Clinton Donors Chide Pelosi

Haim Saban, Sim Farar, Robert L. Johnson and Clarence Avant are among the Hillary Clinton donors and fundraisers who signed a letter to Nancy Pelosi that criticizes her for taking Barack Obama's side in the battle over superdelegates.

Pelosi has said that she believes that superdelegates should vote for whoever is the leader in pledged delegates --- a position that favors Obama because it is more than likely he will have a lead in those votes by the end of the primary season.

But the letter, obtained by Talking Points Memo, also has what appears to be a veiled threat to withhold contributions to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August. We appreciate your activities in support of the Democratic Party and your leadership role in the Party and hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters."

The full letter, via Talking Points Memo:

Dear Madame Speaker,

As Democrats, we have been heartened by the overwhelming response that our fellow Democrats have shown for our party’s candidates during this primary season. Each caucus and each primary has seen a record turnout of voters. But this dynamic primary season is not at an end. Several states and millions of Democratic voters have not yet had a chance to cast their votes.

We respect those voters and believe that they, like the voters in the states that have already participated, have a right to be heard. None of us should make declarative statements that diminish the importance of their voices and their votes. We are writing to say we believe your remarks on ABC News This Week on March 16th did just that.

During your appearance, you suggested super-delegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd , whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2. This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984 as well as your own comments recorded in The Hill ten days earlier:

"I believe super-delegates have to use their own judgment and there will be many equities that they have to weigh when they make the decision. Their own belief and who they think will be the best president, who they think can win, how their own region voted, and their own responsibility.’”

Super-delegates, like all delegates, have an obligation to make an informed, individual decision about whom to support and who would be the party’s strongest nominee. Both campaigns agree that at the end of the primary contests neither will have enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination. In that situation, super-delegates must look to not one criterion but to the full panoply of factors that will help them assess who will be the party’s strongest nominee in the general election.

We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August. We appreciate your activities in support of the Democratic Party and your leadership role in the Party and hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters.

Sincerely,

Marc Aronchick

Clarence Avant

Susie Tompkins Buell

Sim Farar

Robert L. Johnson

Chris Korge

Marc and Cathy Lasry

Hassan Nemazee

Alan and Susan Patricof

JB Pritzker

Amy Rao

Lynn de Rothschild

Haim Saban

Bernard Schwartz

Stanley S. Shuman

Jay Snyder

Maureen White and Steven Rattner

Comments

[TKD]

How dare these pompous donors try to push around the speaker of the House? Just who do they think they are? Nancy Pelosi has every right to express her opinion on the superdelegate process -- and it's completely inappropriate for anyone to try to silence or intimidate that.

[LAman777]

Taking aim at your own party's Speaker of the House. Now, how smart a move is that? These Clinton supporters are going to force the superdelegates hands and expedite a backing of an Obama nomination sooner rather than later.