Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA

by xenontab, Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:29:00 AM EST

One of the Clinton campaigns final arguement for going to the convention is that even pledged delegates can change their minds so no lead is insurmountable.  Under the heading be careful what you wish for "Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, a Democratic convention delegate pledged to support Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, said yesterday that he thinks Sen. Barack Obama has "in a real sense" won the Democratic nomination and that he now plans to support Obama at the August convention"

I have mixed feelings about this.  It does seem to come under the heading "Karmic retribution" But, even though I am an Obama supporter I do not think the the voters of Maryland that voted for Clinton should be disenfranchised in this manner.

A couple of things it does point out it that one, the feeling for Obama runs deep, especially with party regulars.  Remember that the arguement had for the supers over turning the voters decision was that they had the good of the party at heart.

Secondly, how did the Clinton campaign let a man who supported Obama until Dec 2007, be one of their delegate.  There was an earlier diary here chastising Obama for closing the selection of his delegates in California.  This situation is the reason for his campaign doing that.  You want the most loyal of the loyal as your pledged delegates.

Whatever your view, this is not the news that Hillary was hoping for to start this day.


Poll
Is this a good thing!
Yes: Karmic Retribution
No: Bad Precedent-will lead to a poaching war
Its a sign that the Clinton Campaign is really really over

Votes: 17
Results : Vote Link : Polls


Tags: Pledged delegate, switches (all tags)

Display:
Permalink :: 18 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

Denver here we come


by LDFan on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:33:18 AM EST

Keep it clean y'all (2.00 / 1)

I can tell even Obamafans/bots/whateveritisthatIamnow like me are saying "that ain't right."


by drowsy on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:33:23 AM EST

Re: Keep it clean y'all (none / 0)

In all fairness this happens all the time. There are always a couple of stragglers in the pledged delegates. If anyone ever had a winning margin of one delegate.... things would get ridiculus at the convention.

I'm sure Obama will loose a delegate before the convention. Try not to flip out when he does.


by Tatan on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:37:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

This Should Not Happen (none / 0)

Pledged delegates should be thoroughly vetted by the campaigns to the extent that this is a very rare occurence.


by Collideascope on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:36:02 AM EST

This person is a grade A asshole... (2.00 / 2)

...pledged delegates should vote... on the first ballot... for the candidate they were elected to represent.

Anything else is idiocy.


by Lieber on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:40:39 AM EST

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

Wow, you turn this into a criticism of Hillary, why am I not surprised.


TexasDarlin blog
by TexasDarlin on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:44:12 AM EST

whats to turn? This is pure karma (none / 0)


-- be excellent to each other
by kindthoughts on Tue May 13, 2008 at 11:13:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: whats to turn? That is pure BS (none / 0)

for months now BHO'ers have been wailing and gnashing their teeth that Hillary DARED to state the truth, all of you crying about how foul and mean-spirited she would be to win like that. now your full hypocrisy is shown for all to see. if any of you were honest you would be shaming that delegate and demanding he/she switch back. but you won't, or at least you did not until you are called on your dishonesty.


by zerosumgame on Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:11:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I infact do nto want this pledged delgate to (none / 0)

switch.

But accusing Obama of making him switch is pure crap.


-- be excellent to each other
by kindthoughts on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:35:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

I'm waiting for all the delegates and superdelegates in the caucus states to switch over to Obama, since Clinton apparently doesn't care about disenfranchising them when it suits her politically.


Serious question- Is This Snark?
by ragekage on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:44:17 AM EST

In my caucus state (none / 0)

almost all the superdelegates are already there (well except Mondale and one other DNC guy who will lose his seat at the state convention due to his rudeness).


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:48:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

As an Obama Supporter, I decry this (none / 0)

The people of MAryland voted and spoke. This guy pledged.

I cannot abide oath-breaking.


Bill Foster would agree, Barack Obama has coat tails.
by Walt Starr on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:52:20 AM EST

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (2.00 / 1)

He should not be doing this.  It does not strenghten Obama for him to do this at this time.

Once the convention rolls around, there would be plenty of chance for him to vote his conscience; making an issue out of it right now helps Clinton, who has argued that this is an appropriate thing to do.  Now they can point to this fella.

Thanks a lot buddy...


by Lawyerish on Tue May 13, 2008 at 10:58:01 AM EST

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

when has she argued that pledged delegates make a public stament like this so far ahead of the convention? once again you demonstrate that your nickname is appropiate, you are to lawyers as truthiness is to the truth.


by zerosumgame on Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:13:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

Clinton has argued that Pledged Delegates are free to change, and that they are not required to respect the will of those who appointed them, ie, the voters.  This guy switching does play into her argument.

The fact that he made a public statement about it had little or nothing to do with Clinton's position, but thanks for attacking me anyways.


by Lawyerish on Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:22:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Pledges should be honored... (none / 0)

... even though Hillary herself doesn't honor her pledges, the delegates should -- otherwise they'd be lowering themselves to her level.

And yeah, it is karmic retribution in a sense, but that doesn't make it right.


by Aris Katsaris on Tue May 13, 2008 at 11:02:00 AM EST

Agreement (2.00 / 1)

Yup.  He should stick with Clinton.

For this dance, at least for the first dance-ballot, ya better dance with them that brung yah.


by emptythreatsfarm on Tue May 13, 2008 at 11:14:09 AM EST

Re: Pledged Delegate Switches....TO OBAMA (none / 0)

I am so proud to be a Marylander!

Sure our governor bowed his head while his state voted Obama with a 20% lead!

Unfortunately as with everything Maryland, our place in this primary has been grossly underrated.

From CNN calling us the "Potomac" primary instead of "Chesapeake" was a nice wink and a nod to their preferred DC and DC counties.

With Obama, I think we have a bright future for Democrats.

WE just need to get rid of Mikulski ASAP,  and either fix O'Malley or show him the door at the next primary.

Please people, don't let the Netroots forget Maryland.
We got alot of potential in the coming years.


Unable to rec or rate

Read this: http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/15/1427 30/254

by GeorgeP922 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 12:22:50 PM EST


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