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May 18, 2008 — Give Terry McAuliffe a calculator and a cause, and he’ll find a way to create controversy.
McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair, spoke to a crowd of about 10,000 at the Colorado Democratic Convention in Colorado Springs May 17, but it wasn’t long before his speech was interrupted by the overwhelming chants of a raucous crowd.
Things were going smoothly for McAuliffe at first as he praised Clinton and said, “It’s time for a woman to be president,” but the crowd erupted into its loudest shouts of the day when McAuliffe claimed that Clinton currently holds the lead in the popular vote.
McAuliffe seemed to revel in the uproar he caused when he stated that, according to the current popular vote, Clinton had roughly 17 million votes to Obama’s 16 million. These numbers could only have been reached by including the Florida and Michigan votes, which are currently not recognized by the Democratic party.
Even then, the numbers seem inaccurate. Including Michigan and Florida, Clinton has 15.1 million to Obama's 15 million. Without Michigan and Florida, Obama has 14.4 million to Clinton's 13.9 million. The math gets pretty fuzzy at this point, but it seems none of these totals includes all of the caucus states, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of Obama.
Puzzled, or perhaps angered, by his statements, Obama supporters chanted, “O-BAMA, O-BAMA,” and Clinton supporters, "HILL-A-RY," for about two minutes before McAuliffe could be heard shouting “I love your enthusiasm!” into the microphone.
It was several minutes later, and a few bangs of his gavel, before McAuliffe could resume his speech, the remainder of which focused on unifying the party once the primary season was over.
McAuliffe indicated, toward the end of his speech, that the nomination would be decided by June 3.
Controlled chaos at the convention
Although Obama won the statewide democratic caucus 66.6 percent to 32.3 percent on Feb. 5, support for Clinton seemed quite strong during McAuliffe’s speech.
It became clear that Obama had the greater support, however, when Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano took the stage to speak for Obama and was greeted with a deafening roar.
As Napolitano spoke, rumors of backstage wrangling between the Obama and Clinton campaigns leaked through the building because the seating of alternates, which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., wasn’t commenced until around 3 p.m.
Soon after Napolitano finished speaking, alternates crushed into the mezzanine level of the World Arena, gridlocking foot traffic in the arena as they battled to take the place of absent pledged delegates.
The five-hour delay may or may not have been a result of internecine Democratic warfare, but eventually alternates were seated and a vote was taken.
Copies of the tomb-sized Obama ballot ran out, however, and officials scrambled to a nearby copy store to obtain paper. The remaining votes were written by hand.
Beyond voting for either Clinton or Obama, delegates were also voting for three open seats on the Democratic National Committee, as well as for which delegates to send to the National Convention in Denver in August.
Results of the vote are expected Monday at the earliest.
See more political news from the convention by clicking here and here and here.
16 Comments on "McAuliffe shouted down at Colorado Democratic Convention "
Hope — May 18, 2008
Hillary Clinton cannot steal our democratic nominee by cheating, breaking DNC rules or providing manipulated tallies. We Democrats simply will not stand for it.
Obama '08! Yes we can!!!
Fred Jones — May 18, 2008
Unfortunately, rude and rowdy Obama supporters have become a rather common phenomenon in this nomination process. Is this the "change" he has been talking about? If so, I don't want any part of it. I am a lifelong Democrat, but I proudly number myself among the 28% to 40% of Hillary Clinton supporters who would never vote for Obama.
Nancy — May 18, 2008
To Fred Jones--no, the "change" that Obama supporters have been talking about is not rowdy behavior--it is requiring that our president be honest ( which Hillary, who changes rules and metrics as she sees fits, to suit her campaign, is NOT)....that our president be sensible (which Hillary, who told Katie Couric "I don't care what the experts say) is NOT...that our president not play back room politics (something Hillary relys on). When I heard Hillary say to Couric that she doesn't care what the economists say (about her and McCain's gas tax holiday proposal and it's idiocy--sorry, their words, not mine)--I turned to my husband and said "Boy, we really do NOT need a president who doesn't want to listen to experts!!!!" I think we've had one of those for the last 8 years! (Remember how Bush didn't want to listen to Colin Powell?) Frankly, despite her belonging to a different party, Hillary's stubborn refusal to admit to mistakes, her lack of transparency and insistence that she knows EVERYTHING better than anyone else knows ANYTHING--it all reminds me of our current President.
