Clinton’s Congressional Supporters Forced Campaign Suspension
Major Garrett reports that it was pressure from three high-powered House Democrats that finally forced Hillary Clinton into setting a date to suspend her campaign for the nomination.
Congressional sources tell Major that Reps. Charlie Rangel of New York, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and Norm Dicks of Washington leaned on Hillary Clinton to end her campaign this week, after she declined to give a date for her departure on a conference call with about 20 congressional supporters
Rangel, Frank and Dicks made separate appeals to Clinton to come up with a plan to leave the race and throw her support behind Obama, telling her the party needs to unify.
All three were dissatisfied with Clinton’s speech on Tuesday, when Clinton failed even to acknowledge Obama’s insurmountable delegate lead. On Wednesday, Rangel told ABC News that “Unless she has some good reasons– which I can’t think of– I really think we ought to get on with endorsements and dealing with what we have to deal with… so we can move forward.”
Clinton later told congressional backers that she’d move to begin unifying the party soon, but the of lack a specific date caused Rangel, Franks, and Dicks to ratchet up the pressure
Overnight, Clinton sent a letter to supporters letting them know about her Saturday event where she’ll thank those who have been behind her for the last 16 months and express her support for Obama’s candidacy. You can read the full letter after the jump.
Dear Aaron,
I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.
On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.
I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party’s nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.
When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House.
I made you — and everyone who supported me — a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I’m going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.
I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise.
I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you.
In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.
I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you.
Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Tags: barack obama, barney frank, hillary clinton, capitol hill, charlie rangel, norm dicks
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Where is the story in this?
Clinton has been forced out, right along. The DNC decided they wanted Obama and that was it from the beginning!
Hillary was bashed, slandered and ridiculed throughout the entire primary process.
I don’t know why the Dems even had a primary!
Even a supposedly Catholic priest had a hand in the fiasco!
I am disgusted with the DNC and all it’s members!
They are the most crude and crass group of cads I have ever seen.
Good riddance to them.
I supported Clinton through all of it.
I will now turn my back on the Dems, just as they turned theirs!
I’m a ” McCainocrat” now!
I will active campaign for John McCain.
Never Obama!
What pressures did Rangel, Frank, and Dicks bring to bear? Just pointing out what has been pointed out a thousand times before, that from the party’s point of view the Clintons should hang it up for the sake of unity, would not have done it.
No more comments from me. This is all a big fix. I’m no longer a Democrat. What a joke this campaign has been. disgusting
This is history. Based on the way the Democratic Party has run their side of the election process, it is very hard for me to feel proud…but, I am.
God Bless America!
Well I am voting McCain and Obama can just keep leading the sheep who refuse to look the mans history up. He is not loyal to anyone be they black or white, he has proven that with his first post and his abuse of the person who gave him his leg up. I do not trust him and I have lived long enough to know to beware of the golden tounge and the false promises. I told my children when the media first started to toot for him he would win no matter what, and by the way, super delegates are not voted in they are picked by guess who? The DNC. So the DNC elected Obama. So the DNC can have him.
I would vote for G.W. Bush before I would vote for Obama !
This loyal Democrat for over 40 years will vote , donate , campaign for
McCain . I have already changed my party and I will vote against all Democrats in
Congress !
as Obama describes me…………. this is a bitter, racist, uneducated, blue collar, gun-toting ,angry woman !
The only question that remains at this point is how much alimony Bill will ask for.
In my humble opinion both Bill and Hillary behave as though they were “American Royalty”. I felt that Hillary was desperate for the office of President and put herself above the Party and the good of the American People throughout her campaign. I regret to admit that I trust neither. My perception of Barack Obama has been one that has led me to support his candidacy with my vote and modest monetary contributions. I hope he can/will seek to accomplish what he promises or I am done with the Democrats and will support Independent Third Party candidates in the future. I have and would never support the RATpubliCANTS.
This is not very charitable of them. I see no reason why she should be ‘forced’ to do anything.
