New York on Saturday: Obama Surrogates Defiant, Hillary Supporters Efficient, Rangel Unworried
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama weren’t in New York today, but their supporters were.
A rally for Obama at Columbus Circle this afternoon was billed as a show of strength among women, but the theme, judging from at least one speaker, was a changing of the guard in New York politics.
“County leaders don’t run me—other elected officials don’t run me," City Council member Helen Diane Foster of the Bronx told the crowd of about 500 people. "The people run me.”
Foster went on to say, “I say we get rid of Bushes. I say we get rid of the name we won't mention [because] this isn't her state."
Obama's foreign policy advisor Samantha Power asked the crowd, "How many of you out there are freezing their asses off for the first time?"
The rally-goers, for their part, seemed as impassioned as the speakers.
"Twenty years of Clinton-Bush is enough,” volunteer Marie Sassi of the Upper West Side told me.
At Union Square an hour later, elected officials backing Clinton held a rally of their own to mobilize supporters on the street.
The orators weren't on a stage, and their voices - projected by a microphone plugged into a single speaker - were sometimes drowned out by the crowd of supporters.
After Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, labor leader Randi Weingarten and others had spoken—fairly standard stump material—State Senator Tom Duane told the crowd, "It's not just about rallying and cheering from elected officials.
"How many of you could spend a little time phone-banking? Who knows where 52 Broadway is?" (He was referring to the headquarters for the United Federation of Teachers, one of the places supporters were asked to go after the rally.)
Duane went on to say, "Dial 'til your fingers get hurt," and in an attempt to rile up the crowd to do "subway visibility," he said, "Get in people's faces, but do it politely."
He then directed attendees to various organizers handing out buttons, stickers, signs and directions to other phone banks.
(He introduced the following speaker, memorably, like this: "And you know, I would be remiss if I didn't say that Hillary's good for the gays, she's good for the lesbians, she's good for transgendered people, and she's good for the bi's. And we just happen to have a wonderful bi-county, Brooklyn-and-Manhattan state Senator, Marty Connor!")
In Washington Heights later on at night, at a small restaurant on 10th Avenue by 204th Street, Clinton supporters had packed into a "Latinos for Hillary" event. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion told a small, standing-room only crowd that Hispanic voters, “on Super Tuesday, have become a super-big deal.”
Charlie Rangel, who was among the people on stage with Carrion at the time, smiled at that line. Rangel had told the crowd, “We’re going to have to do extremely good because they’re watching you, they’re watching me, they’re watching our district. And they’re watching us all over the country to see how we’re going to do.” Rangel explained that voters should send the message that “we stick by our friends” and that “we’ll give other people the opportunity to prove, at a less dangerous time, what they’re willing to do for our great country.”
I asked Rangel later on what he thought the impact would be if, in his own congressional district, Obama were to beat Clinton.
“I’ve been in politics all my life, the thought never even entered my mind. I mean, if I all I have to do is worry about a primary after 38 years in the Congress,” he said, ending his thought with a smile.
Then I asked him about his wife, Alma, who endorsed Obama the previous day.
“I have enough respect for my wife not to comment on her decision,” he said, and then walked out of the restaurant.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
I always hear Rangel say he is supporting Hillary because she is his friend. I never hear him say because she is the best candidate. Everybody realizes the Clintons have a lot of power and are strong-arming people into supporting them.
Some Clinton supporters are even bought and paid for.(if the shoe fits wear it)
Anybody with a little bit of intellegence knows Obama is a much better choice for the country.
I think I have enough intellegence judged by my advance degree in engineering .I'll vote for Hillary. Because I think she has proved that she can get things done well with Republicans and she has much better plans for everything than Obama.
Also I want our economy as good as when her husband was the President. I don't care if we have Clinton again in the White House as long as our economy is great. I am not sure about Obama to be the President now. I think that it's better for him to be the Vice President first and the President later. This way Democrat will have the White House for 16 years.
There is something magical in the air. You can see it, feel it, taste it, and dream it. A once in a lifetime opportunity to change the course of America. Yes, we can.
Be wise New Yorkers - for once and for all let's get rid of the Clintons UGLY, CROOKED, MAFIOSO AND SELFISH POLITICAL MACHINE in our beloved EMPIRE STATE. KICK THEM OUT FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL!
