Hillary to Concede?

[Bronya]

What do you think if this is true?

June 3, 2008, 1:22 PM EDT


Clinton to concede delegate race when Obama clinches

By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.

The former first lady was not ready to formally suspend or end her race in a speech Tuesday night in New York City. But if Obama get to the magic number of delegates, 2,118, she was prepared to acknowledge that milestone, according to aides who declined to be identified.

Obama is 37.5 delegates shy of clinching the nomination, but he is widely expected to make up the difference Tuesday with superdelegate support and votes in South Dakota and Montana. His campaign was announcing new superdelegate endorsements throughout the day Tuesday.

On NBC's "Today Show," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, "I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee."

She will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.

Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.

The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.

Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.

Clinton was at home in Chappaqua, N.Y., with her husband, former President Clinton and daughter Chelsea. She was placing calls to friends and supporters and working on a final draft of her speech. She was also resting her voice, which was nearly shot after days of nonstop campaigning.

In a formal statement, the campaign made clear the limits of how far she would go in Tuesday night's speech. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination," the statement said.

Clinton field hands who worked in key battlegrounds said they were told to stand down, without pay, and await instructions. Speaking not for attribution because they didn't want to jeopardize their jobs searches, many said they were peddling resumes, returning to their hometowns or seeking out former employers.

Clinton officials have said they would not contest the seating of Michigan delegates at the convention in Denver this August. The campaign was angry this past weekend when a Democratic National Committee panel awarded Obama delegates it thought Clinton deserved.

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Copyright 2008 Associated Press

[Capt. Stamina]

Well, since it comes from the AP, I wouldn't hold my breath that it's true.

[Ravin' Raven]

Her mouthpiece has already said 100% Not True....

[Yakecan]

http://www.aolcdn.com/aolportal/obama-delegates-160a-060308.jpg (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615988631x1203661220x1200308737/aol?redir=http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/obama-hits-magic-number-of-delegates/20080603140009990001?icid=1615988631x1203661220x12 00308737)

Lol. I think AOL has raised Obama to saint... I cut this photo from the AOL welcome page.... :lol:

[KissMeKate]

I didn't catch the whole discussion while I was searching for the weather this morning, but one of the news channels was talking about some of the women's groups backing Hillary are already all pissed off and will be planning protests and whatever if Obama picks a woman other than Hillary as his running mate.

I had really hoped (I know, I know, but I still hoped) that the petty bickering would stop once this amazingly long race ended and the Democrats had their nominee. The inside gossip mongering and sniping is not going to help them win the election. We also need some serious separation of church and state, too, with everyone who has been jumping on Obama's coattails.

[Capt. Stamina]

It’s a no win situation no matter who gets nominated. If you don’t vote for Hillary you're going to get labeled anti-feminist and if you don’t vote for Obama then you’re a racist.

I'm still waiting for the Brain to declare his candidacy and his running mate Pinky.

[Pathos]

Unfortunately the entitlement Hillary brought to the race for the nomination will now be transferred to the race for VP.

If Obama doesn't offer her the slot all the frenzied Hillary backers will scream outrage.

[Ysobelle]

I would very much like to see him offer it to her, but I have to say that whatever looms large on our radars this moment will fade to nothing by August. By November, no one will care.

Perhaps he could ask Edwards-- but then he really would have to get him that jet ski.

[Pathos]

I personally think Hillary as VP would discredit everything Obamas campaign has stood for. She won't have his back...as a VP is supposed to. She'll bring more baggage than he needs to deal with.

I'm holding out for Bill Richardson although I think Obama will pick a white guy. You know...so he can court those "hard working white people" Hillary continues to claim he can't win.

[Margaret]

I personally think Hillary as VP would discredit everything Obamas campaign has stood for. She won't have his back...as a VP is supposed to. She'll bring more baggage than he needs to deal with.

I'm holding out for Bill Richardson although I think Obama will pick a white guy. You know...so he can court those "hard working white people" Hillary continues to claim he can't win.

Oh, I totally agree that Hills would bring her own agenda to the VP-ship. I can see her almost to the point of somehow patting Obama on the head and saying 'Sit down sonny, I will deal with this.'

I really hope he is allowed to pick his own running mate and not be forced to choose Hillary

[Phoenix McHeit]

I just don't want MY Obama donations to go to pay for HER campaign debt. If ya can't afford to stay in the race, ya shouldn't stay. Period.

And yeah Mags, I can see that.

