WASHINGTON - “Scurrilous” and “disingenuous” were among the words a top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives used on Thursday to describe Hillary Clinton’s campaign tactics in her bid to defeat Barack Obama for their party’s presidential nomination.
House Democratic Whip James Clyburn, of South Carolina and the highest ranking black in Congress, also said he has heard speculation that Clinton is staying in the race only to try to derail Obama and pave the way for her to make another White House run in 2012.
“I heard something, the first time yesterday (in South Carolina), and I heard it on the (House) floor today, which is telling me there are African Americans who have reached the decision that the Clintons know that she can’t win this. But they’re hell-bound to make it impossible for Obama to win” in November, Clyburn told Reuters in an interview.
Obama holds a sizable lead in delegates won in state-nominating contests which could be hard for her to overcome.
The purported theory is that an Obama defeat in November against Republican presidential candidate John McCain would let Clinton make another presidential bid in four years, Clyburn said.
Clyburn has not yet declared whether he supports Clinton or Obama. But in January, he raised his concerns about the heated exchanges between the two campaigns before the South Carolina primary.
On Thursday, Clyburn took Clinton and surrogates to task, complaining that they want the popular votes in Michigan and Florida counted, even though both states violated party rules for the early scheduling of their nominating contests.
“I think it’s so disingenuous … (adviser James) Carville and Sen. Clinton were all on TV. I’ve seen them two or three times this week, talking about counting Florida and Michigan.”
Obama did not campaign in those states because the Democratic Party said Florida and Michigan wouldn’t be included in the formal tally for the nomination. “Her name was the only one on the ticket in Michigan and still 42, 43 percent of the vote was against her,” Clyburn said.
Still, Clyburn said “I don’t think she ought to drop out.”
But he added, “There’s a difference between dropping out and raising all this extraneous scurrilous stuff about the guy (Obama). Just run your campaign … you don’t have to drop out to be respectful of other people.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst (Clyburn with presidential candidates at a debate in January)
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“Operation Chaos” reigns supreme. Limbaugh proves himself once again to be the master architect and string-puller — something the Republican Party has collectively been unable to achieve in any measure.
- Posted by Jacque BauerAny Dem who would vote against a Dem candiddate is a TRAITOR plain and simple . After 7 + yrs of this madness , you would , out of spite turn against your own party , then your very ignorant …
- Posted by regmaxFolks..Take a strong look at yourselves. Bitterness, separatists, fractured, divisive, racists, disenfranchised, etc. This is what America has become, nothing but finger pointers & always willing to place the blame on someone else. I understand that this is politics in it’s worst form, & not many look to the real problem. THAT problem lies with the behind the scenes power brokers & our Congress. That is what really runs this country!! When are we going to wake up & put special interests in their place & get back to what is best for all? We are so far out of sync in this country, that it will take a monumental effort of the people to retake control of our country & bring it back to what our forefathers envisioned.
- Posted by Scott NordlundWe have turned into a pitiful bunch of whining, backstabbing maniacs. How sad. I love our country dearly, but am saddened to what we have become. We need new direction, & awareness of what we need to be. I have no answers/solutions to these issues but am aware we NEED SOMETHING TO TURN OUR COUNTRY AROUND!! Let’s turn this discussion to what we can do to stop the insanity.
FWIW, Congressman Clyburn stayed out of the endorsement cycle in SC’s primary and despite some of the venom noted in comments here IS behaving like a statesman that even this SC Republican can admire. I’ve also heard the back channel chatter also that the Clintons were running a spoiling campaign, that if Hillary didn’t get the nomination, Obama certainly wouldn’t win the election in November. Mr. Clyburn’s seat has a vested intrest in riding some coat-tails in November to remain as majority whip rather than merely sitting among the minority in Congress.
There are loose cannons in both camps, sometimes tehy appear to be convenient kamakazis delivering bolus of mud against the opposition and resigning, with the hopes that one remembers only the content of the initial outrage, rather than any apology or refutation of it.
- Posted by DonDemocrats want to run the free world and can’t even run a primary !
- Posted by Mike Frazier2012 is the Clintons OBVIOUS objective as even the Clintons know they cant win in 2008.
So idea is to besmirch Obams’s character this year, so that he loses to McCain and is thus damaged goodsin 20012. So they try again. THEY WONT GO AWAY.
