Dear friends,
We are now two weeks out from the caucuses and still processing the results. I have heard from so many about you the vote, the caucus process, and the super delegates.
First, all of our predictions about voter turnout were very low. We should celebrate the fact that 120,000 plus people chose to come out and participate. In a conference call with county chairs last night, we heard stories of their caucuses and the ongoing verification of affirmation forms and entry of delegates into the system.
I have received many messages over the past week about my status as an unpledged delegate. They have been encouraging, requesting, admonishing, and even demanding. I appreciate the fact that so many people care deeply about the election process and want to share your views with me
In the interest of fairness, I made a commitment three years ago to remain
neutral in all contested races. As chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, I
believe that you would expect no less of me. Espeically in light of the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
My intention is to maintain that neutrality until all voters have spoken through
the primary/caucus process. I believe the race will be decided by the voters. I look forward to watching Colorado’s historic process continue.
Time to get off the fence and back Obama. He won Colorado, he won the majority of the pledged delegates, and only by supers like yourself declaring now can we avoid Clinton making a ruckus and taking this to the convention.
Prolonging your decision only baits the Clintons to continue their self-serving and anti-Democractic party campaign. We all know that if Obama is denied the nomination the party will split down the middle and never recover. Will the Democrats go the way of the Whigs?
I’m a lifetime progressive Democrat (I cast my first ballot for George McGovern at the age of 22; before then I worked to defend President Johnson against Governor Wallace’s 1964 primary insurgency (yes, at age 14 I went door to door to get out the vote).
But Hillary, especially as she’s conducted herself the last several months, is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
Show some guts and get off the fence! Commit to Obama NOW!!!
From patwaak.com: “It is, indeed, a new day in Colorado. And so we say to the people of Colorado—see how we govern. We’re going to make you proud.” You are not making me proud of you; I am ashamed of you for being part of the reason this endless primary fiasco continues on. Please do the right thing and think about the Presidential Race which McCain has been running for months now. Obama is trying to focus on the same, but it is impossible while having to still deal with Clinton this late in the game.
I am writing in favor of Hillary Clinton. She is the most qualified, experienced candidate, and the one most able to clean up the mess Bush will be leaving us. Her relationships with world leaders has already been established by her many personal visits. She has gained a world of knowledge about leaders inside and outside the country from her many years of political life that just can’t be matched by any other candidate.
If you compare the issues statements posted on both candidates websites, you will clearly see that she has a much deeper understanding of the issues that face us today and her plans are much more thoughtful and in depth.
Obama has only three years experience in DC politics and has spent half of that time on the campaign trail. He is just not ready to deal with the complexities of the office, of dealing with Congress and the world. Even John Kennedy realized he was naive after visiting with Kruschev the first time, and he had grown up with politics for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Also, I firmly believe that the GOP is preparing a smear campaign against Obama of epic proportions, (I signed up for some of their emails) that will not be unleashed until after the convention, if he is the nominee.
After about 20 years of digging for dirt on Hillary there isn’t anything new to be said about her. This is a very important factor. I got an email today that claimed that they are holding video of Michelle Obama “screaming about whitey”. True or not, this demonstrates how low they are getting ready to go.
Please put the good of the country above all other considerations, and cast your vote for Hillary.
Sincerely,
Trudy Caswell
Please. You need to endorse Obama NOW. This needs to end now and he has won fair and square. Obama can win in ‘08 and you need to back this winner now.
Please.
Dear Pat,
It was great to see you at the JJ dinner in Durnago!
I appreciate and understand your concern to postpone making an endorsement at that time and believe that the extended race has been great for the party. I am concerned that the Hillary campaign is interested in changing the rules, manipulating the vote count, etc. I think this makes her and the party look bad. I think it is time to make the endorsement for Obama and stand behind the people’s choice from Colorado.
Do you see an advantage of letting the race drag on (fighting for tallies from MI and FL) all the way until the convention in August?
Dear Ms. Waak:
Senator Clinton has just brought up the idea of Obama’s possible assassination as a reason for her to stay in the race (http://www.nypost.com/seven/05232008/news/nationalnews/why_hill_wont_drop_out__bobby_kennedy_wa_112232.htm. The time is NOW to make a stand against this insanity and endorse Obama.
Thank you for listening.
Dr. Ms. Waak,
I have read your statement regarding your undeclared status, and would have agreed with you two days ago, but after Senator Clinton’s mention of RFK’s assassination, I believe she has overstepped one too many lines, and the race needs to be brought to a close. The superdelegates could make the decision for her, something she apparently is unwilling to do. I urge you to reconsider your status.