Here's an Ed cartoon I saw earlier that describes my fear:
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/1269/33897414bc6.th.gif (http://img74.imageshack.us/my.php?image=33897414bc6.gif)
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8092/70977397rt3.th.gif (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=70977397rt3.gif)

and this one:

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7844/63508607ip8.th.gif (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=63508607ip8.gif)

Click to enlarge.

[Pathos]

Some of the analysis I'm reading today says that in order for Obama to assert the fact he's won fair and square and that it's time to move on to John McCain is to specifically not waste any time worrying about hurting Hillarys feelings or bowing to any demands for consessions to her or her supporters.

It's time for him to be Presidential and any time spent trying to soothe Hillary could be seen as weak. He won, she didn't. It's over.

Not a bad idea, in my opinion.

[Margaret]

Not a bad thing in my opinion either.

However, someone just needs to tell Hills to sit down and shut up now, Ms "No decisions will be made tonight."

[Phoenix McHeit]

It's time for him to be Presidential and any time spent trying to soothe Hillary could be seen as weak. He won, she didn't. It's over.

Not a bad idea, in my opinion.
It's a great idea. Too bad it'll never happen. Too many people are worried about 'dividing the party' and the need for concessions to both Clintons is just the beginning on the things Obama will be 'suggested' to do 'for the sake of the party'.

Crap.

[Ysobelle]

Well, I think she'd make a very good VP. She has the support. And they've both been smart enough to maintain a mostly civil attitude towards each other.

Politically, I don't think it's a bad idea. She stayed in the race long enough to demonstrate she has an extremely powerful, large base, which isn't a bad thing in a ticket. As the running mate is usually chosen for what he-- now she-- can bring to the campaign as a whole, that'd definitely be an asset.

I think the more rabid Hillary supporters-- the ones screaming and jumping up and down-- need to take large amounts of valium and smack themselves in the head, of course. Politics in the last ten years has become an utter circus, and I look forward to an era of some restraint. So far, while sometimes rancorous, campaigns have at least seemed to focus more on issues than attacks. I appreciate that. Just hope it lasts.

[Phoenix McHeit]

I think the more rabid Hillary supporters-- the ones screaming and jumping up and down-- need to take large amounts of valium and smack themselves in the head, of course.

*snerk* That's a picture. :lol:

[Conall Crow]

I caught some talk radio this morning while sitting in traffic and heard something interesting. There was a lady who called in and said she was a die-hard Hillary supporter. And there was no way that she could vote for Obama, so her vote for the Presidency will go towards the Republicans instead. Can't say I totally understand some people's thinking. They also discussed Obama helping Hillary out with her debt's to try and appease some of her supporters.

[Torra]

I like the suggestion that Obama should not waste his time coddling Clinton, and I'm not sure how great a VP she'd be for him, since the agendas would be an issue, among other things.

More than anything, I just want this to end. I'm tired of being called anti-feminist for saying I don't want to vote for Clinton. As soon as she transforms into Margaret Thatcher, she's got my vote. I'm tired of people insinuating that if you don't vote for Obama you're a racist POS. As stated earlier, come November, this will seem silly. But by then the damage to the morale will have been done. What we really need is a statesman instead of a politician, but all the statesmen are the ones who never, ever want the job.

[Ysobelle]

I caught some talk radio this morning while sitting in traffic and heard something interesting. There was a lady who called in and said she was a die-hard Hillary supporter. And there was no way that she could vote for Obama, so her vote for the Presidency will go towards the Republicans instead. Can't say I totally understand some people's thinking. They also discussed Obama helping Hillary out with her debt's to try and appease some of her supporters.



THOSE are the dumb-ass morons I'm talking about. I think they've lost sight of what the Democratic Party is supposed to be about, and all they see is personalities. They're whack jobs, and if that's the way they feel, they should restrict themselves to American Idol voting.

Personally, I like McCain. Politically, no, I don't, but personally, I do. I like the comparatively genteel way he's engaged his opponents, and the level of discourse. I'm looking forward to the next round of debates, which is something I don't know that I've ever been able to say before.

And as for political campaign debts, that's a very complicated legal quagmire. I'm not sure Obama CAN help Hillary out.

[Ysobelle]

*snerk* That's a picture. :lol:



Picture, hell-- I want video!

[Bronya]

I loved listening to all the news reporters last nite. They all have their "sources who are close to (fill in the candidate)" that are telling them what is going to happen. If you listen to FOX they say one thing, CNN another and MSNBC yet another. all the spin drs will be having a field day.