- Posted by Grant“Highest ranking black”…hmmm, are we now ranking by degree of “blackness”, “age”, etc? I thought we were trying to become a colorblind society, but, alas it only applies if you’re a white, Christian male. Everyone else is free to use this tired mantra forever.
Once the media STOPS distinguishing people by the color of their skin, the “race issue” will never die. The only people who continue to make an issue of skin pigment are the east/west coast news organizations (Fox included!), politicians (it’s job security), and the race hustlers (Wright, Jackson).
The fact that a congressman who happens to be old & black endorse anyone is none of my concern and should not/will not influence my vote…once Americans stumble upon the fact that they too have intellect and can make an informed decision, prideful, bloviating politicians who never held a real job will continue to grab attention and influence people…all for the sake of power.
Lord Acton is spinning in his grave. Look him up if you don’t know what this means (hint: absolute power…)
- Posted by ForrestFunny how all these Black politicians and leaders backed Clinton during his “sex scandal”.But now he tries to help his wife and he is suddenly “scurrilous and disingenuous”.Did he become these things over night or did Black leaders look the other way when he was useful to them. Remember Clinton was named the “first African American president” by an African American . Who is Barack Obama ? A great public speaker but not a great American. My president wears the flag and is proud to be an American ! God Bless America,not just her future but her history as well.
- Posted by JohnI have heard the same conspiracy theory reported earlier on another website. Is it really that far-fetched? I don’t think that his statements make Clyburn racist. The whole idea of counting Michigan and Florida benefits ONLY Clinton. Why would anyone else be interested?????
- Posted by Kathy DuerHow typical of you Clinton Fans, everytime someone speaks up for Obama you screech up a storm in an effort to drown out the voices.
Wow.
That’s some democracy you’re preaching there.
- Posted by AnitaIf anyone thinks the African Americans are going to stand by and let this election be stolen by Hiliary when all the polls point to Obama, you are delusional. We are waiting and watching everybody and everything. So in short if she steals it, she will never be President at least not with the black vote count.
The Dems need the black vote in order for her to become president and we know that. It will be over for entire Democratic Party, for many years to come. Don’t take the African American vote for granted.
The DNC have received many calls from the African American comunity, letting them know that we expect a fair race to the White House. If Hiliary can over take him in the math department then that is fair, if she tries seating FL or MI when she agreed not to do it, then that is not fair. It is all about self respect for us. The majority of African American have lost respect for Hiliary and Bill.
Obama is half white and half black, he would not be here if it were not for his white mother. Except it because it is fact.
There are so many white/black/red/brown people that have united around Barack Obama because we share his views.
- Posted by Jeannetta McFarlinBarack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America. GET READY!! GET READY!!
GET READY!!!!!!
How convenient is this?
All they have to do to stop Hillary is cry Race~~~
- Posted by EvistaIf it was anyone but the Clintons it may be true, but My God these two are color blind and always have been.
This is a ploy so if Hillary wins it will give them an excuse to riot and march.
I am ashamed of some the black dignatories who know better but are saying nothing in the Clintons defense.
They are many things just as all politicians are but racist NO NO NO not now or ever.
You notice Obama won’t stop it ??? They are his weapons.
The truth is that Democrats are not the party of racial harmony we claim to be. Is there any doubt there is a “scorched earth” scenario being played out by the Clintons.
- Posted by RobertAs Democrats we have a history of doing this. 1896 Southern Democrats rejected William Jennings Bryan becaue the Populist Party also endorsed him and they were a coalition of black and white farmers. In 1928 Southern Democrats refused to support the Democratic candidate Al Smith because he was a Catholic, from an urban immigrant background, and sounded funny on the radio.
Who does not believe that Republicans are salivating to rip Hillary they have been planning it for eight years.
culpeperson: What you say about the mistreatment of blacks and mixed-race people in this country is true enough - and it’s not only historic, some of it is still going on today. It doesn’t mean, however, that a wet-behind-the-ears first term senator from Illinois, who happens to be mixed-race, should be given the awesome responsibility of sitting in the oval office. It would be most unwise. In fact, the only reason he’s in the position he is, on the verge of winning the Democratic nomination, is because Hillary and Bill have run such a poor, low-road campaign.