She was the Presidential runner, and it should be in her very own time that any decisions are made.
It seems that she has been ‘forced’ to do many things during this campaign. Those at Party HQ have a great deal to answer for - it will be a fitting end if Obama does NOT get the key to White House front door………………….
The Democratic congress are wimps. They’ve not stuck their necks out on anything. They promised to impeach the lieing Bush Presidency and defund the War in Iraq…so far the two pillars that got thos knuckleheads in the majority in the first place–hasn’t happened.
But they are quick to impune the one patriot (Gen. Petraieus) who is performing exeptionally in support of taxpayers–without pimping himself to special interests–and without really great financial compensation–just protecting the constitution and following the orders of elected civilians–like the oath he took says.
We need to give Washington an enema. Return control to the people.
Libertarians 2008.
Another party…whose time has come.
Bob Barr, President 2008. Please help support the change we need. Libertarians do not have huge special interest, labor, nor business mongrel backing–they are purely supported by the American people. Donate today so we can be on every ballot in America. We really can change the nation–but not if we continue to support the people who have consistently betrayed our faith and trust.
Its about time. Finally she’s shown a hint of class. Bowing out gracefully is the best decision she’s made in this campaign thus far.
OK LET THE ARMAJEDON TO COME
The democratic party is anything but…
For the love of God, she still can’t say its over!
OMFGBBQ! This letter is all about her. If you were just skimming it you could easily miss where she talks about Obama. She is the most vain person I have ever seen in politics. It is painful to watch her and Bill finish destroying the Clinton legacy.
I was pushing for a VP position for her since I realized she was too far behind to catch up, but sje made it impossible for Obama to pick her. You can’t threaten the President and force his hand. If Obama can not stand up to Hillary, how can he stand up to Iran? If he can not manage this challenge, how can he manage Americas?
I hold Hillary to that same stick. If she can not manage her campaign, how can she manage America? She reminds me too much of Bush. She spends money that isn’t there, she refuses to admit things arn’t working, she cares only about her self and she even thanked her supporters for “Staying the Course”.
She ran a bad campaign, she did not understand the battle before going in, when she started to lose she went negitive and tried to damage the party.
What part of the past year shows any skills or attributes that a President would want in a Vice President.
I think Hillary did a terrific job and has worked harder than anyone for 16 months and the media and the Senators need to get off her butt. Give her a break. If she was black this wouldn’t happen and no I am not racist, but she was treated awful by the media.
The undemocratic party has threatened democracy not just here in America but around the world.
The DNC rules committee knew that when they stripped the delegates of Michigan and Florida that the people would not let it go and they knew that they would be able to swing this election and have more power than all the voters. They robbed me of my vote counting and I am not in Michigan and or in Florida. If they can do this in Michigan and in Florida they can do it anywhere. I can not and will not support a party that believes that it is appropriate to deny the voice of the people. This election in my mind has been rigged and staged. I could care less who was on the ticket Hillary or Obama, The Undemocratic party will never receive my vote, until they change the their own rules. A note to all the young people, you might like Obama and perhaps for good reason but if you vote Democrat this fall you will effectively be setting the precedent for your most basic rights to be violated. If you are not from Michigan or Florida consider that the rules committee has the power to take your vote away and they have done it before and they will again. This election is no longer about Obama, Hillary, McCain, the war or the economy.
This election is about confronting the serious threat to democracy.
The Undemocratic party is a socialist, and undemocratic movement and strong leaders in the party need to get involved and fix the problem.
“…to suspend her campaign….”
Huh? So what does that mean? Suspend. She still isn’t letting go. Ugghh…
I realize that losing is very hard for Hillary. But now Hillary was “forced” into a giving a departure and unifying date from her campaign? I guess many could picture the 3 “men” that “forced” her and now feel victimized once again that Hillary has gotten treated unfairly. This has got to stop…Hillary lost and now needs to bow out, Hillary has now plenty of time now to figure out what she is going to do, but don’t hold unifying the party because of your own personal reasons. Hillary has not even congratulated Obama on the win - our President and McCain did this before Hillary even thought of it…Hillary could not even acknowledge this during her Tuesday speech. I am even more disappointed in Hillary…good luck Hillary on your run for NY Senator when that comes up????
