ACTION: Rendell Pressuring Hillary's Delegates to Not Sign Petition

by: Alegre

Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 15:39:59 PM EDT

Rendell Pressuring Delegates Not to Support Clinton Nominating Petition

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (whose HOUND attempt to counteract the burgeoning Puma Movement flopped at the end of June) has instructed Hillary Clinton's pledged delegates NOT to sign a petition circulating among some delegates to place Clinton's name in nomination for a roll call vote in Denver. In an email we obtained yesterday, Mary Isenhour, executive director of the state Democratic Party in Pennsylvania, makes it clear that the message from the top is unequivocal: Shut up and don't make a move until the big shots tell you what to do.

TO: All Clinton Delegates
FROM: Mary Isenhour
Executive Director
DATE: August 11, 2008
RE: Nomination

If anyone approaches you about signing a petition to place Senator Clinton's name in nomination at the Democratic National Convention, the Governor has asked me to ask you to refrain from signing such a petition until we know what Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have worked out. As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Make the jump - there's more...

The 300 Petition, as it has come to be known, is a delegate-led effort to follow provisions in the nominating rule book of the DNC that make it possible for delegates themselves, rather than the Party or Convention Chair, to nominate a candidate for President at the party's national convention in Denver. Rumors have been flying since Clinton suspended on June 7th that Howard Dean and Barack Obama were trying behind the scenes to script a Unity Show in Denver in which Obama received the unanimous support of the delegates. Because of Dean and Obama's vague allusions to "negotiations" around a Clinton roll call vote, it has become increasingly clear that the DNC and the Obama campaign would much prefer Clinton to efface herself again by conceding her right as the runner-up in the delegate race to ask the that her name be put in nomination by the Chair.

Ya know this really doesn't make any sense here you guys.  Rendell's a Democrat right?  Now correct me if I'm wrong but Democrats have fought for voting rights for decades, right?  So how in the hell can he claim to be a Democrat in one breath and then in the next deny others the right to have their voices heard at our party's convention by declaring support for one candidate over another?  I mean Democrats put more than one name on a ballot when folks vote - right?

The article goes on to explain the history of roll call votes, and talks about the delegate-led effort to get a nominating petition into place for Hillary to sign.  I've talked with one of the people behind the petition drive, and they seem confident they'll reach and then exceed the 300-delegate goal.  And to be sure the signatures aren't challenged (which has been BHO's MO since day one when he knocked Alice Palmer and all of his other rivals off the ballot in Chicago), they're asking the delegates to get their signatures notarized.  Smart move!  

I'll wrap up this post as I have a lot of other recent post you guys - it's time to get to work.  Contact your delegates by using the links to the left of this page and ask them to:

1) Sign that nominating petition; and
2) Show up in Denver to vote for Hillary.

And if they have any kind of connection to Hillary, ask them to touch base and let her know they've signed on.  She needs to know we've got her back you guys.  

This won't happen over night - we've got 2 weeks so let's get to work!

UPDATE:

This is an action post you guys.  I need you to make a call to the Democratic Chair in PA and voice your concern over these bully tactics.

Pennsylvannia:  
1-717-920-8470