
C. The Public Interest Supports A Grant of Relief
Plaintiff meets the fourth prong of the temporary restraining order test, as well, because the public interest supports the request for immediate relief. No legitimate public interest whatsoever can be served by permitting the continuation of what amounts to a knowingly unlawful, fraudulent scheme to obtain the presidency for an individual who, whatever his political views, his accomplishments, or his personal qualities, is simply not eligible under the Constitution to hold the office. Plaintiff, the people of Pennsylvania, Democratic voters nationwide, potential voters desiring an alternative to Senator McCain, and even non-voters who, even if indifferent to which candidate becomes President, have an interest in avoiding the disruption or even civil disturbance that might attend a further-delayed determination of Obama’s ineligibility, all have a compelling interest to be vindicated far more effectively and in a more targeted way if the United States Constitution is upheld and Obama is removed from the Presidential election.
D. Conclusion
This Court should issue a temporary restraining order, prohibiting Obama from being formally confirmed as the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States, and enjoining Obama, the DNC, and persons acting in concert with them or in their behalf, from continuing to solicit donations for his candidacy, pending expedited discovery and a prompt hearing, at which time Obama’s and the DNC’s attorneys can satisfy the Court, by appropriate testimonial and documentary evidence, that Obama qualifies as a natural-born
citizen of the United States, and if elected will be eligible under the Constitution to serve in that office.
Plaintiff has demonstrated a very strong likelihood of success that this fraudulent campaign scheme of Obama’s violates the United States Constitution, Article II, Section I; that Plaintiff and millions of U.S. citizens will suffer irreparable injury, if relief is denied; and that the failure to grant injunctive relief would pose nothing less than a danger to Constitutional government and potential civil disturbance. The balance of hardships imposes
little burden on Obama: all he need do is to prove that he was born in Hawaii, and that he (or, during his minority, his mother) took the Oath of Allegiance to restore U.S. citizenship lost when Obama’s mother re-married an Indonesian citizen and moved with Obama to Indonesia. III. THIS COURT SHOULD GRANT PLAINTIFF’S
REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED DISCOVERY
Plaintiff also seeks leave from this Court to begin discovery immediately so that Plaintiff can demonstrate to the Court, as part of preliminary injunction proceedings, the full extent of Obama’s fraudulent schemes in way of attempting to run and get elected as President of the United States knowing he is ineligible as he is not a “natural born” citizen. It is crucial Plaintiff obtain certified copies of Obama’ s birth records, oath if it exists, adoption records, passport records and all other records which prove he is not a citizen of the United States and/or a “natural born” citizen.
Courts have authorized expedited discovery on good cause shown, notwithstanding the strictures of Rule 26(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (that
no discovery shall take place until the parties have conferred pursuant to Rule 26(f). Indeed, the Third Circuit has emphasized that “[u]nder the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and our jurisprudence, district courts have broad discretion to manage discovery.” Sempier v. Johnson & Higgins, 45 F.3d 724,734 (3d Cir. 1995). Specifically, in the context of expedited discovery sought for purposes of a preliminary injunction motion, courts have inquired as to the “reasonableness of the request in light of all the surrounding circumstances.” Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith v. O’Connor,
194 F.R.D. 618, 624 (N.D. Ill. 2000); see also Educational Comm ’n for Foreign Sch.Med. Graduates v. Repik, Civil Action No. 99-1381, 1999 U.S. Dist. Lexis 7185, at *7 (E.D. Pa.May 14, 1999) (“Expedited discovery in connection with a preliminary injunction motion is appropriate.”). In Yokohama Tire Corp. v. Dealers Tire Supply, Inc., 202 F.R.D. 612, 614 (D. Ariz. 2001), in ruling on a motion to permit expedited discovery in advance of a Rule 26(f) scheduling conference, the court stated that “[a]bsent credible authority to the contrary, the Court adopts a good cause standard.” See also Pod-Ners, LLC v. Northern Feed & Bean, 204 F.R.D.675, 676 (D. Colo. 2002).
The reasons furnished by Plaintiff in support of his request pass any of the legal thresholds used by district courts in assessing motions to expedite discovery. Here, there is good cause for discovery to begin immediately. Plaintiff believes that, at this moment, there is a strong likelihood that, in the absence of injunctive relief, Obama will be formally nominated by the Democratic Party as its nominee for the Office of President of the United States. Plaintiff’s request also works minimal prejudice or unfairness to Obama, himself, as (at most) all that Obama would have to do in person (although certainly he would be entitled to appear and to give testimony, or submit an affidavit
stating the facts) would be to execute authorizations, prepared by his attorneys or by members of his staff, for relevant birth, passport, consular (Oath of Allegiance) and other relevant documents to be obtained and certified.
Finally, Plaintiff’s discovery request is narrowly tailored to obtain only the information it needs to pursue preliminary injunctive relief prohibiting Obama from running for President, and enjoining the DNC from naming Obama as a Democratic President Nominee.
IV. CONCLUSION
This Court should grant Plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order and should allow focused discovery to begin immediately.
Respectfully submitted,
s/ Philip J. Berg
Philip J. Berg, Esquire
Attorney in Pro Se
555 Andorra Glen Court, Suite 12 Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-2531 Identification No. 09867
(610) 825-3134
President and one about Sarah Palin’s Presidential chances. I received many responses, many of them very passionate one way or the other. Here’s a sampling: