Bill's Explanation
SILVER SPRING, MD -- It's an argument that Bill Clinton has made before: Hillary Clinton loses caucus states because working-class voters are disenfranchized by evening caucuses. But in the midst of a frenetic effort to harvest the blue-collar vote that Barack Obama has struggled to court in the lead-up to Tuesday's Potomac Primary, the former president isn't holding back.
"Her campaign's broad appeal is largely to people who need a president," Clinton told an audience in Silver Spring's Leisure World retirement community tonight. "Very often they are working and busy and dont go to these caucuses."
Clinton also claimed that, despite losses in caucuses those held in Iowa and Washington State (he conceded that she "got killed" by rival Obama), his wife "had receieved about half a million more popular votes." (it's unclear when that count was made, however) He noted that her losses in caucus - versus primary -- states echoes the results of his own ultimately successful run for the presidency in 1992.
The room filled with regretful and sympathetic murmurs when Clinton related the story of six nurses in Washington State who spoke at an event for the New York senator after she was endorsed by the American Nurses Association. "They all said how sorry they were because they couldn't caucus for her because they had to work that day," he related.
Clinton reiterated his claim today that it is "mostly working people" who have contributed to the fundraising boom that has taken place since "it came out that our campaign was not raising nearly as much money as her opponents campaign, especially over the Internet."
"It's unbelievable," he said.
(NBC/NJ's CARRIE DANN)
What utter BS. So Obama supporters don't work? The Maine caucus was on a Sunday. Sure, some people work on Sundays but most don't. The fact is, Hillary Clinton got slaughtered because she never organized her supporters to caucus. She thought MA, CA, NY and NJ would be enough to win it. She bought the typical Terry McAuliffe swing strategy and lost by it.
1. If the caucus states had primaries instead Obama would be ahead in the national "popular vote" because of higher turnout FWIW. Obama would have cruised through Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, and Kansas anyways.
2.Votes could be cast absentee for the Maine Caucus so this argument doesn't hold up.
What balderdash! Maine is a white working class state where poor people and working class moms outnumber uppity college kids and wine swilling liberals. Bill, go back to Chappaqua or hop on a private jet to Davos. Are you out of touch...
These excuses from the Clintons' are beyond ridiculous. They KNEW last spring what the election calendar would look like. They thought they were inevitable. So now come the excuses. Everything is unfair to them, the caucuses, the endorsements, the money, the delegate count, Michigan, Florida, black voters, white male voters, smart women voters... you name it, it's unfair.
Voters of all classes, backgrounds, experiences, educational levels and more, are flocking to Obama.
The Clintons are just sore losers.
That's pretty hysterical! Yes, so many effete latte-sipping African-American liberals with PhD's in Nebraska, eh?
In the words of Bill Clinton, "Give me a break."
The Clintons essentially conceded the Saturday contests to Obama. They were outspent and out ground-gamed. But Bill would rather have us believe that caucuses are somehow undemocratic? Because Hillary keeps getting clobbered in them?
Look, the more Bill wags his finger at voters for choosing Obama, the worse he's going to look. It's bordering on pathetic, and I really honestly wish he would just stop.
Funny, that was EXACTLY the argument Howard Dean was making when he made his now infamous diss on the Iowa caucus. His full quote had nothing to do with Iowa, but with caucuses in general and how working families dont have as much time to go.
Oh Bill. You are indeed looking more and more pathetic. I have always been a big fan of yours, but I'm really sad to see you in this condition. And your wife is looking less and less presidential.
Excuses by the Clintons is just a confirmation of the trouncing that they are getting from AMERICANS. All demographics show a steady rise for Obama while Hillary's thirty something margins in polls by early January has consistently vanished from state to state. Obama's spread statewide confirm that Democrats across America want him to be their nominee while Hillary's concentration in big cities that she could not rout Obama in simply shows that she never was ready from day one. USA is comprised of 50 States, so if you want to be President from day one, you should plan to reach eligible voters in every of the 50 states and not concentrate on a few big cities with large immigrant concentrations. Votes from such big cities with their diverse ethnic backgrounds will never be a true representation of the real citizens of the USA. The Clintons should play a fairer game and acknowledge Obama's acceptance by Americans through the continous string of victories from state to state. It was very sad that Hillary did not congratulate Obama in her speech at Virginia following Obama's clean sweep last Saturday. It is such a shame as some of her supporters are now shifting to the Obama movement. She like Bill never makes mistakes and are 'infallible'. She could not accept that her vote on the authorization of the Iraq War was a mistake. Obama's wins are dismissed by Bill and his wife as a result of African American votes even in Iowa, Colorado, Maine, Utah, Missouri and Idaho.
