Rangel on Why Hillary Still Runs
Charlie Rangel said the proof that Hillary Clinton can still win the Democratic nomination is that she is still pursuing the Democratic nomination. Either she has a chance, he said, or she’s nuts.
"If mathematically she couldn't get the nomination, it would mean that Obama has won and so she wouldn't be in the race," said Rangel. "And so obviously mathematically she can."
When asked how she could win the nomination, Rangel replied, "I don't know, but if mathematically she cannot win, then why aren't we declaring Obama the winner? I mean, it doesn't make sense. It is not my job to explain how, if she put $6 million of her money, the team is still together, the campaign is still going on, why do I have to explain mathematically why she can't win? If mathematically she can't win, then they are crazy. They ought to go to an insane asylum."
He added, "Anybody who really knows that they can't win and they won't quit, there is really something wrong with them."
Clinton is still in the race. So by that logic she must see some way of winning. What is it?
"I have no clue," said Rangel, explaining it wasn't his job as chairman of the House's Ways and Means Committee to chart or analyze Clinton's path to the nomination.
Then he offered an analogy: "In poker, when you've lost everything, in terms of not having any resources, and it's your hand, and you can't get all of your cards, you say 'all in.' But you don't quit. Because the game is not over."
Rangel said the New York delegation was still fully behind Clinton.
The members have "invested all of our political clout in her support," he said.
I mentioned Obama’s insurmountable delegate lead. "Your job is not to say who the hell won just because the party has some screwed-up rules in the ways we select,” he responded. “You are interpreting what could happen, and I'm telling you it's not over."
Asked whether Clinton stood in a stronger position today than she did before Tuesday and the disappointing finishes in both Indiana and North Carolina, Rangel said, "There was a time where she was the only candidate and nobody knew who the hell Obama was. And then Obama came and swept the imagination of Democrats throughout the United States of America. Now they are just two candidates. There are no strangers here. People have gotten to know Obama and they have gotten to know all sides of her. And you cannot ignore the number of delegates, the number of states, but you know people can go to who they want to listen to, and work this out."
Rangel said he'd be most happy with a shared ticket. "That would be too good to be true, but I really think that at one time or another in the campaign they have really given a lot of thought to ‘what would I do if I lose,’ and I also know that if they talk publicly 'what do I do if I lose,’ that's a losing statement to make with the press. But it's impossible for them not to have thought about it. If that really happens, and they have a pause, they're able to say, 'Well, this would not only ensure victory, but would bring all parts of our party together.'"
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"I don't know, but if mathematically she cannot win then why aren't we declaring Obama the winner? ... if she put $6 million of her money, the team is still together, the campaign is still going on, why do I have to explain mathematically why she can't win?"
Normally, one doesn't respond to rhetorical questions--the whole point is asking them for effect, etc etc--but Mr. Rangel has answered his own question, and inadvertently he has expressed the truth about the mental health of the Hill-Billy, a truth most of us suspect and fear. He might have been kidding, but his recommendation for the H-B (the loony bin) is sound.
"If mathematically she can't win then they are crazy. They ought to go to an insane asylum... Anybody who really knows that they can't win and they won't quit, there is really something wrong with them."
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MSNBC HEADLINE: "CLINTON: PLAYING THE RACE CARD?"
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Comment:
HILLARY HAS RUN A BLATANTLY RACIST CAMPAIGN. HILLARY & BILL HAVE TRIED TO USE THE 'RACE CARD' AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
IF JOHN McCAIN MADE SUCH RACIAL ARGUMENTS AS HAVE THE CLINTONS --- BLACK LEADERS WOULD BE OUTRAGED --- THEY WOULD BE SCREAMING & HOLLERING ON EVERY RADIO & TV TALK SHOW DENOUNCING SUCH BLATANTLY RACIAL POLITICS. BUT SINCE IT IS THE HILLARY CAMPAIGN PLAYING THE RACE CARD, ALL BUT A FEW SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS ARE KEEPING THEIR MOUTHS SHUT.
WHY? WHAT IS IT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY-?????____________________________________________________________
melancholy, i agree. it's almost like she's holding all the sane dems hostage. she knows she's is, too. "gimme, something, something good, and i will go away." she still wants the nomination, she won't get it though. so she wants to play the game out and see if she gets the v.p. nod. no way. she is evil.
The poker analogy is ok, but not perfect because with poker, there is no follow-up whereby you would support your adversary. A better analogy is Obama's -- that this is like two quarterbacks trying out to be the first-stringer. It has gotten to the point where all of the coaches have told one of the QBs that she has almost no chance of winning, and it's just a matter of formality that the head coach has not made the decision yet. In the mean time the presumed 2nd-stringer sets about trying to sabotage the would-be starter by poisoning the well with all the other team members; she says things like, "We cannot win if he is the QB" and "The other team's QB is even better than him." The ultimate outcome is a self-fulfilling prophesy. She plans to then come in next season to say, "I told you so. He is a loser. You need me now."
