Dems dominate the headlines in Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and South Dakota:
Clinton Expected to Win Big in Puerto Rico Today
From the Trail (Washington Post):
“The Obama campaign has said consistently that it expected to lose the primary here, given Clinton's popularity with Hispanic voters and the high profile she established on the island during her husband's presidency. A poll released last week by the Democratic firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, conducted for the Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero and the television network Univision, found that among all Puerto Rican adults, Clinton led Obama 55 percent to 42 percent, with the remainder undecided. But among those who said they were certain to vote, Clinton's lead expanded to 59 percent, compared with 40 percent for Obama.”
Clinton Campaign’s Statement on Results of Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting
The Clinton Campaign deserves the final word about the action taken yesterday by the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee to resolve the Michigan and Florida dilemma. Pointing out the violation of the Committee's own rules and its flagrant disrespect for Michigan voters, Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy issued the following statement:
"Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.
"We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.
"The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
"We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast."
Word from Clinton Supporters
Clinton’s supporters aren’t taking the Michigan resolution lightly. Taylor Marsh begins her response:
"Dear Rules and Bylaw Committee Power Brokers
"@(*D!!!#!
"*(!#!!!$%!!*@!!
"Whew, I needed to get that out before beginning.
"Could you be more out of touch? Seriously. Have you not talked to any Hillary Clinton supporters, read their emails in your inbox?
"For 4 lousy delegates? How small are you people? Could you not understand what was swirling enough to allow Clinton her due in Michigan? Four lousy delegates?"
Read More.
The Obamas Withdraw Their Membership From Trinity UCC
In response to the latest widely circulated, videotaped outrage at his Chicago church, Barack Obama announced in South Dakota last night that he and his wife Michele have withdrawn their membership from Trinity United Church of Christ.
I just watched the video of Obama’s statement delivered at a podium somewhat ironically bearing his mantra, “Change We Can Believe In.”
I got the impression that Obama was far more annoyed with the public outrage at Father Pfleger’s mockery of Hillary Clinton from the pulpit than he was with Father Pfleger, his friend and long-time supporter on the Chicago political scene.
Obama described Pfleger’s remarks about Clinton as “unfair,” which seems to drastically understate the cruelty of the priest’s racially charged sexist diatribe.
Obama also used the occasion to reaffirm his respect for Otis Moss, Rev. Wright’s successor at Trinity. Recall that following Pfleger’s sermon last Sunday, Moss stepped up to the pulpit and told his wildly cheering congregation that we "thank God for the message and for the messenger." In case you missed it, watch Father Pfleger in action here, and watch Obama’s statement here.
Welcome to Katalusis for progressive views on politics, religion, environmental issues, and popular culture. (Photo of the Mississippi River from the University Club in St. Paul, MN.)
Showing posts with label Puerto Rico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puerto Rico. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
As Rules Committee Meets, Clinton Poised for Blowout Win in Puerto Rico
Photo credits: Getty ImagesAs the Democrats' Rules Committee meets today in Washington to resolve the Michigan and Florida dispute, the latest poll in Puerto Rico shows Hillary Clinton may be poised for another blowout win over Barack Obama this Sunday.
CNN reports:
“According to the new survey conducted for the newspaper El Vocero and Univision, Clinton is leading Obama there 51 percent to 38 percent among all adults in the primary.
“The poll also show 52 percent of Puerto Ricans view Clinton favorably while 42 percent view Obama favorably.
“The survey was conducted May 8-20. Given the length of the survey time, it is possible it may not reflect the current views of Puerto Ricans since both candidates have visited the island since the polling began, and other recent developments on the campaign trail may have swayed voters' minds there.
“Her popularity on the island caught the attention of one of the island's most famous pop stars Thursday.
‘“Ricky Martin endorsed Clinton for the Democratic nomination, saying, ‘Whether fighting for better education, universal health care and social well-being, as first lady and senator from New York -- representing millions of Latinos -- she has always fought for what is most important for our families.”’
Other developments since the latest poll taken in Puerto Rico might include Father Pfleger’s outrageous performance at Trinity UCC caught on video last Sunday.
In today’s Boston Globe, Scott Helman recaps: ‘“Just as he tries to begin uniting a fractured Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama is suffering from another damaging outburst from the pulpit of his longtime church, where outspoken Chicago priest Michael L. Pfleger said in a guest sermon last Sunday that Senator Hillary Clinton was a ‘white’ and ‘entitled’ politician staggered to see ‘a black man stealing my show.”’
It remains to be seen how much the latest scandal emanating from Obama’s church will influence voters in the final three Democratic primaries: Puerto Rico on Sunday and Montana and South Dakota this coming Tuesday.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
New Ads for Hillary in Montana and Puerto Rico
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Obama’s Puerto Rican Campaign Co-Director Exposed as Government Lobbyist
In the run up to a busy weekend for Democrats, Obama is encountering a few obstacles. The self-described harbinger of the “new politics” and loud opponent of lobbyists is in trouble in Puerto Rico, Jeffrey Birnbaum reported in the Washington Post just minutes ago:
“The co-director of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Puerto Rico is a Washington-based federal lobbyist for the government of Puerto Rico.”