Thank you.
Life long Democrat –in El Paso County no less. I supported Sen. Clinton initially. Her conduct during this campaign — not any negative thing Obama has said against her — has ch anged my mind. The vitriol expressed by many Clinton supporters and some Obama supporters is leading to a schism in the party. You must put an end to it. The continued spin about feminism and sexism is divisive and, in my mind, unsupportable. The threats, again mostly by Clinton supporters, but some by Obama supporters, that they will stay home or vote for McCain are outrageous. Who in their right mind would permit an anti-abortion, pro-Iraq war, military industrialist proponent to govern us for another 4-8 years? Stop this blood-letting, please endorse Obama now.
Dear Pat,
I live in Denver and follow politics closely. I am writing with a message somewhat different from those above, which urge the endorsement of one of the candidates. I would instead like to challenge the notion of “remain[ing] neutral in all contested races…until all voters have spoken through the primary/caucus process.”
1) First and foremost, you are a superdelate from Colorado. The deadline for deciding when the voters have spoken is admittedly arbitrary. You could just as easily have decided that the popular vote, or the state confention in Colorado, or the first floor vote at the National Convention are “when the voters have spoken.” But since the votes to the national convention have been selected and they reflect the state popular vote and the national popular vote and the national delegate count, I would urge you to vote.
2) As a superdelegate to the national party, the national party would benefit most from officially committing as soon as possible. McCain now has a financial advantage (personal campaign + RNC funds) of $11 million dollars more than B Obama. This is entirely due to national support for the Repub candidate. Thus, in classic Democrat style, we are frittering away the good possibility of winning the general election because we cant unify.
I dont care who you endorse. I do care that the the endorsement be made ASAP to allow the party and candidates to more foreward. If it is for Hillary, then it allows us to shift focus towards the certification process. If Obama, it allows us to begin the general campaign. Either way, I think its crucial that we move forward.
Last item: I am very proud of the effort you and the rest of the Dems made in pulling off the convention in CO SPRGS. I think the overwhelming response in terms of passion and numbers is great. You should hold your head high. Way to go!
Please end this terrible Democratic race by endorsing Obama. He is the only person left who lives by our party’s political values and is the only person left who has a reasonable chance of winning the nomination.
Thank you.
Please make your decision. The rest of us had much less time and information to make up our minds. What additional information do you need that the rest of us were not privelaged with? Are simply enjoying this notoriety? Lack of decision equals lack of leadership. Show us that you can lead!
Dear Members of the Democratic National Committee and Superdelegates,
My name is Timothy Bayler, a thirty-eight year old teacher in the second largest school district in Illinois, who is currently on medical leave due to two surgeries since February. Amidst surviving on loans and seventy percent of my regular paycheck, I have had plenty of time to monitor this year’s Democratic Primaries. I am writing to you to express my concerns about your meeting on May 31st to address, among other things, the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan.
This has been an incredible year for Democracy and our party. I have seen an excitement in the young voters of my Senior English classes that I have never seen before in my years of subbing and teaching. We sent many students in our school to training and to poles as election judges in our local districts. We’ve registered people who have never before taken an interest in politics if for no other reason than the notion that their vote makes no difference. These people want to be heard, and your decision on May 31st can empower or disenfranchise new voters our party desperately needs as we attempt to undo the damage of Bush administration policies. We have two dynamic figures who, in their own circumstances, are polarizing figures for parts of our nation. Senator Clinton has faced venomous attacks from the right for, among other things, the philandering of her husband and her chameleon powers to try to fashion herself a part of any constituency out there. Senator Obama faces a powerful, lingering undercurrent of fear and suspicion of certain white voters, and a incredulity about his notions of hope and bipartisan compromise-a message sent by Bush in 2000 which was immediately abandoned for partisan politics as usual.