Now, I've responded without rudeness, though directly. You may not like how I perceive Hillary, but at least you now understand that we Obama supporters have real, substantial and well-supported reasons for considering her the far inferior candidate.
Tom in Califoria — May 18, 2008
McAuliffe is such a lying hack -- a professional goalpost mover for the Clinton campaign. That's one reason (out of many!) I support Obama over Clinton: I don't want four years of people like Terry McAuliffe and James Carville having anything to do with government.
Big Bear — May 18, 2008
I read this in the current edition of Newsweek:
"When Michigan's Carl Levin wanted to move up that state's primary in 2004, McAuliffe, then party chairman, screamed at him: 'If you do that, the whole system collapses! The rules are the rules.' This from McAuliffe's own memoirs.
He now sings a very different tune.
NinaK — May 18, 2008
Big Bear — May 18, 2008
I read this in the current edition of Newsweek:
"When Michigan's Carl Levin wanted to move up that state's primary in 2004, McAuliffe, then party chairman, screamed at him: 'If you do that, the whole system collapses! The rules are the rules.' This from McAuliffe's own memoirs.
He now sings a very different tune.
---------
Also, ALL the candidates agreed with the rules and ALL candidates KNEW MI and FL delegates would not be counted. When Hilliary was wearing her "inevitability crown" she stated that these states did not matter anyway since their delegates would not be counted. After her 11 state loss she started screaming those votes should be counted....she has not stopped screaming about those states being counted. They became all important to her. So, that whole camp is really fouled up...they agree with the rules when they think she has the nomination, when things don't go Hilliary's way, they condemn the rules. Is this the kind of person America wants for its President and Commander-in-Chief?? I think NOT!
crat3 — May 18, 2008
FL and MI votes must count as cast. Obama gets no MI votes because he removed his name from the ballot and he blocked a revote. In a democracy every vote must count in full. The DNC needs to rescind its action and find something else to play its game with.
Big Bear — May 18, 2008
crat3 -
1) By June 3 Obama will have won the popular vote even if the Florichigan votes are counted.
2) Obama didn't "block" a re-vote. A re-vote would have allowed people who had already voted in the Republican primary to vote in the Dem primary as well. Last I checked, it's against election law for people to vote twice for two different parties. A re-vote would have also triggered a few, more involved, violations of election law as well. On top of all this, no one happened to have $26 million in their pocket just laying around waiting to spend on a special election. When the states refused to pay for it, Hillary's shot at reversing her previous opposition to a Florida Michigan delegation came to it's end (or, at least, it should have, but she's intent on keeping it alive.)
3) Hillary had the lead in every state a year ago. In the states he was allowed to campaign in, Obama has universally closed the gap.
It's time for Hillary supporters to accept what's happening, then take a look at John McCain vs. Obama, and make up their minds who they're going to vote for. It's that simple.
NinaK — May 18, 2008
Crat posted: "FL and MI votes must count as cast. Obama gets no MI votes because he removed his name from the ballot and he blocked a revote. In a democracy every vote must count in full. The DNC needs to rescind its action and find something else to play its game with.
--------------
Crat, you are mistaken. Senator Obama did NOT block the Michigan revote (not did he block Florida's revote). He stated he WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT THE DNC DECIDED. Please do not post blatant lies! Ultimately, both states decided not to "redo" the primaries because of the costs entailed. The respective states "blocked" the revote because they could not afford them. Laws and rules are there for a purpose---you abide by them; if you don't, there are consequences. Mr. Obama and the DNC are NOT responsible for the actions of the Fl and MI state leaders; those leaders are solely responsible for this mess. Jump on their cases and quit blaming everybody else. Hilliary and her team have contributed greatly to this mess by desperately trying to change the rules at the end of the game.