Ah, but the Obama campaign has a ready excuse, explains Birmbaum:
“Ethics watchdogs said that the high-profile role of Francisco J. Pavía appears to contradict the Obama campaign's ethics guidelines, which forbid federal lobbyists from working on staff. But Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Pavía is an "active volunteer" -- not a paid staffer -- and can hold the job without running afoul of the campaign's rules.”
Birnbaum reminds us:
“Obama has criticized McCain for enlisting ‘some of the biggest lobbyists in Washington’ to run his presidential campaign. McCain has instituted tough new rules against lobbyists working for his campaign, which recently led to the resignation of five senior McCain advisers, including his top fundraiser, Tom Loeffler.”
Obama’s organization isn’t exactly clean:
“But Obama's rules also have been somewhat ambiguous. Some of his campaign's volunteer policy advisers are lobbyists. And at least one lobbyist said he was asked to take a leave of absence from his firm before he volunteered for the campaign.”
Birmbaum checked with Melanie Sloan of the Citizens for responsibility and Ethics in Washington who said:
‘"It sounds like a conflict with Obama's policy. They need to provide an explanation."’
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton hedged:
“Burton said that Pavía's role with the campaign was permissible but that the rules were not airtight. ‘This is not a perfect solution to the influence of special interests in Washington,’ he said. "But it is a symbol of the effort that Senator Obama is going to make to decrease the influence that the special interests do have.”’
Not only has the haloed Obama's lobbyist on staff in Puerto Rico been exposed this week, it seems BO couldn’t get his story straight when he reported on Memorial Day that his uncle had helped Americans liberate Auschwitz. Fox News quickly pointed out “two obvious problems with the tale: Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army, and Obama’s American mother was an only child.”
The Obama camp quickly issued a statement:
‘“Senator Obama’s family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II — especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. “Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically.”’
For someone whose eloquence is often praised, Obama has made his share of troublesome gaffes.
“The co-director of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Puerto Rico is a Washington-based federal lobbyist for the government of Puerto Rico.”
Ah, but the Obama campaign has a ready excuse, explains Birmbaum:
“Ethics watchdogs said that the high-profile role of Francisco J. Pavía appears to contradict the Obama campaign's ethics guidelines, which forbid federal lobbyists from working on staff. But Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Pavía is an "active volunteer" -- not a paid staffer -- and can hold the job without running afoul of the campaign's rules.”
Birnbaum reminds us:
“Obama has criticized McCain for enlisting ‘some of the biggest lobbyists in Washington’ to run his presidential campaign. McCain has instituted tough new rules against lobbyists working for his campaign, which recently led to the resignation of five senior McCain advisers, including his top fundraiser, Tom Loeffler.”
Obama’s organization isn’t exactly clean:
“But Obama's rules also have been somewhat ambiguous. Some of his campaign's volunteer policy advisers are lobbyists. And at least one lobbyist said he was asked to take a leave of absence from his firm before he volunteered for the campaign.”
Birmbaum checked with Melanie Sloan of the Citizens for responsibility and Ethics in Washington who said:
‘"It sounds like a conflict with Obama's policy. They need to provide an explanation."’
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton hedged:
“Burton said that Pavía's role with the campaign was permissible but that the rules were not airtight. ‘This is not a perfect solution to the influence of special interests in Washington,’ he said. "But it is a symbol of the effort that Senator Obama is going to make to decrease the influence that the special interests do have.”’
Not only has the haloed Obama's lobbyist on staff in Puerto Rico been exposed this week, it seems BO couldn’t get his story straight when he reported on Memorial Day that his uncle had helped Americans liberate Auschwitz. Fox News quickly pointed out “two obvious problems with the tale: Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army, and Obama’s American mother was an only child.”
The Obama camp quickly issued a statement:
‘“Senator Obama’s family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II — especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. “Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically.”’
For someone whose eloquence is often praised, Obama has made his share of troublesome gaffes.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Clinton Empathizes With Puerto Rican Family on Memorial Day
Writing for the Caucus (NY Times), Larry Rohter provides a little background information for his coverage of Hillary Clinton’s campaign on Memorial Day in Bayamon, Puerto Rico:
“Traditionally, Puerto Ricans have both served in the Armed Forces and died in combat in numbers disproportionate to their share of the population. So it rankles many on the island that, even as their sons and daughters are serving with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan, they do not enjoy all of the same rights and privileges of citizenship as other Americans.”
Rohter gives Clinton credit for her awareness of that sentiment picked up from conversations with former governor Carlos Romero Barcelo and others. Rohter reports that Clinton reiterated her opposition to the Iraq War and promised a better deal for veterans if she is elected president.