[Pathos]

And as for political campaign debts, that's a very complicated legal quagmire. I'm not sure Obama CAN help Hillary out.
I don't think he's allowed to simply give her money from his campaign but I think he's allowed to use his fundraising channels to raise the money on her behalf.

I think.

[Ysobelle]

I don't think he's allowed to simply give her money from his campaign but I think he's allowed to use his fundraising channels to raise the money on her behalf.

I think.



Exactly. Totally not sure.

Of course, it was a personal loan from her to her campaign, so that might even further muddy the waters. But it'll all get straightened out.

[Pathos]

Good piece on the meaning of last nights events.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/americandebate/19517734.html

[Capt. Stamina]

I'm beginning to think that she's going to try and sway the party members that she's the most popular and therefore should get the nomination. IF she doesn't she'll run as an independant. Now that would be interesting.

[Ariel]

I'm beginning to think that she's going to try and sway the party members that she's the most popular and therefore should get the nomination. IF she doesn't she'll run as an independant. Now that would be interesting.

If she runs as an independent it would just be handing the election to McCain.

[Pathos]

And it's done. She's now officially out.

I'm not sure what to think. This is the first time in memory I don't despise one of the candidates for President.

[Ysobelle]

Yeah, Now we're on to stage two.

I'm with you, Pathos. This is the first time ever I don't thoroughly despise the Republican candidate. I mean, I don't want him to win (I like my power of choice, thankyouverymuch) but I'm not having conniptions.

Yet.

[Phoenix McHeit]

She suspended her campaign. She didn't necessarily quit. As she is someone so preoccupied with semantics, I'm certain she worded it just that way for a specific reason.

"Today as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary campaign he has won. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him and I ask of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me," the New York senator said.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24993082/?GT1=43001

[Ysobelle]

That does actually make a difference-- it means she gets to hold onto her superdelegates. I think, though, she's sincere in her desire to support the party. I just wonder what she'll ask for. I'm guessing more attention to healthcare-- and I'm alllll for that.

[Pathos]

They said on MSNBC that suspending rather than ending had to do with her campaign debt. There's some technical reason that it makes a difference in how she can pay it off.

[Ysobelle]

They said on MSNBC that suspending rather than ending had to do with her campaign debt. There's some technical reason that it makes a difference in how she can pay it off.



Yah-- good point! But didn't Mitt Romney do the same thing for the sake of delegates?

[Gemdrite]

Yeah, Now we're on to stage two.

I'm with you, Pathos. This is the first time ever I don't thoroughly despise the Republican candidate. I mean, I don't want him to win (I like my power of choice, thankyouverymuch) but I'm not having conniptions.

Yet.
If you are referring to abortion, it is my understanding (and I could be wrong) that he does not intend to take away your choice. He intends to remove Roe vs. Wade because he believes it should be left to the states, not the federal government. Am I wrong? I am using this (http://nationalplatforms.com/candidates/john_mccain.html)website to understand presidential platforms, but it could be a biased website, I don't know.

[Ysobelle]

If you are referring to abortion, it is my understanding (and I could be wrong) that he does not intend to take away your choice. He intends to remove Roe vs. Wade because he believes it should be left to the states, not the federal government. Am I wrong? I am using this (http://nationalplatforms.com/candidates/john_mccain.html)website to understand presidential platforms, but it could be a biased website, I don't know.



He wants to overturn Roe v Wade. While in theory, that would leave it up to the States to decide, it would in practise leave thousands of women without access to a legal medical procedure. It would be an absolute disaster.

[Pathos]

But would it be the better thing to do overall? As far as the long term effect on the country?

There's always these hard first steps towards change.

8-)

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

But would it be the better thing to do overall? As far as the long term effect on the country?

It really wouldn't.

There certainly are valid arguments to the effect that, from a strictly legal standpoint, 'Roe' is an extremely poor decision. But one can not deny the fact that keeping countless numbers of uteri hanger-puncture-free has been a generally positive result overall.

[Ysobelle]

It really wouldn't.

There certainly are valid arguments to the effect that, from a strictly legal standpoint, 'Roe' is an extremely poor decision. But one can not deny the fact that keeping countless numbers of uteri hanger-puncture-free has been a generally positive result overall.



Exactly.

Overturning Roe won't make women stop having abortions. It'll just make them stop being able to get safe abortions.

[surlywench]

Exactly.

Overturning Roe won't make women stop having abortions. It'll just make them stop being able to get safe abortions.

also, the number of people on Title 19 will go up, as will the number of safe haven babies - on systems which are already strained as it is.