I wonder the reason Bill Clinton will give about the trouncing he received from Obama at the Grammys too. Americans know when to discard the past and move on, sadly, only the Clintons prefer the past from the future while disregarding the present. Obama is the candidate for CHANGE that we can BELIEVE in. The Clintons belong to the establishment we are tired of, that have ruled the country for the past 20 years that we through Obama want to Change. Hillary having been First Lady for 20 years (12 years at Little rOCK and 8 years at the White House) wants to return to the White House as Prez. It is disgusting because what change or changes does she think she can bring now that she did not have the opportunity to effect in those 8 White House years? She has been boasting of her most reliable voting block as Hispanics and Latinos. Good for her but bad for the Hispanics and Latinos because she and Bill have pointed out that Latinos will hardly vote for a Black. This is very divisive and should be embarassing for the fact that it is very insulting to the Hispanics and Latinos. I predict that the Hispanics and Latinos will shock the Clintons in upcoming contests because they have seen where Americans are going and who they are voting and will not like to be stereotyped as anti-change. I am calling on every Democrat to consider that the country is on the verge of turning a new page that will benefit America and every American. All you have to do is to vote for Barack Obama while we shall be quite happy to get the reason that the Clintons will adduce after each loss. Obama for President, YES WE CAN.
God Bless America
Yeah, having to take time out of their busy Sunday was a disproportionately heavy burden on Clinton's solid base of retired women. Um, wait...
Look, there's some reason Obama keeps winning these things, and if you knew what it was, you'd like Obama less and Hillary more. Just trust me on this.
Let's see....... a "NH dem" who makes oblique hints that there's something nefarious going on when people vote for a black man.....and we have to just "trust him" that he knows what he's talking about.
Is this Bill Shaheen again?
Hold on everyone. Why does this nomintation turn to so much bickering? We can't fight amongst ourselves or we will end up with another republican in the white house. Obama is not going to do well against McCain. McCain is a war veteran, and has a middle conservative record. He can win over the people that want experience, and it looks like that is 1/2 of the democratic party. I am one of them.
I've started to look more towards the front running republican since a senator that has only worked in the government 3 years started to win. Obama is extremely liberal. Even more liberal than Hillary. We need to start paying attention to the voters in November, not our primaries.
I will vote for Hillary in my primary, and if she does not win, I will be switching to McCain. I cannot vote for a person that will be unable to get anything done, and will be voted out of the white house in four years for making things worse than they already are.
I am 26 years old, and I'm sorry if I have offended "the movement".
No offense taken. Vote for whomever you think bst to vote for. However, just remember that with McCain, you great grandchildren will be drafted to fight in Iraq. It's only a 100 year war to him.
PA Dem - You would have us believe the best state for American voters to be in, is as Luddites with a China Syndrome (people finding reasons NOT to change)! George Bush basically squandered the goodwill America earned after 9/11 and thereafter, it was downhill all the way for the USA. The GOP and neo cons killed the dreams of America. McCain would be no better - only worse. Are YOU ready for a 100 Year War? America needs a new song (enough of war! war!! war!!). Have you tried prosperity! prosperity!! prosperity!!! As for Bill Clinton, we all know he is a liar a la Lewinsky, so enough said there! Wake up, even the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't going that well - i.e. USA is losing and your young boys are dying for nothing... or wosrse still, the vanity of George Bush and his cronies. Wake up and smell the coffee... "Time, they are a changing..." There's a new future in town and it's spelt O-B-A-M-A!
Yemmi UK
Obama is the real thing. The news commentators would have wrapped this nomination up had it been Obama losing and Hillary in the forefront. Wake up America. Your prejudiced as hell! The man is smart articulate patriotic concientious strong unwavering unique and he just so happens to be black. Hey black aint always whack. Whats whack is Hillary. The people are speaking through votes. There's no debate here. I'm a black supervisor and my white co-workers can't handle that fact so I know how he feels!