I realize that losing is very hard for Hillary. But now Hillary was “forced” into a giving a departure and unifying date from her campaign? I guess many could picture the 3 “men” that “forced” her and now feel victimized once again that Hillary has gotten treated unfairly. This has got to stop…Hillary lost and now needs to bow out, Hillary has now plenty of time now to figure out what she is going to do, but don’t hold unifying the party because of your own personal reasons. Hillary has not even congratulated Obama on the win - our President and McCain did this before Hillary even thought of it…Hillary could not even acknowledge this during her Tuesday speech. I am even more disappointed in Hillary…good luck Hillary on your run for NY Senator when that comes up????
P.S. Oh and she is suspending her campaign???what is that??? Concede is more of the term one should use…the campaign is over Hillary.
Forgive the Democrats father. They know not what they do.
It is regrettable when ambition gets in the way! When we begin to imagine that we’re always No. 1 - watch out! For months Hillary has refused to accept that the writing on the wall was spelling out a name, and it wasn’t C-l-i-n-t-o-n! It is quite evident that she finds it very difficult to come to terms with! It happens in every election - candidates must be prepared for it! And accept it very gracefully! This past Tuesday night was not an example of that!
IT was a sad day when Hillary lost I am now a republican at least the republicans recognize women as people and having rights . I will never vote for Obama . He is wishy washy, look at his newest stance on irans revolutionary guard being a terrorist organization, at least Hillary voted for it up front and took the heat he dished out like Mccain did when Obama was against it. John mccain is an homorable man and outside of some of his economic policies I can live with that choice. I cannot live with Obama’s Gimme politics and entitlements for minorities. The blacks scream prejudice and yet look at who won the primary. Funny how Dean gets to keep his position. What a joke as an ex vermonter. I guess we know why he sold out Hillary. I hope Mccain buries the Dems. I will be sending money to support John Mccain as will so many other women. I am DONE with Dems even if Hillary is VP . Obama should have asked straight up immediately or it would all be for show. He can’t win without the Dem Women.
I do not know how everyone can state that Obama won the nomination. He did not have
enough deligates from the voters, so he was given the ones that he needed. This is
not a win, it was another gimmie. So you probably know why some democrats will be
voting republican this fall. At least McCain won the nomination by the people.
Hillary = I read where this democrat tells you, you have to do this, this and that. Well, tell everyone to go fly a kite. Ask what have they done for you, lately?
Right now, Obama needs you more than you need him.
Fix the paryt and go to Europe for 6 months.
The democratic party will have to get that win minus thousands of ex-democrats. We have left the crooked dnc. The only way we will vote for anyone other than McCain is if Clinton goes independent. You will find that most of the hard working blue collar democrats are tired of the dnc and the corruption. Stealing delegates is no less the criminal.
The dnc has a hard lesson to learn if they think we will come back to the fold. Ever!!!!
New independent for McCain08
HILLARY SUPPORTERS:
Reps. Charlie Rangel of New York, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and Norm Dicks of Washington leaned on Hillary Clinton to end her campaign this week, after she declined to give a date for her departure on a conference call with about 20 congressional supporters.
In this Primary, some backers of B.O. are using mob-like tactics & we don’t like it!
Hillary is just waiting for Obamar to agree to pay her bills.Why dont ya just tell this to people instead of trying to make the news media look so dumb!
Has anyone else noticed the new names on this blog since Fox took control of it - seems to me they are controling its content and possibly posting “ghosts” to support their ideas
I for one will not post here if this continues
I don’t like threats. I believe Mrs. Clinton does not like threats. Frankly, you need Hillary more than she needs you, so why does not start treating her with the respect she deserves!!!