David C Jackson — May 19, 2008
to hear the Clinton supporters rave about being a part of the 20% to 40% of her supporters that will not vote for Obama, especially when there positions are so close, clearly shows what they are voting against. It's obviously not the positions or policies and it has to be his race. Sadly, like their candidate they are willing to sell the country out because of their imaginary complaints about Obama and because they can't get their way. I am glad that she and her followers will NOT be leading this country whether Obama wins or loses and THEY will pay the price if he loses. This is a clear statement on the maturity of both the candidate and those who support her.
Kenjiro Honda — May 19, 2008
It's awesome that Obama, and not Hillary, will be the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
But we have to watch out for Clinton and her chairman and others at the last minute trying to cheat or break the rules to give the nomination to Clinton.
If that occures, it'll be more than just Terry McAuliffe being shouted at and shouted down...it'll be a revolution. And that ain't a joke.
mel — May 19, 2008
Enough of the lies already. Clinton does not lead in the popular vote unless you discount all the states who vote by caucus (because they dont count votes) and you count both Michigan and Florida which was told by DNC their votes wouldn't be counted. I'm sorry but if that's what it takes to "prove" you are in the lead then that's pretty desperate. Obama wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. The primary is over folks. Clinton has lost. Time to move on.
Thom — May 19, 2008
Stick a fork in Hillary, she's done. In Ireland she would be called a witch, in this country we spell it with a b.
unfinished60sbusiness — May 20, 2008
I was in the second row, directly in front of the podium when McAuliffe threw out his lie. See my post under unfinished60sbusiness on DailyKos for a report from that night on the convention.
John_Lai — May 21, 2008
Democracy is at stake because of the activists:
Primary is for one person for on e vote; caucas is not.
caucus is mainly in republican states who deny people's votes
1)Caucas turns win into losses
Texa Primary
Candidate Votes Vote %
Clinton 1,459,814 51%
Obama 1,358,785 47%
4 points win to Clinton in primary
Texa Caucus
Candidate Votes Vote %
Obama 23,918 56%
Clinton 18,620 44%
12 points loss to Clinton in caucus
2) Caucus wins magnify winning margin:
Washington caucus
Candidate Votes Vote %
Obama 21,629 68%
Clinton 9,992 31%
37 points win of Obama in caucus
Washington Primary
Candidate Votes Vote %
Obama 339,166 51%
Clinton 303,151 46%
6 points win of Obama in primary
Caucus is magnified more than 6 times.
The proportionality rules of democracy are undemocratic. BY VOTES, OBAMA WOULD HAVE LOST.
Big Bear — May 21, 2008
Dear John,
Based on what I’m seeing here, your argument is that fewer people show up for caucuses, therefore the delegates who come from a caucus aren’t a fair representation of the actual vote.
Question: Why do Hillary supporters have lower attendance at caucuses?
Is it because they don’t care as much? Perhaps Hillary’s not quite as motivating as Obama?
Or, following a new line, perhaps aren't as educated, as the exit polling suggests? Perhaps they aren’t aware that Hillary has gorssly contradicted herself during the campaign?
She did, for example, claim that “every vote should count,” and yet her current “vote” count doesn’t include caucus states because, and I quote, “not as many people show up to caucuses.”
She also signed a document declaring that Michigan and Florida's delegates should not be seated at the national convention.
Hmmmm.
Hillary’s hypocrisy is more transparent than any candidate I’ve seen in quite some time, barring, of course, George Bush.
From elementary school to the White house, there are rules. None are completely fair, but most are mostly fair.
One thing’s for absolute certain: changing the rules is only an option before or after a game has been played – not during.
Whine all you want. She lost. Sorry bro … think how I felt as a Howard Dean supporter in 2004. Think how I felt when the Broncos lost 4 Superbowls in four appearances. Think how we’ve felt the past 8 years.
That’s life. Get over it.
