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Politics | 08/21/2008 11:00 am

Clinton's 'Whip Team' to Keep Obama Protesters Subdued

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Photo by Barbara Kinney/Flickr.com

Hillary Clinton is going to make sure her supporters don’t cause too much of an embarrassment to Barack Obama at the Democratic conventions next week.

Politico.com reports that Clinton’s staff is creating a 40-member "whip team" for the events in Denver to ensure her die-hard fans don’t partake in any anti-Obama demonstrations during the floor vote on her nomination. Obama and Clinton recently announced that, as a sign of party unity, her name would be formally placed in the nomination to ensure that her delegates were heard.

"If people get down there on the floor and want to start blowing kazoos and making a scene we want to make sure we’ve got people who stand in front of them with Obama signs," a person involved in the planning told Politico.com. "Is it typical for a losing candidate to have their own whip team? No. But it’s also not usual for a losing candidate to get 18 million votes either.”

Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said the whip team would not try to convince delegates to vote for the New York senator, but would hand out Clinton signs to supporters if they want them. “We have been and are working closely with the Obama campaign to make sure we have an exciting and unified convention," Strand said.

But MSNBC wonders if the presence of the whip team won’t make matters worse and encourage seriously disruptive protests. The Associated Press is reporting on preparations being made to restrain and hold such protesters, saying police have scrapped plans to top the holding cells in place with razor wire after some groups started comparing the site to the detention facility for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Denver city officials don’t anticipate mass arrests, but just in case, they opened a city warehouse as the "Temporary Arrestee Processing Center" — complete with chain-linked cells — to allay fears that those arrested could spend long hours waiting. The center is located a couple of miles from the Pepsi Center, where the convention will take place. The cells will be topped with chain-link fencing. Protesters’ nicknamed the holding area as "Gitmo on the Platte," named after the South Platte River, which is nearby.

 

53 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

N P
Elizabeth, First of all, Chris Matthews was correct. I saw the video myself on You Tube. HRC addressed a crowd on July 31st in Los Altos, CA. She said, “… I have moved more quickly and done more on behalf of my OPPONENT than comparable candidates have…” Secondly, I highly doubt that Obama and Clinton are friends. I see absolutely no evidence of that. To the contrary, the fact that she has withdrawn from the race, promised to give Obama her full support, and still refers to Senator Obama as her “Opponent” is very telling.
By N P on 08/22/2008 12:23 pm
Elizabeth Bennett
She has not withdrawn from the race, she has simply finished it and promised Obama her full support. But first her delegates must be given the right to cast votes for her at the Convention, so for the moment, Obama remains her opponent. Think a friendly game of Scrabble rather than a fight to the death. Reading tea leaves on Youtube can be exhausting. We will know who the Veep choice is within 24 hours. I think it should be Clinton—if Obama wants a clear shot at winning in November.
By Elizabeth Bennett on 08/22/2008 12:47 pm
Buh- Bye
I thought it was OUR convention. Not HIS. This is like the old way things were done. And the way it should be. Back when conventions were exciting. Whip it good.
By Buh- Bye on 08/22/2008 1:10 am
Star Lawrence
I laughed. Thanks!
By Star Lawrence on 08/22/2008 11:07 am
James the Game
I think it’s all a smokescreen.
By James the Game on 08/21/2008 6:15 pm
Maggi D
I don’t even know what to say. I just want to go to sleep and wake up when it is over. (The convention - not the election)
By Maggi D on 08/22/2008 12:05 am
Star Lawrence
Aw, come on, it’s all theatre.
By Star Lawrence on 08/22/2008 11:08 am
Bonnie Oliver
I agree with James. It is going to be all roses. Senator Clinton got what she wanted. By having her name placed in nomination and receiving the accolades that I am sure she will while at the podium, she will remain the Democratic front runner for 2012 if Obama loses in 2008. If Obama wins in November, then Senator Clinton will not realize her dream of being the first woman President…but all is not yet lost. She is one smart politician. The convention will run as smooth as liquid nitroglycerin, unless there are some shenanigans about to take place that no one is expecting. Doubtful, I think.
By Bonnie Oliver on 08/22/2008 12:08 am
Buh- Bye
thar’s gonna be some shoutin’ from the floor, fer sure
By Buh- Bye on 08/22/2008 1:13 am
Elizabeth Bennett
There are some lively demonstrations being organized outside as well. Ralph Nader will be there with Sean Penn and Cindy Sheehan and others. I am sort of hoping that CSPAN covers the demonstrations as well as it covers the convention. Both should be interesting.
By Elizabeth Bennett on 08/22/2008 5:30 pm
Sherrie Crews
Even though I would much rather have Hillary as the Democratic nominee, I’m afraid if she or her supporters cause too much ruckus at this late date, even if it could by some miracle result in her becoming the nominee, it would result in such a division in the party that we’d end up giving the country back to the current regime with a new puppet out front. If the wealth/power crazed megalomaniacs that are the current republican party leaders aren’t stopped I’m terrified for the future my children and grandchildren will face.
By Sherrie Crews on 08/22/2008 8:32 am
Star Lawrence
The scenario of her being nominated is just an MSNBC watcher’s wet dream.
By Star Lawrence on 08/22/2008 11:09 am
Buh- Bye
I agree Star, she won’t get the nomination - but Obama’s moment in the sun will be like getting a Bronze medal at the Olympics because the other competitor was disqualified. Not so sweet. Wait’ll McCain sweeps the election. Oh boy. I can’t believe it’ll be another 4 yrs of Republican rule. But this time, we ate our own. So we deserve it.
By Buh- Bye on 08/23/2008 12:59 am
iris odonata
ah, all this just makes me glad I have reservations at ‘the restaurant at the end of the universe,’ so as I can be wow-ed by the show………….
By iris odonata on 08/22/2008 4:39 pm
Sandbee (FB) 54
Just hope I don’t need to hitchhike the whole galaxy by the the time it’s done Iris.
By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 08/22/2008 6:51 pm