My mother always told me a teaspoon of honey sticks a lot better than a gallon of vinegar. I think all these crab apples have sucked down too much vinegar. The disposition on their faces look like they have drunk the vinegar, too.
thanks fox news
Does anyone think she will “strongly support Obama?” Hell, she can’t even admit that she lost.
I REMEMBER BACK IN THE 70′S WHEN I WORKED FOR PRUDENTIAL INS. CO.. TWO GIRLS CAME IN TO APPLY FOR A POSTED JOB. ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE. THE WHITE GIRL COULD TYPE 60 WPM. THE BLACK GIRL COULD ONLY DO THE TWO FINGER PICKING. GUESS WHO GOT THE JOB. YOU GUESSED IT THE BLACK GIRL BECAUSE THE CO. WAS FORCED TO HIRE A MINORITY. THE BLACK GIRL LASTED 2 DAYS AND DIDN’T SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY. THE WHITE GIRL, WHO BY THE WAY WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, HAD FOUND ANOTHER JOB. I AM SO TIRED OF BLACKS CRYING RACISM. THAT WAS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A WHITE GIRL. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW BADLY HILLARY WAS TREATED, BY THE PRESS AND THE SO CALLED DELEGATES. REMINDS ME OF A PREVIOUS ELECTION. LETS FACE IT. VOTERS SHOULD JUST STAY HOME, BECAUSE THE DELEGATES (WEALTHY NON GOD FEARING ELITE CROWD) WILL SELECT OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. HILLARY SUPPORTERS, GET THE NEWS OUT AND VOTE NEW SEN. AND NEW REPS. AND GOV. THATS HOW YOU GET CHANGE, BUT WATCH, BECAUSE THEIR IS A LOT OF VOTER FRAUD. HOW IS IT THAT HILLARY DIDN’T WIN ONE CAUCUS. KIND OF STRANGE. CHECK IT OUT, I BET THERE WERE SOME FAMILIAR FACES IN THE CROWD IN EACH STATE. THIS IS A SAD MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY. THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED EXPERIENCE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, GOD HELP US! ITS ALL A PLAY PREPLANNED. THINK THE ELITE WANT TO LOOSE THEIR TAX BREAKS, THINK AGAIN. AND WHY DO THEY GET TO VOTE THEIR OWN PAY RAISES. JUST WATCH THE SENATE IN SESSION. SEN. BYRD SHOULD HAVE RETIRED LONG AGO. TONY REZCO I WOULD GUESS FUNDED OBAMA AND THATS WHY HE IS EVEN IN THE SENATE. I GUESS THE GOV. DECIDED WE HAD TO HAVE A MINORITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WHY OBAMA? THERE ARE MORE QUALIFIED BLACK SEN . WATCH HOW OBAMA HURTS THE BLACKS. AND BY THE WAY I HAVE ATTENDED BLACK CHURCHES AND THERE WAS NO HATRED IN THEM, NOTHING BUT SPIRIT LOVING PEOPLE. PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY.
Once again PARTY LEADERS - making problems!! - Back OFF!
The DNC SELECTED our nominee - the people did not ELECT the democratic nominee - what a SHAME for our party and America.
Obama is a FRAUD and will never be elected - he is NOT qualified to be President of the USA. -
BUT - McCain is!
I’m glad that Sen. Obama is eager to accept the help, and advice of Bill Clinton. We love Bill Clinton. He was one of the GREATEST! Presidents in American history. And he is a very smart, and enormously talented and experienced leader.
As far as I am concerned. Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton don’t owe America anything more. They served the American people and the World very well for 8 years under enormous adversity.
But if they still want to help out, it would be foolish not to accept them with open arms. Bill Clinton was an excellent model of modern Presidential leadership excellence, and effectiveness.
