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Liz Smith | 05/13/2008 10:43 am

Mario Cuomo to Liz Smith: Dems Must Get Out of the Way! An Obama-Clinton Ticket Is a Thrilling Possibility

Liz Smith

The following is the text of an e-mail, from former New York Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo, which I received this morning.

-Liz


‘Complete the Process …’

By Mario M. Cuomo

Question: Should Hillary Clinton abandon her campaign because to continue would hurt Obama’s chances in the general election?

The Obama supporters argue that strict adherence to the rules of the primary process would deny Clinton delegates from the Florida and Michigan races and that his current advantage in pledged votes is enough to make him a virtual winner, notwithstanding there are still a number of states that haven’t yet voted.

Senator Clinton responds by reminding us that strict adherence to the rules also indicates that none of the pledges count until they are given as votes at the convention. She believes she has a better chance to defeat McCain than Obama does, and it’s still possible ─ even if not likely ─ that events between now and then might convince voters she’s right.

Clinton supporters overwhelmingly continue to urge her to stay in the race and she is committed to doing so until the entire process set forth in the rules has been completed.

How will this affect the Democrats’ chances in November?

In all likelihood, most of the supporters of the unsuccessful Democratic candidate will probably vote for the winner because of their eagerness to win back the presidency, but even a loss of 10 to 15 percent of their votes could cost the Democrats a victory in a close race on November 4th. That makes poll results that indicate that 40 or 50 percent of the Clinton constituency will not vote for Obama should he be the winner something to worry about. And that number would increase if they were further aggravated by Clinton being forced out of the race by pressure from the Obama camp.

Similarly, significant numbers of Obama supporters would not vote for Hillary against McCain.

