Bill Clinton Says His Superdelegate Vote Will Go To Sanders If He Wins Nom

[silvershadow]

Former President Bill Clinton, husband to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, suggested Thursday that he'd use his superdelegate vote to support Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) if he won the Democratic nomination.

The former President told The New York Daily News that he did the same thing in 2008 when Hillary Clinton lost the nomination to then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

"It happened last time,” Clinton told the newspaper. “Last time I did what my candidate asked, I voted for Barack Obama."

The New York primary is April 19. The Daily News reported that a handful of superdelegates in New York have pledged to support Clinton regardless of the results of the primary.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bill-clinton-superdelegate-vote-sanders

[basselope]

1. Kinda meaningless....

This would only apply IF Bernie gets the required number of delegates to WIN the nomination outright.

In reality, he would most likely wind up with just a majority of delegates, but not enough to lock the nomination, which makes Clinton's promise as useful as a Clinton promise.

[joshcryer]

8. Except "last time" neither candidate won outright.

Obama won with 62 pledged delegates more. Hillary called for his nomination by ACCLAIMATION, they had their first rally in Unity, NH, and she went on to do dozens of rallies for him.

So, in other words, your entire narrative is totally made up nonsense.

[basselope]

16. Obama did with his pledged delegates plus super delegates.

So he had a delegate LEAD (of about 100 total), PLUS enough to win on the first ballot with his super delegates.

Clinton would distinguish this b/c it is possible for Bernie to win MORE pledged delegates, but Clinton to have enough to win WITH super delegates.

In short, Bill Clinton's promise is worthless.

[joshcryer]

17. What do you think "like last time" means here?

Supers would jump ship to the pledged delegate leader, like last time.

[basselope]

20. No, that isn't what happened.

Last time Obama had enough super delegates PLUS a 100 delegate lead, combined it was enough to put him over the top on the first ballot.. so Hillary backed out... she COULDN'T WIN.

Here, there is a chance that Bernie could have a pledged delegate win, but she could be able to go over the top WITH the super delegates.

[joshcryer]

21. Revisionism.

There was no first ballot because Hillary Clinton nominated him by acclimation:

If they went to the final vote, if they went and saw it was only 62 pledged vote difference, if Hillary Clinton wanted to fight for the supers, she could've done that, and all she would've needed was 63 supers she didn't have before. That's all. She didn't do it. There was no brokered convention. MI and FL's delegates were seated. The party was united.

If Sanders has the pledged delegate lead he wins. It's that simple. We've been here before.

[basselope]

22. Read what I wrote.

I WISH it were true, but I am afraid that even if Sanders has the pledged delegate lead, Clinton plans to use the super delegates to put her over the top.

The DIFFERENCE is that Obama had the pledged delegate lead AND ENOUGH super delegates to put him over the top, so she "decided" to step down.

The numbers are all out there, as are archives of the news stories.

[joshcryer]

24. Pelosi said it wouldn't go down that way.

And I simply don't see it happening, barring some 1-2 delegate deficit for Clinton and a million plus popular vote advantage. At which point I wouldn't care because Sanders would have failed to seal the deal anyway.

[basselope]

25. Pelosi has little control

And I guess you just have more faith in the Clintons than I do.

I have none.

[joshcryer]

26. You're talking about dividing the party.

This isn't happening.

[basselope]

27. The party is already divided

There can be no real unity behind a republican running as a democrat.

[joshcryer]

29. It's like 2008 all over again.

[basselope]

30. Let's hope not, because we wound up with another Center right candidate then.

[leftynyc]

32. No it's not

The very second Hillary suspended her campaign, the VAST majority of her supporters jumped on board. We actually care about the party winning and who is in the White House making court nominations. It doesn't seem many of the Bernie supporters give a shit.

[basselope]

35. In 2008 you had two nearly identical candidates

Both center right.

NOW we have an actual choice.

Either continue down the path to destruction with the DLC OR save this party.