Think also of Tanya Harding...
No Charlie, we do not want Hillary on the ticket. Obama needs a WHITE MAN who appeals to the "hardworking, white uneducated" group.
Maybe now is the time for new blood in the New York democratic party. It might be time to get rid of these black "Massa Clinton" worshipers.
This is really one of the Saddest things I have ever witnessed. The Clinton folks remind me of a Bunch of habitual Drunks who are slowly killing themselves by Drinking and making excuses no matter how much friends and loved ones plead with them to stop. It makes me sad =(
"Charlie Rangel said the proof that Hillary Clinton can still win the Democratic nomination is that she is still pursuing the Democratic nomination."
Yea well just because the band was still playing didn't mean the Titanic wasn't sinking.
I read this article twice, and Rangel's comments made less sense on the second read through. It just reaffirms the theory I have always had that Charlie Rangel is nothing more than a blow-hard in love with the sound of his own voice, thinks he's the smartest guy he's ever met and we should all just smile and nod politely when he speaks because he's so above the rest of us. The man says absolutely nothing here.
Attention Mr. Rangel: your 15 minutes were up 10 minutes ago.
why hasn't anyone asked if hillary will run as an independent?
i fear this is where this is heading.
Despite the fact that we would be losing teh chance to have the mostintelligent, qualified candidate who was an advocate for children and working families before Obama was old enough to vote and who had formulated a helath care plan while Obama was still cutting questionable deals with Rezco, I almost wish that Obama would snag the presidency...
Then his fans would have to live with the reality of their fanaticism and blindness.
"advocate for working families and children"
hmmm... i recall something, what was it, something about welfare "reform" (elimination) and the objections of one of the Hill-Billy's mentors... who was that again... oh yeah, Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund.
Clinton years:
--eliminate welfare
--repeal Glass-Steagall - aren't you glad we have "one-stop" monolithic financial institutions? oh yeah, current credit crisis. oops.
--Telecommunications Act - media consolidation! yipee! (gee I wonder why Murdoch supports the H-B)
--impeachment - nasty intern and her blue dress (I want to go on the next Spitzer, Slick weekend trip to Vegas)
--military strikes coincidentally timed around impeachment
--the constant lying and cynicism - "Bill Clinton is an unusually good liar (B. Kerrey) to "I didn't inhale" and "no sexual relations" to "I was always against the war in Iraq"
--inability to pass health care reform with a Democratic majority in Congress (if not then, when?)
--losing the Democratic majority in Congress for the first time in a generation
lasting legacy: a big, ugly, useless library in Little Rock funded by Central Asian oil dealers and sleazy supermarket barons. Jimmy Carter builds houses for the poor. What a loser. This is sooo much better.
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Obama grabs superdelegate lead
By MIKE ALLEN & AVI ZENILMAN | 5/9/08 5:51 PM EST
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Friday afternoon seized the superdelegate lead from Sen. Hillary
Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), giving him command of every aspect of his party’s presidential
nomination race.
That constitutes a key milestone in the race and a shocking reversal of fortune for Clinton.
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Hillary can win the democratic nomination. She'll need the same super delegates that Obama needs. For all of you who have forgotten how to add, he will not get enough pledged delegates either.
And what about Florida and Michigan? Obama, Mr. “A new kind of Politics”, does not want to include the voters of these states. The DNC seems to think this power struggle is more important then getting the right nominee.
It’s our party and it’s a messy one. That doesn’t mean we can’t get it right in the end. And Hillary is simply a better candidate in November. Mr. Cool just does not appeal to those of us who are not interested in being cool. We will never buy his message and that is all he has going for him (as his experience is non-existent.) For those of you born yesterday, the 60ies are over and Obama is just another well advertised politician. A politician who does not appeal to enough people to get elected in a general election. Maybe he'll be back in 8 years after he has created a record of hard work in the senate. In the meantime, if you are a dedicated democrat, who doesn't want to give McCain the presidency, write to the super delegates in your state and district. Let them know that we want a candidate who has a chance against John McCain. It's their job to make sure we do. If they are just supposed to anoint whoever has more pledged delegates, why do we have them?
Hillary is still running because she is scared to death of getting out of the limelight. It's the same reason why Elvis was on the stage with 60 pounds of extra weight every night. Frank Sinatra had so many comeback shows even though he could not hit high notes, making the audience sweat at the edge of their seats.
One becomes most dangerous when one thinks the world will stop without him or her in the center. Hillary should reconize her time in the spot light is now over. It's other people's turn now.
Please get off the stage while the applause is genuine. And take your husband with you!
"Mr. Cool just does not appeal to those of us who are not interested in being cool. We will never buy his message and that is all he has going for him (as his experience is non-existent.) For those of you born yesterday, the 60ies are over and Obama is just another well advertised politician. A politician who does not appeal to enough people to get elected in a general election. Maybe he'll be back in 8 years after he has created a record of hard work in the senate. In the meantime, if you are a dedicated democrat, who doesn't want to give McCain the presidency, write to the super delegates in your state and district. Let them know that we want a candidate who has a chance against John McCain. It's their job to make sure we do. If they are just supposed to anoint whoever has more pledged delegates, why do we have them?"
