Dem Party Leaders Issue Statement - Not Many Have the Stomach for an Ungracious Clinton

[K Gardner]

Party Leaders Urge SDs to Decide by Friday


In the absence of a concession speech from Sen. Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night, top figures in the Democratic Party went public, urging all uncommitted officials to declare their presidential affiliations.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DNC Chairman Howard Dean, and an official with the Democratic Governors Association released a public statement on Wednesday morning requesting that the party close its ranks and prepare for the race against Sen. John McCain.

The move, which had been anticipated but seemed unnecessary following Obama's clinching of the nomination on Tuesday night, is an indication that few figures beyond Clinton's utmost loyalists are willing to stomach a prolonged vacation period for the New York Democrat to make up her mind.




Wednesday's statement by Democratic leadership seems designed to preempt any thoughts of a continued primary challenge. It declares that Democrats will be united heading towards November, and stresses the need of uncommitted superdelegates to declare their support for a candidate.

The text of the statement is as follows:

"We have come to the end of an exciting primary and caucus process - the voters have spoken. As the Democratic leaders of the Senate, House of Representatives, the Governors and the Democratic National Committee we commend all of the participants of the 2008 primary process, especially Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, for making this such a transformational election. Because of the enthusiasm our candidates have inspired, our party has brought record numbers of voters to the polls, gained millions of newly registered Democrats and now has advantages in states many thought were difficult to win. We are grateful to the millions of Independents and Republicans who have crossed over to vote for a Democratic candidate for President.

"Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election. To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.

"We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction. We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand."

[billyoc]

1. IOW, don't even THINK about it, Hillary.

[K Gardner]

3. I wonder how many TV sets were broken last night as party elders watched her do

the unthinkable. To be a fly on some of those walls :-)

[ErinBerin84]

2. DCCC Chair Van Hollen Endorses Obama

This is a new one, right?

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/dccc_chair_van_hollen_endorses.php

[K Gardner]

5. I've lost track.. we'll have to watch for Grant's updates !

[Lucky 13]

10. Yes it is.

Chris made a point to say that he would not endorse until the primary was over and he would support the candidate with the most pledged delegates.

[blogslut]

4. It is time

We've got an election to win. It is time.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Reid: Don't make me put my index finger down Hillary! It's coming down!

Don't make me do it!

[K Gardner]

7. LOL.. good caption !

[Poll_Blind]

8. "...but seemed unnecessary following Obama's clinching of the nomination ..."

  It is very necessary for the SD's to continue declaring and I am grateful for people like Chris Van Hollen and Walter Mondale (Mondale switched from Clinton affiliation). Why? Because their votes provide leverage for Obama to keep the nomination and provide leverage against any Clinton overthrow plans.

PB

[K Gardner]

9. That's a good point.. and a sad one.

[Blue_Roses]

11. I'm starting to think that Hillary likes to push back at the party leaders

when they make these statements. It's like she digs her heals in more...kind of like a defiant child who refuses to acknowledge that they must stop playing and take a bath.

[K Gardner]

14. These leaders are quickly running out of patience with THIS defiant child :-)

[roguevalley]

20. she is going to be very lonely in the senate. Joe Lieberman lonely

[K Gardner]

21. Obama just put Caroline Kennedy on his Vetting Committee.. LOL.. he's starting

to subtley push back I think. He won't roll over for her.. and the party is quickly losing patience with her antics.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

24. Time to push Hillary out of the Party. I hear McSame is looking for a running mate.

[helderheid]

12. She sounded like Lieberman last night. Let's hope she doesn't pull one.

[K Gardner]

13. Well, she's got the media hanging on her every word.. just like she wants it.. so we'll know soon

enough what "Hillary wants".

[dkf]

15. Do we care? Not me. I'm just savoring the moment.

[TexasObserver]

16. What Hillary Wants

I wanna be president.
And I wanna be vice president.
And I wanna be Queen of the Universe.
And I want a pony. A magic pony.
And I want Bill neutered.
And I want to make that Obama man go away and not be here.
And his wife.
And everyone on my "dead to me" list.

[helderheid]

18. toon

[JackORoses]

19. She wants a feast! She wants a Bean-feast!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

22. Hillary makes Lieberman look like a loyal Democrat. She's a disgrace.

[Stagecoach]

17. But knowing Pelosi & Reid.....

I hope this isn't their normal non-tough tough talk. In other words, it wouldn't surprise me come Friday those 2 aren't saying, "We urge the Super-Delegates to make their decisions by next Friday!" and then the next Friday, and the Friday after that, etc.

[AtomicKitten]

23. The irony is that she will end up entirely responsible for being pushed out.

She will be pushed out because she left that as the only option for the rest of the party to move on, and I predict she will play the VICTIM card in a last ditch effort to blame others for the chaos and end-result she created. She always had the option to muster the grace to concede with dignity.

[phrigndumass]

25. K/R

We'll just take it from her, then.