On September 2, 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported that Sens. Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson all pledged to abide by a DNC resolution not to campaign in Florida or Michigan as a penalty for moving their primaries forward in the Democratic Primary Schedule. On September 1st, Sen. Clinton, responding to the DNC resolution said “We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process. And we believe the DNC’s rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role. Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar.†Sen. Clinton (while claiming she would remove her name from the MI ballot) and Sens. Dodd and Gravel chose to keep their name on the Michigan Ballot; while, on October 9, 2007, Sens. Biden, Dodd, Edwards, Obama, Rep. Kucinich, and Gov. Bill Richardson pledged to take their names off the ballot in the spirit of the DNC resolution. Rep Kucinich unsuccessfully attempted to remove his name. Clinton won 55% of the vote while 40% of the voters chose the “Uncommitted†line rather than vote for candidates still on the ballot, and 5% went to candidates no longer in the race/Party. On October 11, 2007, after claims she would remove herself from the ballot, Sen. Clinton said, “It’s clear the election [Michigan is] having is not going to count for anythingâ€, in a phone-in interview with NH Public Radio. By the Florida primary, Sens. Biden, Dodd, Rep. Kucinich, and Gov. Richardson had exited the race. The results of the Florida vote were Clinton 49.8%, Edwards 14.4%, and Obama 33%. While not against the DNC “no campaign†clause as I understand it, Sen. Clinton arrived in Florida to claim victory with a different tune than previously stated. According to the Washington Post transcript of her “victory†speech, she said, “I am thrilled to have had this vote of confidence that you have given me today. And I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida’s Democratic delegates seated, but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008.â€
In short, the DNC has made a huge mess for our party, with a short-sighted, heavy-handed resolution that you are currently refusing to back up with decisive action. I’m sure many of you never anticipated so close a race; but we, as a country, fought against the idea of a set line of succession to the upper echelons of leadership with our country’s founding. Now, you must find an equitable way to seat delegates of voters and state party leaders who didn’t realize or refused to believe that the DNC would enforce this resolution. You have to explain to states that followed your rules why rogue states can disobey party policy and not face consequences. You have to balance votes cast early against those that would have potentially been cast if the primaries in questions were held in compliance with the rules and all candidates were on the ballot. Either way, your early lack of leadership will inevitably disenfranchise some voters. I do not envy your situation, but it is one of your own creation. You must find a way to balance the primaries so, like in this election, all states can have access at to the pivotal early contests at some point, while allowing candidates to introduce themselves to the country.
From my vantage point, there is no ethical way you can simply seat the delegations from both states. Michigan is an obvious problem, because candidates trying to follow your mandate and embrace the tradition of the early primaries, took their names off the ballot. Even in that kind of race, Sen. Clinton only defeated “Uncommitted†and “fringe candidates†by 10%. While one can’t assume that Sen, Obama would win all of those votes, I think it is safe to say he would have won dramatically more than zero percent. I understand that rerunning a primary is an expensive, dangerous, precedent-setting option. The alternatives seem to be: split the vote (which would be unpopular with Sen. Clinton and may offend some voters), award the delegates based on the popular votes of all legal state primaries and caucuses (which may be punitive, but may cause consternation with Michigan voters), award the delegates for the remaining voters (at least the “Uncommittedâ€, and possibly the “fringe candidate†vote) to Sen. Obama (as the remaining competitor); or, as a penalty to the state for moving its primary, split half the total delegates evenly between the candidates and apply the formula above to the rest of the delegates. In the last example, you send a message, but still allow an entire delegation to be seated. Florida seems straight forward, as it was split between the remaining, major contenders: Sens. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama. However, as you know, name recognition is a huge factor in a candidate’s political success. It is a problem that has plagued many candidates including Gov. Bill Clinton in 1992. After early losses, he turned the corner with a second place finish in New Hampshire that raised awareness, which, eventually, propelled him to the White House. This year, it is Sen. Clinton with the name recognition, but Sen. Obama won right out of the gates in Iowa, giving his name a boost. The 2004 date for the Florida primary was March 9. If that same date applied this year, the totals of properly recognized states were (by my calculations), twenty states for Sen. Obama, eleven states for Sen. Clinton. We cannot tell what the impact of those wins may have had on the Florida vote if it had stayed within the parameters set by the DNC. Here, you may be able to seat delegates as voted (upsetting Obama voters, and providing no penalty to the state), you might use the examples listed above, or you could combine the votes for Sen. Edwards (based on his endorsement of Sen. Obama) and/ or use the half of the state split between candidates and half as voted.
This election has the potential to reap tremendous gains in November. However, the message against Sen. McCain is being reduced by the ongoing battle in our primary. Energy, time, and money are being wasted splitting our party while it should be thundering against the mistakes of the Bush administration and his would-be successor, Sen. McCain. Please be careful with the decisions you make, for if you make our new voters (especially the young, who I know quite well from my teaching experience) feel mistreated or ignored, you risk losing them for a long period of time. The war, pending Supreme Court appointments, economic stability, and future educational opportunities (to name a few), are all riding on this election. Please find a way to make this an equitable seating of delegates and move our process on to Denver. I wish you the Wisdom of Solomon.
Sincerely,
Timothy N. Bayler