Not interested in being cool? What is this a high school drama we are now a part of? Mr. Cool? Why? Because he keeps his wits about him under crisis and doesn't over react and start yelling at an old women in a crowd over his failed health care plan? Yeah, that would be the worst guy to have as president: someone who is calm, cool, collected, rational and engaged. Why would you want to be that? You're not interested in being cool -- you're interested in being reactionary, illogical and irrational, that’s why! For those of you born yesterday the 60ies (what exactly are the 60"ies"?) are over. Okay -- then why are you supporting the candidate still fighting the battles of the 60s? McCain and Clinton are still arguing over 1960s Era arguments. McCain is a Vietnam Vet still angry with the Hippies and protestors as is his entire party -- the Republicans. The Clintons and a bulk of her supporters came of age during the political battlefields of the 1960s. They're still fighting that fight, old school style. The refreshing thing about Obama is he's not part of that never ending cycle stuck on the 1960s. And, how the hell do you know he doesn't appeal to enough people? Why, because Hillary told you so? Because polling done in certain areas of certain states by calling the homes of rural voters and "working class" whites? What about the millions of people who use only cell phones? What about the entire 50 States, including white bread places like Iowa and Kansas? They didn't have a problem with Obama. He's got young, old, black, white, all colors of the rainbow, social and educational levels voting for him all over the country -- just like Clinton and yes, just like McCain. It's a fallacy to believe that in the general election no one but blacks and a few college educated whites will vote for Barack. How could he have gotten as far as he's gotten without getting votes from every demographic? It's not only a ridiculous argument, it's a mind-numbingly stupid one. At the end of the day, Obama will have the most pledged delegates, the popular vote and probably more superdelegates (he's only 1 super delegate away right now). So, your argument only holds up if you believe that the person you are voting for is the one who is the best candidate. That's really arrogant. I'm sure supporters of Guiliani, Ron Paul, John Edwards, etc. feel the same -- but they realize that their candidate didn't have the numbers. Why does everyone feel we need to coddle the Clintons and their supports so much? Everybody who has a candidate they supported knocked out of the race has to suck it up and deal with it. Write all the letters you want. But you're just painting yourself, and Hillary Clinton, as being more "special" than everybody else. To me, that's completely unAmerican. This is about America -- not about Clintonia! As Peter Griffin of "Family Guy" so aptly stated: "Enough with thiiiiiiiis".
Melancholy makes terrific observations, and guess what theortically, SHE can win the nomination. But all u eyes wide shut folks out there...SHE WONT. The Dems dont want her but from a sense of loyalty and history, did not come out and say it...vocally that is. The writing is on the wall. And guess what dont think they forgot that Bill and Hill pretty much ruined the dems in 2000 /2004. If all that drama had not unfolded, Al Gore would have won DECISIVELY!!!! They left a bad taste in the whole country's mouth just like Hill is doing right now.
And guess what McCain might have been the man back in the day (but not really) but he is clearly feeble and off message. If some of you out there think Obama is an empty suit, listen to a McCain speech. He asserts nothing, details nothing and reveals much, like he doesnt care who is fighting who in Iraq as long as we can blow up Iran...he admits that we went to Iraq for oil and he has no health care plan except to encourage competion among vendors isnt that what the government already does, open the doors for the guys who can compete, which means the richest, biggest companies, because little guys cant afford to be competitive. Great plan, lets do what we been doing..well worth eating up a week from working folks lives to discuss.
He flip flops on every issue, is in conflict with his own campaign finance reform bill, is in bed with the elitist machine and 3 questionable pastors, and answers every question with "I was a POW". He has been void of ambition to be much more than a senator until he became elderly, was reported to be an average student in military school, bottom of his class in military, and was basically promoted because he came home alive, doesnt know anything about the economy and we are in a recession. CAN U SAY NIGHTMARE???? I think like Hill he feels a little entitled like its his time.
Hills people are the ONLY ones saying he isnt helping FL & MI because she doesnt like his solution. She wants ALL the delgates and guess what, her husband only won the white house with 39% of the bluse collar vote. African American put the Clintons in the White House and every article on the subject says so! Obama has on average 30-40% of that vote in any given state and his numbers improve with each election. She says let Americans vote, but black votes dont matter, caucus votes in all the states Obama won dont matter and elites dont matter, which should include her 10K a head dinner patrons and Elton John Hollywood money friends who threatened Nancy Pelosi. Its unseemly!!!!
Oh and this healthcare plan with HIllary, she has been talking about this thing for 16 years already, she sounds like Bush trying to drill in Anwar. She couldnt even get Democrats to support it. Lets stop taking this broad at her word. The peope have spoken and they didnt say Hillary Clinton!!!!
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HILLARY HAS RUN A BLATANTLY RACIST CAMPAIGN.
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