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

immoddesta godessa
define treatment! Hill and Bill have not been exactly gracious in their treatment of Obama. I feel that their credentials as Dems is suspect, and have since Bill ran as a progressive and governed as a right centrist! Obama owes Clinton NADDA!
By immoddesta godessa on 05/13/2008 3:16 pm
Renata
HRC has received much deference. Her “baggage” has never been mentioned by any of the men who ran against her. It has been off-limits during the Democratic Nomination process — though she can say/do ANYTHING, and has to eliminate the others. Deference has limits. My priority is America and our children’s future. We don’t live in a MONARCHY and don’t have Queens. I will leave it to Bill, Chelsea and those who are part of the Clinton DYNASTY and its benefiaries - who should offer full disclosure of those associations when posting —to make Hillary their priority.
By Renata on 05/13/2008 11:41 am
zut alors
Renata-I like dealing in facts and reality. Given the facts, Obama is the presumptive nominee. Given the reality, 1) The DNC will pick up the outrageous tab for HRC’s financially mismanaged campaign and thus drain the war chest that should be used to fight the Republicans, and 2) She will be given choices of a plum position otherwise next thing we know she’ll be McCain’s running mate. And as much as I respect the former Gov’s opinion, Sarko the American will divorce Carla Bruni and marry me before HRC is Obama’s running mate.
By zut alors on 05/13/2008 4:10 pm
Alessan O
There is no baggage, that’s media gossip, Hillary didn’t have an affair with ms. Lewinsky. If you are a real “Democrat, you’ll stop the gossip. There is no baggage, it’s a republican right wing conspiracy..
By Alessan O on 05/14/2008 12:56 am
wild heather
Perhaps a few disclosures would be in order from you Renata. In what way will you benefit from your hero’s election. By the way, it would be in his best interests if the pundits stopped taking about how much Michelle Obama detests Senator Clinton. If he fails to offer the VP position to her, people just might get the impression we can look forward to another Nancy Reagan in the White House.
By wild heather on 05/14/2008 5:05 am
Renata
Look for many more from the Clinton/NY political establishment to post similar comments INCREASING THE PRESSURE on Senator Obama to make someone who devalidated him as a President because of his ethnicity — his running mate. They should provide full disclosure of their associations with the Clinton Campaign and that of family members — as a proper context, so there is NO CONFUSION as to the purpose of the extension of the HRC Campaign onto and into the WoW Community.
By Renata on 05/13/2008 11:46 am
Alessan O
He was invalidated because of non-experience, not his color. There is also the fact that he has never had one original proposal that he put forth to change the country as he speaks about change?? Change what, yes a new President will be a change, a Democratic one, not necessarily an unqualified one, but the American people will make that decision on November 4, 2008, as they did in 2000 and 2004, two mistakes in a row, a perhaps a third. Only difference is this time the people may do anything to get rid of the Bushes, and the people hiding behind them like McSame.
By Alessan O on 05/14/2008 12:52 am
Mugsy Peabody
Oh, please, and this from a woman who lives in New York and says we have no queens! Does it even OCCUR to you that we are just folks, saying what we think? There is no conspiracy against your guy, Renata. Nobody devalidated Obama because of his ethnicity — he was allowed to run, for example. And he is doing well. He ran for Senator from Illinois and he won. You devalidate everyone who disagrees with you by ascribing motivations to them which in fact they do not have. If you want research on people, do your own. Nobody here needs to tell you anything about “their associations….blah blah blah….” People are people. And the Damnocratic party is notorious for being undisciplined and unorganized in terms of “plotting and planning,” or whatever it is you think is happening here. As Mark Twain said, “I do not belong to an organized political party. I am a Democrat.” TYPING IN CAPITAL LETTERS DOESN’T MAKE WHAT YOU SAY ANY TRUER. There is NO CONFUSION as to the fact that many many many citizens of the United States support Sen. Clinton. It is not “extending” a capaign onto the WOW community. We were here. We are part of the community. And we have no intention of going somewhere just because our motives and our relationships are completely misrepresented by your saying what you think they are. Just for 36 seconds, consider listening to what people are actually saying, rather than what you think they are saying or what you think they mean by what they are saying or who you think told them to say what they are saying or whatever.
By Mugsy Peabody on 05/14/2008 10:12 pm
doll lady
Hickory Dickory Dock The candidate ran up the clock She got up there And found it fair And stayed in the lion’s lair. Flitter flitter state to state Some loved her, many with hate. She dressed in pants and drank some beer Bill opened his mouth and told of her fear. Bosnia wasn’t a ducking grounds as told to me The people were hand shaking instead of on the flee. Now Hil ole girl it might be the times For you to hear the golden chimes The ding ding ding or dong a din May be signaling quite the end So come on down and back to the job Before New Yorkers begin to sob. She peeked down among the crowd And saw many people shouting loud. Come down from there Hillary dear Your time to shine is clearly here. Now this is simply just for fun. I’m not a poet and can’t rhyme a pun. So when the race is over and done, I hope this board unites back to one! ahemmmmmmm seems I might have been sleeping in my high school verse/peotry class. Just bored with the questions so thought I would liven it up ~~~~ or put it to sleep.
By doll lady on 05/13/2008 12:42 pm
Amelie Poulain