Plus, we just love Bill.
jacksmith… Working Class
Clinton lost the Democratic Primary, because most did not want another Clinton in the Whitehouse and this gives Obama false readings on his win. I feel a number voted for Obama against Clinton not for Obama and this country is in the “center”. It is not left or right and the voters will pick a candidate who is in the middle, Independent and Blue Dog Democrats are considered VERY conservative to Obama and the leftwing Democrats.
All she had to do was win if everyone loved her she would have won but she lost if thats the reason u wont vote 4 Obama then u need Mc cain vote for the person who comes the closet to your own vues but dont be a soar looser never new there were so many babies
We now have our representative for our party and it is a must that we support him. No matter how mad you are we are still DEMOCRATS. If you don’t vote for him your not and you didn’t support Sen.Clinton for the right reason…
Molly said, The DNC SELECTED our nominee…. Obama is a FRAUD and will never be elected - he is NOT qualified to be President of the USA. - BUT - McCain is!
So you’re upset over the fact that the DNC followed the rules they’d set long before we had any front runners. Well, I can understand that, since their following the rules meant your candidate lost.
BUT… presumably you supported Clinton because she stood for universal health coverage, the poor and middle class, was against the war in Iraq, was for change in Washington, something like that.
And now, because you’re mad, you’re going to go vote for the guy who doesn’t care about universal health coverage, favors big business over the poor and middle class, wants to keep dumping American money and spilling American blood in Iraq, and has spent years playing a key role in getting America into her current mess.
Do you think you’re making Hillary proud?
molly and jacksmith need to wise up…………………………the only ones fooling anyone are Hill/Bill who are more interested in their own legacy and power than helping anyone of you……nuts you cannot see it plain and simple. You two have been manipulated by the Clinton machine…they sit and laugh at people like you…..good luck to Senator Obama…I am a Republican and voted for Mccain in the primaries….looks like I’ll be voting for OBAMA in the general.
Bill was impeached wasn’t he? I’m pretty sure I remember that. He lied to congress, he lied to the American people, he lied under oath. The county spent a lot of money proving that he lied, proving that he is not a decent man. Once the Clinton hold on the democratic party ends, you are very likely to find out what happened to Vince Foster, you are likely to find out how many bimbo eruptions there really were, you might actually find out about the legal billing issues of her old law firm, and maybe even Whitewater.
Why was Clinton a great president? I mean what did he do to improve America. I know what he did to America, and we allowed him to do it for eight years. Seriously, what did he do for America that made him great, or even good. I’ll settle for good.
It’s amazing that even as Hillary vowed support for Obama, still didn’t make some Obama supporters/Clinton haters happy. 8 years ago, people let their personal likes or dislikes which easily influenced by the media run their decision rather than their own cold head and logic, the same repeats now. No wonder the country is in deep trouble as it is in now. 16 years ago, the country was in recession and government runs big deficit, Bill turned it around into government surplus, better job opportunities for every American. That’s what makes Bill great. Look at the gas price now and 8 years ago, look at the huge deficit and the little discussed facts on the bankrupting social security and medicare, pension due to the government borrow heavily into the future of these funds to cover its deficit, a USA Today reports every american, including retirees and children, owes more than $500000. 8 years ago people picked an inexperience Bush into office. 4 years from now, I won’t be surprised if people regret gotten fooled by the media and picked yet another likable guy who can only talk the talk but never walk the walk. I won’t be surprised if the gas price still high as is or even higher. I won’t be surprised if the deficit and everybody’s tax gets even higher. Look at how many votes Obama didn’t cast in senate, either he’s lazy or indecisive or lack of experience, knowledge and skills to decide.
It seems race is all Obama’’s supporters care about, even stooping low enough to falsely accuse the Clintons of racism! the Clintons, who have stood up for blacks and against racism for so many years! I will NEVER vote for Obama now, he and his foul minded supporters don”t deserve my vote, or the votes and support of any of Hillary’s supporters. Sorry Hillary, unless he chooses you for the other half of this ticket, I cannot support him even if you ask me to, can”t do it.