[leftynyc]

37. Spare me the bullshit

All during the 2008 primaries Obama supporters were telling everyone how much more liberal Obama was than Hillary. ALL THROUGH THE PRIMARY. You aren't saving shit. You're promising to behave like petulant children if you don't get your own way. You're just the left's version of the tea party. Now don't forget to alert because heaven forbid someone not worship at the feet of Bernie.

[basselope]

38. I wasn't an Obama supporter.

I didn't vote for him.

MANY people were duped, which is why he received 10 MM less votes in 2012 than in 2008.

Hillary is even less popular so she won't even get close to Obama's 2012 turnout if god forbid she is the nominee.

I don't care what label you put on me... I am not going to vote for Hillary no matter how long you hold your breath, because I don't vote for republicans

[leftynyc]

39. I have no intention

of holding my breath (what a stupid thing to say) or even ask you to vote for Hillary. I don't ever cater to temper tantrums. We wont have to be putting up with you here. That's enough for me.

[basselope]

40. By all means, stay in your bubble.

And then wonder why you didn't get the president you wanted.

[leftynyc]

41. Now THAT is hilarious

Any Bernie supporter claiming anyone else is in a bubble. Excuse me while I go laugh my ass off in the bathroom so I don't disturb the neighbors.

[basselope]

42. I see you tell the truth like a Clinton as well.

First you are done here... now you are back.

Yes, you live in a bubble and stay there.

[joshcryer]

43. I'm talking about the dumb arguments.

As if they are going to the convention and broker the thing, cause all sorts of drama. Back in 2008 I argued how dumb that was. Hundreds of posts. Never happened.

[leftynyc]

31. And if he had said something else

we would have had 100 different threads in LBN, GD and GD-P about OMG BILL SUCKS!!! THAT'S the reality.

[Politicalboi]

2. Too little too late

This is just fluff to kiss ass for their cheating. Making them look human again somehow. Maybe he can stay home instead of suppressing the vote, or better yet spend some time in prison for his crime.

[Liberty Belle]

3. Proud to be first to recommend this.

It sounds like Bill is mature enough to realize ignoring the will of the majority would tear the Democratic party apart.

Publicizing this quote might get some other super delegates to realize that if even Clinton's husband would change his superdelegate vote than so should the rest of them, if Sanders is poised to be the nominee with the most pledged delegates.

[RichVRichV]

5. Except that's not what he said.

He said "if he won the Democratic nomination.". That means he would switch his super delegate vote only if Bernie has already reached the 2,383 delegates (pledged and super) necessary to secure the nomination, not if he wins the majority of pledged delegates. In other words it's basically a meaningless show as his vote would be irrelevant to the outcome at that point.

[StevieM]

9. Bernie is the one planning to take the fight to the convention if he doesn't win a majority

of pledged delegates.

[RichVRichV]

14. What's your point?

Neither Bernie nor Hillary will concede this until they reach the required 2,383 necessary to secure the nomination.



That statement has no bearing on what Bill is doing is purely a symbolic gesture. It's no different than people in congress refusing to vote for something until it has enough votes to pass, then everyone jumping on board with it. It looks nice in the history books, but has little significance to what actually happens.

[dchill]

4. Bet I can't take THAT to the bank.

[onehandle]

6. Makes sense since Hillary has, and will continue to have a plurality of votes. nt

[RandySF]

7. He's showing a lot more class than the other side.

[JoePhilly]

23. + 1

[leftynyc]

33. +1000

[djean111]

12. Bill does not think he will have to do that for a second.

Feh.

[msongs]

15. just a month ago the bernie (crowd) was screaming about how supers are bad bad bad lol nt

[Luminous Animal]

19. Those who pledge to vote for Hillary no matter the outcome, are a bad lot.

[BernieforPres2016]

28. Kind of a stupid comment there Bill

You cast your vote before somebody wins, not after.

[xloadiex]

34. Bill saying this

Has me thinking he is pretty confident that the fix is in and going to work in Hills favor.