- Posted by peteeThose who have engineered this protracted theatre of the absurd are the undecided so-called “super (or is it minor)-delegates” like James Clyburn, who are still sitting on the fence of opportunism. They lack the courage of Caroline Kennedy, Oprah, Bill Richardson or Casey, John Lewis, Kennedy and others. One does not have to be an Obama’s supporter to see why Washington is what it is because these opportunists are the big players – politicians thoroughly lacking in moral courage and paralysed by indecision. These undecided super-delegates have now joined the Republicans in the gladiatorial amphitheatre to watch two Demo candidates in a disgraceful and bloody fight. They are tacitly enjoying Clinton’s exploitation of Karl Rove’s ideological-like television ad – the great depression, Pearl Harbor, the Cuban missile crisis, the cold war and the 9/11 attacks, and even video of bin Laden. Obama has been the front-runner — since when? If Clinton had been the front-runner for so long, I believe, these corrupt political opportunists would have taken side long ago. It makes mockery of American, particularly the Democratic, political system of nomination. The candidates are now exhausted, yet the winner will be expected to beat the fresh and relaxed McCain in the arena. The Republican Party may be full of ruthless and immoral and less brainy people, but they are politically wiser than the Democrats. What a sham! Listening to these undecided super-delegates complaining about how nasty the campaign has got is like listening to Powell saying “Obama is very good… I know all three candidates very well, and I am waiting…” Some people can smell opportunists from afar. It stinks. James Clyburn must not whine, he must blame his lack of moral courage.
- Posted by Dr. Jesse Kally-WilliamsBill CLinton has already admitted he doesn’t care what anyone says about him(although his actions speak differently). James Carville, Terry MacAulliffe, both believe in gutter tactics. They admit it and are proud of their ability to slug it out for 15 rounds using whatever it takes a.k.a. Machiavelli(the end justifies the means). Hillary is just their tool to feel important. They’ve all made plenty of money, but once you get the taste of power associated with the presidency of the United States…heroin, meth, crack, coke look like childs play.. power corrupts the senses and thats what the American and more specifically the Democratic party is faced with. This is a blood sport to them and they will “lynch” Obama with whatever “verbal” rope they can find, because in the end they don’t want to look like Jimmy Carter, marginalized and out of POWER.
- Posted by Frank MorganWhy did it take Democrats so long to see who the Clintons really are? It’s a little late, don’t ya think?
- Posted by peteeWay back when the Clintons lied about his affair with Gennifer Flowers (16 years ago) the Republicans were saying “character counts” but you sloughed them off as if it didn’t matter. It was O.K. because they used their dirty tricks, lies and deceit against the Republicans. Now it’s time for you to get a taste of your own medicine. Pretty bitter isn’t it? In the words of Malcolm X and the Rev. Wright, “Your chickens have come home to roost!!”
This is the weakest Democratic field I have ever seen. Hillary is being the Hillary the Conservatives have known since 1991. She lies. Her campaign is so poorly run that one may wonder how she would run the country. She is in debt and disarray. Ready on Day One? I haven’t seen any signs of it. Obama is smooth but that is it. Unite the Country? I don’t think so. He hasn’t united his Party. Name one instance in Congress when he crossed the aisle to act in a bi-partisan manner. Never, he was the most Liberal Senator with no indication of working with those holding differing views to acheive compromise. After 6 months in office the American people will be looking at Jimmy Carter jr. He doesn’t have the chops. John McCain is actually the best Democrat in the field. He opposed Bush’s tax cuts, worked with Kennedy to oppose Conservative judges, wants unfettered illegal immigrant rights and has limited political speech with campaign reform. If it weren’t for his hawkish views he’d be perfect for the Democratic Party. In reaching for moderates and independants he is castrating the Republican Conservative base. Something the Democrats haven’t been able to do.
- Posted by NeilThis is so sad. I have voted every election since able to vot and I will turn 60 this year. After the conduct of the CLintons, and the intent of McCain/Clinton demolishing what should be the democratic nominee, I will stay home this year. Hillary can lose with the lowest vote count in history, McCain can bring us to the brink of destruction, I am so very tired of the polarizing talk and obvious attempt to delegitimize this candidate by the Media. I could care less if he listened to Rev Wright repeat the words of an ambassador spoken on O Reilly. I could care less that he lived in the circle that Rezco lived in. I could care less that he used the term bitter, I am bitter and cling, I do cling to traditions and what I refer to as comfort. I do care about the issues facing this country. The Media is choosing the president, and it is ridiculous that we are letting them!!!!
- Posted by PJLIt’s gonna be great to see McCain in the white house in 2009. Demon crats are showing their true colors. lol
- Posted by jim