I just watched CNN with James Carville and the Obama supporter DID NOT SPEAK UP FOR OBAMA. Read my letter to a handler of a pro-claimed Obama supporter. Essentially, Carvillle dominated the conversation and was able to state incorrect information without counter. With friends like this....
(did anyone else see this on CNN?)
Dear Ms. Anita Butler, speaker coordinator for Jamal Simmons:
I just watched Jamal Simmons on CNN with James Carville. There were several misstatements about the race that Mr. Simmons -- billed as a supporter of Barack Obama -- allowed to stand and/or offered only the weakest of disagreement.
- it is not a 49/50 race. Mr. Simmons should have had the following facts ready to tell viewers :
A. in 13 states, Obama has won by a greater than 30% margin. Only in one state has Hillary done so (her homestate of Arkansas).
B. Obama is ahead in the popular vote by 3%... his lead only goes down to 2.6% if you ignore the caucus states (some like to try inexplicably disenfranchise caucus states when figuring the count).
C. Obama's popular vote lead remains even if you count Florida AND Ignore the Caucus states.
D. PEW research, CNN poll, GALLUP poll, Rasmussin Reports most recent national polls have all placed Hillary behind Obama among democrats by a margin of 6% to 10%. This is a big difference based on recent national election margins.
- The pledged delegate vote is NOT close.
A. The republicans have some winner take all primaries. Democrats do not, if they did, Obama's lead would be comparable to the Rebublican margin. As it is, it is not a matter of opinion that Hillary has no chance of catching up. I have done the math myself, it can not happen.
- Carville should be called out loud and clear for proposing that Clinton should violate her pledge to honor the DNC. It should be noted in that way -- she agreed to the rules and I would like to see Carville asked by the one representing Obama's supporters why Clinton took the press release that she supported the rules and signed the "loyalty pledge" on the issue off of her website. Have the wording available in case it is needed! Refer to 2007 NEW YORK TIMES story on the matter. If Mr. Simmons is going to be speaking for Obama supporters (like me), please stand up to the ludicrous proposal to count a race where voters were told it would not count and only Hillary's name was on the ballot -- so she won 100% of the delegates in Michigan? Nobody in Michigan wants Obama to win? Clarify the proposal to count Michigan for the viewers.
A. This (disputing DNC rules) is the type of in party fighting that is not ok -- a perfect example of the kind of thing he and his brothers would not take outside the family. (Mr. Simmons talked about a family fighing within but not outside) Disputing the agreed upon rules of the family (DNC) with the other side (within is a no - no, the rhetoric that Carvill uses on this should be countered ).
Anyway, I am quite politically active and have been for a long time. Before being a professor and having four kiddos I was even more involved. This year, I have hosted house parties for Obama and made pro-Obama you tube videos (out of frustration with media). I do wish that that Mr. Simmons would not allow Carvill to dominate the conversation (clock the time spent talking!) with false statements. -----I care.
a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/...
From New York Times:
"The Democratic National Committee has vowed to take away Florida’s 210 delegates — and those of any other state that moved its nominating contest before Feb. 5 — if it does not come up with an alternative plan.
...the major Democratic presidential candidates on Saturday pledged not to campaign in Florida, Michigan and other states trying to leapfrog the 2008 primary calendar....
Hours after Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina agreed to sign a loyalty pledge put forward by party officials, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York followed suit."