Posted on 03/08/2008 6:23:11 AM PST by jdm
Last night, Bill O’Reilly asked Al Sharpton the $64,000 question — what happens if Hillary Clinton gets the nomination even if Barack Obama comes into Denver leading in pledged delegates? After the losses in Texas and Ohio, the new meme has the superdelegates wondering whether Obama can win a general election. If Hillary can make it closer by the time the convention rolls around, say to within 70 or so pledged delegates, the superdelegates will throw their support to the most competitive candidate.
After hesitating a bit, Sharpton makes it clear that he and his supporters won’t accept a brokered outcome:
Superdelegates are not Supermen. The party can’t say it represents the concept of one-man, one-vote democracy and then make backroom deals that ignore the popular vote and the will of the electorate. They will march in the street to protest a Hillary nomination if she comes into Denver trailing Obama.
Strong words indeed.
Duane and I discussed this today, and he thought that putting Obama at the bottom of the ticket will avoid a walkout. I don’t think Obama will be willing to tie his political fortunes to Bill and Hillary Clinton, and I don’t think that his supporters would forgive him easily if he did. The Clintons are everything that his campaign opposed — insider deals, nasty personal attack strategies, and the politics of the Beltway. Accepting that bottom slot would endorse all of that and eliminate the one advantage he gives the Democrats.
Sharpton’s threat gives Obama potent leverage to keep from accepting a convention demotion. If his supporters start talking about third-party movements, the Democrats are finished up and down the ticket — and they know it.
UPDATE: My apologies — Red Lasso seems to have a problem with this episode from O’Reilly. Hopefully it will work again soon; it worked when I loaded this initially.
al sharpton, soulbroker (as in “broker of souls”).
no Obama no peace no Obama no peace no Obama no peace no Obama no peace
The fundamental problem is “better” conservatives like O’Reilly even giving the race pimp Sharpton a platform.
I’ll hold my breath waiting for O’Moderate to give a race-obsessed white supremacist, (if they can find one), equal time.
I was hoping he was going to, like, walk off a pier or something.
Al Sharptongue, to the dems, as ye sew so shall ye reap.
THis is good news to me.
YOu go Al!! If you get robbed, well, I think you should take it to the streets.
wish I had a pic of him marching the streets of NYC dressed in a warm up with big gold chains hanging around his neck
Pass the popcorn. Could this be a repeat of the 1968 Democratic convention (Chicago)?
A reprise of the Crown Heights Riot or Freddy’s Fashion Mart Rumble?
If Hillary takes this away from Obama by stealing Michigan and FLA, you will the african-american community in such a lather, it will make the Rodney King riots look like a division IV, small basketball tournament.
I predicted riots months ago.. here at the FR.
Watch him.
A “Brokered” convention is now a given. Its the outcome that is in doubt. /snicker snicker.
Laughable bit of disengenuousness. If the superdelegate strategy were to work FOR Sharpton's candidate, rest assured he'd be talking out the other side of his mouth and touting their necessity up one side and down the other.
Lying Democrat scum. All of them.
I need to stock up on Beer Pizza popcorn and chips!
This may get interesting, in a Chinese proverb sorta way.
Way to go, Al! Threats and intimidation - the sure methods to bring peace in Denver.
O'Reilly is Sharpton's "Lawn Jockey".
Sure, like he’s going to vote for who - McCain???
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