At the home of a family whose son has been deployed to Iraq, Rohter says Clinton’s message was clear despite the language barrier:
‘“When I’m president, we will begin ending the war in Iraq, and you won’t have to worry about him going back,’ she told the couple after they showed her a picture of their son in his uniform. Mr. Rivera, a 59-year-old maintenance worker at a neighborhood recreation center, explained that the young man had enlisted right out of high school because good jobs are scarce here, and threw a compliment Mrs. Clinton’s way.
‘“You don’t get old, you know,’ he said. Mrs. Clinton laughed, turned to Ms. Santiago and said: ‘No wonder you married him.”’
Noting that Puerto Ricans living on the mainland have the right to vote in presidential elections, but the 4 million people living in Puerto Rico do not, Mrs. Clinton said it made her unhappy that “when Jonathan Rivera’s military service ends and he returns home, he will relinquish the possibility of voting for president.”
According to Rohter’s report, Clinton was scheduled to make remarks with a Memorial Day theme and to lay a wreath in Old San Juan to the Puerto Rican soldiers who have fallen while fighting America’s wars.
“Traditionally, Puerto Ricans have both served in the Armed Forces and died in combat in numbers disproportionate to their share of the population. So it rankles many on the island that, even as their sons and daughters are serving with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan, they do not enjoy all of the same rights and privileges of citizenship as other Americans.”
Rohter gives Clinton credit for her awareness of that sentiment picked up from conversations with former governor Carlos Romero Barcelo and others. Rohter reports that Clinton reiterated her opposition to the Iraq War and promised a better deal for veterans if she is elected president.
At the home of a family whose son has been deployed to Iraq, Rohter says Clinton’s message was clear despite the language barrier:
‘“When I’m president, we will begin ending the war in Iraq, and you won’t have to worry about him going back,’ she told the couple after they showed her a picture of their son in his uniform. Mr. Rivera, a 59-year-old maintenance worker at a neighborhood recreation center, explained that the young man had enlisted right out of high school because good jobs are scarce here, and threw a compliment Mrs. Clinton’s way.
‘“You don’t get old, you know,’ he said. Mrs. Clinton laughed, turned to Ms. Santiago and said: ‘No wonder you married him.”’
Noting that Puerto Ricans living on the mainland have the right to vote in presidential elections, but the 4 million people living in Puerto Rico do not, Mrs. Clinton said it made her unhappy that “when Jonathan Rivera’s military service ends and he returns home, he will relinquish the possibility of voting for president.”
According to Rohter’s report, Clinton was scheduled to make remarks with a Memorial Day theme and to lay a wreath in Old San Juan to the Puerto Rican soldiers who have fallen while fighting America’s wars.
Hillary Dances in Puerto Rico
On the trail in Puerto Rico with Hillary Clinton, Aaron Bruns from Fox News says the candidate is having a much-needed happy day.
Read Aaron’s report and watch Hillary dance on video here.
Read Aaron’s report and watch Hillary dance on video here.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Hillary Clinton, “A Fighting Champion for Working Families”
Official photoProfessional that she is, Hillary Clinton knows how to take an occasional setback in stride and keep moving forward. Jeff Zeleny of the NY Times reported today:
“With a fresh strategy team in place, the presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sought Monday to reassure supporters, contributors and Democratic delegates that her candidacy would withstand and be rejuvenated by the second leadership shakeup in two months.”
“Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster, and Howard Wolfson, a longtime adviser to Mrs. Clinton, formally began their duties coordinating the campaign’s strategic message, replacing her chief strategist, Mark Penn,” Zeleney said.
Zeleny continued:
“Mrs. Clinton spent the day in Washington out of public view, huddling with her advisers about the Pennsylvania primary on April 22 and other forthcoming contests. But in an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which was taped Friday, Mrs. Clinton radiated optimism.
“… Ms. DeGeneres asked Mrs. Clinton about dropping out of the race. Smiling, Mrs. Clinton said it was all those years fighting off the “boys” that provided her with strength to resist calls by some Democratic leaders for her to end her candidacy.
“‘You know, boys used to say that to me all the time,’ Mrs. Clinton replied. ‘And I figured I know this contest is close. I don’t think either one of us should get out. We should let people vote. There are a lot of states that haven’t voted yet.’
“In the next breath, she added: ‘They deserve a chance to have their votes counted and I just feel like I’m doing this for myself, obviously, because I believe so much in what our country can be again once we finally get through with President Bush and get back to being the America we know and love.’
Zeleny added:
“Indeed, the Clinton campaign was pressing forward, dispatching the former president to court voters in Puerto Rico, which holds its nominating contest on June 1. Mr. Clinton and Terry McAuliffe, the campaign’s chairman, barnstormed the island on Monday, traveling from Barceloneta to Salinas to Ponce.
“Mr. McEntee, the president of A.F.S.C.M.E., called Mrs. Clinton ‘a fighting champion for working families.’”
To read Zeleny’s complete article, go here.
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