Obama’s Grand Gesture To Clinton Supporters? Now The Rest Of The Story

Media outlets around the nation heralded the news yesterday that Hillary Clinton’s name would finally be placed in nomination and that a roll call would take place at the upcoming Democratic National Convention. The story was considered important because of the 2 months of lobbying by Clinton’s supporters to secure her place on the DNC ballot. Although media outlets were quick to report the news, most were just as quick to overlook the downside to the so-called victory for Clinton. After all, you can’t have a “deal” without concessions by both sides.

In reality, yesterday’s decision is nothing more than another propagandist message put forth by the Obama campaign and the DNC to attempt to re-attract Clinton supporters back to the Democratic party. Clinton’s name being “placed in nomination” is essentially pointless considering that the agreement also called for Clinton to release her delegates; a move that will all but assure the nomination of Obama. Why Is This Important?

Simply put, the DNC and Obama campaign have exerted enormous pressure upon both pledged delegates and Superdelegates to support the presumptive nominee. In several cases, such as in Wisconsin and Colorado, State Parties have threatened and attempted to strip the credentials of delegates that have openly criticized Obama or refused to support him. Other delegates who are office holders. Additionally, other delegates have been threatened that the DNC would cut off any campaign funding if they did not fall in line. As a result of Clinton releasing her delegates, it’s safe to say that enough delegates will switch their vote (for the sake of Party influence) so as to create a wide-enough margin to protect Obama’s nomination.

The media has done an outstanding job of painting the “deal” as a victory for Clinton supporters, but in reality it is a meaningless and empty gesture that by no means represents the principle of ‘self-determination’. Never in the history of the Democratic Party has a nominee had to make such concessions in order to achieve recognition by the Party. Yet, the Obama campaign and DNC have made it apparent that they are not willing to allow any semblance of Democracy to filter into the convention unless it has been manipulated to their advantage.

Politically Drunk On Power!: Obama’s Grand Gesture To Clinton Supporters? Now The Rest Of The Story.

Clinton’s name to be put in nomination at convention

(CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign has agreed to put former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton’s name in nomination at the Democratic National Convention this month.
Former rivals Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have called for unity at the Democratic convention.

Former rivals Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have called for unity at the Democratic convention.

The move is seen as a bid to heal the wounds of the bitter primary season.

Obama’s campaign encouraged Clinton to put her name in roll call “as a show of unity and in recognition of the historic race she ran and the fact that she was the first woman to compete in all of our nation’s primary contests,” according to a statement from the Clinton and Obama press offices.CNN ARTICLE

August 14, 2008

Categories: Hillary Clinton

Clinton in nomination

A Clinton aide confirms Marc Ambinder’s report that Hillary’s name will be placed into nomination at the convention, giving her a larger procedural and symbolic role during the event, and offering a look backward at her near-miss primary.

Despite the occasional tensions both at the tops of the campaigns and among their supporters, the actual convention planning appears to be coming off without major controversies.

Marc notes that the process could be used to give Clinton a public, symbolic moment to turn her delegates over to Obama.

Ben Smith’s Blog: Clinton in nomination – Politico.com.