As far as those politicians who are supporting the Clintons...check out their fat pockets - I am sure you'll find lots of cash and promisory notes to sleep in the Lincoln's bedroom. Furthermore, Bill Clinton wants to go back into the oval office so that he can play with his cigars. How terrible is that? Do you think for a split second that these so-called politicians give a damn about you and me? NO WAY!
For once let's vote for someone who will bring integrity and passion in the White House - who cares for the people and not themselves...VOTE FOR OBAMA ON TUESDAY....LET'S CHANGE THE COURSE OF AMERICA...FOR OUR CHILDREN'SAKE.
We want change! We want change! We can do better than Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton! Yes we can!
Buffalo for Obama!!!!
[We're referring to the controversy over records at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, which opened in 2004. At the time, Mrs. Clinton promised that "everything's going to be available." More than three years later, the library that is partly funded by taxpayers has released less than 1% of its records, and the withheld documents include two million pages covering Mrs. Clinton's White House tenure. As usual with the Clintons, they've managed to make the controversy seem so complicated that everyone has lost interest.] - WSJ - 2/2/08
"Before we can fix our problems, we have to fix our souls...our souls are broken. It begins with LEADERSHIP. This race is about CHARACTER. I am married to the only person in this race who has a chance of healing this Nation." Michelle Obama - 2/3/08
Slashing Hillary with lies is unfair.
Seems that one poster is writing all the bashing posts.
There is even a person posing as Barack Hussein Obama.
This is unfair.
Hillary is a very good candidate and a caring person.
She cares about us and our country. She is not currupt. It's all lies.
She is not in this for herself.
Obama is.
Please stop the bashing of Hillary.
This is not fair.
Hill is a fine and capable leader.
Will the misogynistic poster who is posing as several different people back away from the computer.
Give Hill a chance folks. She can bring our country back out of the hole we are in.
Obama doesn't know what to do.
It is all Jive talking.
He stole Hillary's plan and is calling it his own.
He has no plan and can't get the job done.
This is the truth.
Not bashing.
Stop bashing.
You are in for a rude awakening if you allow
Barack Hussein Obama win.
He will be the death of America.
HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT!
America and the world is in better hand under HRC - HILLARY 2008!!!
Agreed. Maybe for city council but Obama doesn't have the right background to be president.
We need to support our heritage. Vote Hillary!
I'm voting for Hillary. She throws those feminist b*&%hes in Jail.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-milazzo/hillary-clintons-smu_b_73261...
This is awesome. What even funnier is all the dumb broads voting for her. LOL
HILLARY’S GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE ADVANTAGE
Whitewater, Cattle Futuregate, Travelgate, Gennifer Flowersgate, Filegate, Vince Fostergate, Whitewater Billing Recordsgate, Paula Jonesgate, Federal Building Campaign Phone Callgate, Lincoln Bedroomgate, Donations from Convicted Drug and Weapons Dealersgate, Buddhist Templegate, Lippogate, Chinagate, Lewinsky Affair, Perjury and Jobs for Lewinskygate, Willeygate, Web Hubbel Prison Phone Callgate, Selling Military Technology to the Chinesegate, Wag the Doggate, Juanita Broaddrickgate, Vandalgate, Lootergate, Pardongate; and the many deaths, including suicide, murder, and mysterious gun shots to the head, all allegedly linked to Clinton.
Israel for military protection, China for military secrets, and Mexico for amnesty most desperately need Hillary for president.
Google: “boycott liberalism Clinton Legacy”; “Danneymeyer deaths linked to President Clinton”; “Hsu Hillary”; “Mearsheimer Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy”; Stricherz “Why the Democrats are Blue”; “Who Would the World Elect”.
I think the polls show well educated whites are voting for Senator Obama. I din't beleive that was totally true. but, listening to these comments I can tell most of you are uneducated. It is so obvious Senator Obama is the best candidate and that's while the polls show he has a better chace of beating the Republicans than Hillary. People are just tired of the Clinton's.. We don't need or want their drama back in the White House!!! It's time for change. Barack is brilliant!!!
Ȥ;wow gold