Assembly Candidate Calls on Clinton to Exit 'Gracefully'
A Democratic Assembly candidate in Manhattan is calling on Hillary Clinton to drop out of the presidential race.
“Be polite. Thank her for her efforts,” writes Paul Newell, who is running to unseat Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of Manhattan. "But ask her to gracefully bow out and return to representing the good people of New York in the Senate.”
Newell’s email to "New York Obama supporters," and his letter to Clinton are after the jump.
Here's the email:
New York Obama supporters,
I think it's time for us to start giving our junior Senator a call. Let's let her know that the best thing for New York at this point is for her to preserve her relationship with the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. Her chance of pulling out a win is slim-to-none. Please call or email Senator Clinton and respectfully ask her to put the concerns of New York and the Democratic Party first. Be polite. Thank her for her efforts. But ask her to gracefully bow out and return to representing the good people of New York in the Senate.
Phone: (202) 224-4451 Email via webform: http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
Below is what I sent her. Please feel free to "plagiarize" as much as you like.
Best,
Paul Newell
Paul Newell
Democrat for Assembly, 64th District
Newell's letter to Clinton:
Senator Clinton,
Thank you for your years of hard work representing New Yorkers. I have proudly voted for you twice. Thank you as well for your hard fought Presidential campaign. American democracy, and the Democratic Party in particular, require the dynamic exchange of ideas that this primary season has brought. It has been exciting and inspiring to have a woman and a New Yorker contest the Presidency so credibly. We are a stronger nation and party for your candidacy.
But that time has past. After Senator Obama's 10 straight wins this month, no realistic path remains for you to win the nomination without thwarting the clearly expressed preference of Democratic primary voters. While it is clearly your "right" to continue this debate until the convention, as a New Yorker and a Democrat I ask you to withdraw.
The campaign has become increasingly negative. I fear that you are permanently damaging your relationship with Senator Obama, the likely nominee of our party, and the like next President of the United States. Poisoning this relationship will not only harm our party, but may harm New York State as well. It may also do harm to the goals of social justice and working families for which you have worked for so many years.
In light of that, I ask you to end your candidacy for President this week. I look forward to your continued representation in the Senate. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Paul Newell
#### Street, Apt. #
New York, NY 10002
Does Newell have a clue?
Since Hillary is as likely to respond to emails from Obama supporters as she is to go on a girl's nite out with Monica Lewinsky, the only logical reason for Newell to do this would be to help his campaign.
But, if Newell hasn't noticed, the map published in the New York Times confirms that Hillary cleaned Obama's clock in the 64th Assembly District. Orthodox Jews-Hillary, Latinos-Hilary, Asians-Hillary, seniors-Hillary. This probably accounts for about 80% of the voters in the district. Obama only won in low turnout out Yuppie areas like Battery Park City, Wall Street, Little Italy, and the few blocks Silver has in the East Village that aren't Mitchell-Lama or NYCHA developments.
I suppose energizing Obama voters plays into Newell's strategy, but if Obama couldn't energize the Obama voters, how can a guy who looks like a younger thinner version of George Costanza?
Yeh really, wait and see Clinton will be up front again Pauliiiiii!
No, Hillary's a loser, but Karen Persichilli will remember, and Hill and Bill will be campaigning for Shelly in August. They'll swoon in Smith Houses and Confuscious Plaza.
and Obama won't be endorsing Newell.
Hillary is a winner.
The only way to fight the mysogonism of Hillarys candidacy is to stop fighting Obama (you're right we don't need Hillary & Barrack to be enemies) and positively present her.
All of us should present her; not just she. It's time to stop talking of 35 years of experience and claim: "she organized babysitters for workers @ age 15", she worked pro bono for low income after college, she worked in the womens movement going against our president to talk in Bejing about womens rights being human rights, she worked like mad under Clinton for health care and when defeated won care for children, outstanding NY senator, etc.
She should fill in all those places I don't know so that we know what a warm, caring, COMPETENT WOMAN she is.
Wow Gatemouth, You might want to close that gatemouth of yours occasionally. I am wondering if you are not Shelly himself trolling the internet for I doubt he/you has no actual supporters. I was out campaigning for future assemblyman Newell and spoke to hundreds of residents of the 64th district and with the exception of some old time Democrat women well in to their seventies I did not find one person who knew of you or Shelly rather if you are not indeed the same person? That liked Shelly and all seemed to want a "change" from the corrupt Shelly, Bruno, Pataki years we endured in New York. As the assemblyman speaker there will be those like myself who will travel to the 64th district to rid him from the assembly.
Who are you to say who Hillary or Barack will endorse or not? and regardless it is the voters who will decide if you forgot.
I think Mr. wide open gatemouth (aka Shelly) might note that Bloomberg and Ed Koch who are by no means Bradd Pitt types have done quite well politically as has you Mr. Silver (aka gatemouth) and you are no looker yourself.
Please leave democracy to the Democrats and politics to those who have hope.
Sincerely,
Concerned New yorker