While I appreciate the relevance of the points made by Cuomo as to why Obama and Clinton should consider sharing the ticket to ensure a Democratic Presidency, he fails to do the same for the Republicans. I am sure that an equal-and-opposite group of Republicans exist who will vote Democrat this time because their favoured Presidential candidate is now out of the Republican race. Meanwhile while McCain sits on his golf cart waiting for the Democrats to battle it out, his poor wife is out there doing The View, showing those potential Republican switch-voters, “See, look how young I am, and I SLEEP with him!” Gag me with a spoon. Puleeeeze. When this race gets dirty someone is going to pull out the footage of McCain calling his wife a C__T in front of a posse of reporters. http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html Potential voters, who are unaware of his bizarre behavior because at the time he wasn’t a relevant enough politician, will understand that in a fit of rage he again may just “lose his bearings” and call a volatile world leader the SAME and cause massive political turmoil. Also, I would like to add that I think its really classy of Obama not to bring up the fact that when Hillary and Bill were having problems with Monica-gate, they called in Rev. Wright to the White House to help them sort out their marriage. He could have easily said, “Hey Hillary, YOU used to like him too!” Being a good Canadian, we are very concerned and protective of our brothers and sisters below the 49th. PLEASE get involved and chose carefully. The world WANTS America to succeed. The world WANTS to see democracy at its best—- Right now there seems to be too many evil forces at play that benefit from an unbalanced democracy - both within America under the guise of protecting you, and also the polar opposites (Like Bin Laden) who WANT to destroy America because of the corruption of their FOREIGN policies that have been running amok for decades. I read Bin Laden’s “Kampf” in great detail to see what the bee was in his bonnet. Bin Laden said he doesn’t have to do anything more to make his point (terrorism-wise) because America is poised to destroy itself from the inside out with its in-fighting and corruption and economic woes. That was 5 years ago. It really gave me chills. It made me cry. For decency, brotherhood, and compassion. For sharing, for caring about your neighbor, not just your family. And still haunts me when I see and hear things like this mortgage fiasco, etc. WHO IS MINDING THE STORE? Please take care who you put forward into the world to represent you. The planet depends on it. Divisiveness is occurring only because your middle class is disappearing along with the American dream. Racism is passe. Anyone under the age of thirty-five knows that classroom are filled with multi-cultural rows of kids with first or second generation immigrant status. It means nothing when you are trying to pull together. Don’t let it get worse before it gets better. I don’t know who is going to win. But it distresses me to think that McCain can call his wife a ____ and then get to be President. Nice. Hillary scares me with her “We can obliterate Iran….?” WHAT? What if she had inserted the word “Canada” instead. This is very dangerous talk. WE supply more oil than the Middle East. What if they (your politicians) decide to just walk across the border, kill a few million of us, and walk back with OUR oil?? What you are allowing to happen around the world is just plain wrong. You have got to THINK about who you “hire” as the next President. Guns are passe. If McCain gets in, Canada is too close. It makes mw want to sell, pack, convert to Euros and move to the south of France right behind Suzanne! :) At least their citizens get out there and protest in the streets if anyone tries to screw them. They stick together! We Canadians are so in love with peace that we wouldn’t notice the pile of bodies! Obama, I suspect, represents hope. Hope for cataclysmic needed change to a feigned democratic system that leaves out too many people. Because without hope all there is is time. God bless.
By Amelie Poulain on 05/13/2008 12:48 pm
zut alors
Jackie OhOh, “It makes mw want to sell, pack, convert to Euros and move to the south of France right behind Suzanne!” For now I live in the best place next to France—San Francisco-America’s most European city. Don’t despair….the cowboy is relegated to history’s dustbin, and Camelot Part Duex is coming to a TV screen near you. In the meantime, a cheery old French song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0KWyWwVp0E A fun Paris site: http://www.parisperfect.com/ And Plan B: Buy a beret and brush up on those irregular verbs!
By zut alors on 05/13/2008 4:25 pm
Amelie Poulain
I LOVE San Francisco! There is a little town over the bridge….Sausalito? It has the best energy. Cosmopolitan, yet quaint and adorable. I went there to attend an ATLA conference and fell in love with that city. And thanks for the hot tip Paris website. I want to do something crazy for my birthday this year and this makes me want to hop on a plane!!! The appropriately named song, Boum, really made me laugh. Thanks for lightening me up! This world is getting CRAZY! I HAVE a beret….a bit cheeky though. Its an original Basque black wool beret. I don’t know if I have the courage to wear it in France because they would actually recognize it there! I REALLY hope you are right about the Democrats getting in. As for VP’s?? How about Dr. Oz? :)
By Amelie Poulain on 05/14/2008 12:46 am
zut alors
JackieOh—Yes, Sausalito, and SF is great I love it, but am very much looking forward to relocating to So of France. Personally I’d like to see Wesley Clark as VP or Senator. Jim Webb. Glad you like the links. Yes the world is crazy.
By zut alors on 05/14/2008 12:53 am
Alessan O
Oh how silly that comment about Rev. Wright trying to bring about reconcilement between Hillary and Bill on the Monica affair. There was a big meeting with many of the religious clergy in the country to help council Bill and the preachers were there to pray with him for forgiveness, get your facts straight. (they were there for Bill not Hillary, Bill lied because of Hillary and his daughter) Rev. Wright was Obama’s personal confidant and preacher for over twenty years, his campaign hid him away at the beginning of his candidancy knowing affilation would hurt Obama with the public or at least they thought it would. Months later Obama was outed, and his insincerety was challanged. There are still a lot of questions, and the people of West Virginia were polled and believe that the Rev. and Obama think exactly the same way, that’s a fact you cannot change.
By Alessan O on 05/14/2008 1:15 am
Amelie Poulain
Dearest A O: Re: Oh how silly that comment about Rev. Wright trying to bring about reconcilement between Hillary and Bill on the Monica affair. There was a big meeting with many of the religious clergy in the country to help council Bill and the preachers were there to pray with him for forgiveness, get your facts straight. I guess only they would know for sure. But I did hear it from Michael Moore and its on his website. I find it fascinating that in my huge long diatribe of issues that scare the heck out of me the only one you picked up on was the reference to Rev. Wright and the Clintons. Hmmm… I would LOVE to see a female President. Hillary gives me the heebee jeebees. It’s just a personal thing though. I damn well do hope she wins if she is the nominee. She shows the whites of her eyes when she speaks and it makes me think she’s making it up as she goes…. I WISH I could lose that untrustworthy feeling. But I haven’t been able to. Whenever I see her on TV I just get this big NO! in my head. I really don’t think its going to happen. Sorry, just one humble opinion.
By Amelie Poulain on 05/14/2008 2:38 pm