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Infuriated by Hillary? This will help!

I've been a lot angrier than I like to be over the past few days. More than anything, Hillary's effusive praise of McCain, one of the most myopic and bizarre strategies of her campaign, pushed me over the edge. I assumed—foolishly, I see now—that Hillary saw herself as a Democrat first and a candidate second. How wrong I was. It's clear that she is happy to frame the race around Commander in Chief credentials and her "lifetime of experience" if that framing will let her damage Obama enough to win the nomination, even though doing so will set the Democratic nominee up for devastating attacks by McCain. "Commander in Chief," "experience," and "phone calls in a dangerous world"? This McCain's dream come true. No buts about it; Hillary is already throwing the Democratic party under the bus to get the nomination, and in the process smearing one of its most effective and promising political stars.

Part of what makes this most frustrating is the impotence that accompanies my anger. No doubt that's true for all of us. I want to ask Hillary how she can possibly say things like this, over and over again, in good conscience. But of course I'll never get that opportunity. There is one thing we can do, however. Give money to Obama. I despise what Hillary has done in the past few days, and my displeasure will be evidenced by my donations to Obama this month. So go to barackobama.com, open your wallet, and feel a little less impotent. It helps. Trust me.

Obama is offering us something extraordinary this election cycle. From this—exactly what Hillary is doing right now—Obama offers a reprieve. From falsified charges about "NAFTA-gate" and mischaracterized quotes about withdrawal from Iraq. From those who didn't take a stand on our horrifying adventure into Iraq. From Democrats as nothing more than Democrats and Republicans as nothing more than Republicans. From those politicians who believe they—only they and not the people—are the ones for whom the messy machinery of democracy operates. Obama, Kansan and Kenyan, American and international, community organizer and trailblazer and a man whose campaign demonstrates every day the incredible potential of a people-powered movement for hope and change and unity in 21st century America.

Take a deep breath, think about what this campaign means, and give.


Comments (56)

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I actually just contributed to the Obama campaign and signed up as a fundraiser.

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Anyone who has friends, family, acquaintances etc. in the remaining primary states -- esp. PA -- please contact them and ask them to vote for Obama. It looks like the Republicans will be trying their cross-over tactics again, not, of course, denounced by the beneficiary of this chicanery, Hillary.

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And if you can - go to PA and work for Obama. Or get your friends and family there to do it. The passion of Obama's supporters and the difference the organization makes has been really effective for him. In OH - Hillary could really compete with that because it was naturally her constituents and the Strikland organization was behind her. But at the end of the day it netted her about 8 delegates. We can manage PA. We have the time. We're actually better when were mad - so let's help him!

Sorry, but your headline is a lie. I contributed to Obama, but I'm still enraged by The Monster.

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I just want to say I share your anger.

I was livid when I saw HRC's comments.

Truly, utterly unforgivable.

Up until that point, I said I would vote Dem no matter what.

Now I won't. She lost me.

The best thing to do with your anger is to donate, phone bank (online tools) and spread the word.

Maybe it might be useful to have some letterwriting campaigns against the heavily biased MSM and the ineffectual DNC.


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I'm still furious, too. I didn't think anyone but Bush could get me this mad. But then, I really thought that Hillary Clinton was better than that. Yes, I actually stuck up for her, and have for years. I thought the 'Hillary haters' were being way too harsh, just because she was a strong woman.

Ha! How wrong was THAT? She seemed quite presidential last summer, when her nomination was 'inevitable.' But the real Hillary has shown her face in the past few weeks, and it's ugly indeed. I won't vote for her in any circumstance, and I won't support a party that backs her. Even if she's just forced on Obama as a vice-presidential pick, I'm going to throttle back my support for the Democratic Party. Her tactics are just WRONG, and there's no way she should be rewarded for them in any way whatsoever. If the Democrats don't see that, then they're not the party for me.

I didn't understand how Obama's ability to re-invade Iraq was much different from Bush/McCain's excuses for Surging. Someone please explain.

Desidero,

People can explain things for you all day long, but they can't understand it for you. Why don't you try thinking for yourself for a change, rather than believing everything that leaves Hillary's lying lips.

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Agree re donating and phone banking etc.

But it won't change my feelings toward Hillary and her campaign tactics. Should she win the nomination, I vote Republican for the first time, that is certain. In some ways it might be fun to watch McCain try to deal with the mess George W. has left behind. Then we can rally around Obama for 2012.

Monster? Well, at least despicable, just like her husband. (I am fast moving the DNC to this category, as well.)

I will simply not vote... I will never, never vote for a Goldwater Girl....

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I think Pennsylvania is a closed primary. I thought it was anyway.

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I've been listening to Randi Rhodes on Air America from their very first day. I have seen her mad many, many times (It's the Bush administration, after all). She wanted to remain neutral in the primary, and went to great lengths to defend Bill Clinton when his comments were either misquoted or taken out of the context.

But yesterday she snapped. And she snapped big. She had never been this angry at a politician -- and it was Hillary Clinton.

Now in all fairness, she's waiting for Obama to give her a sign that he can be effective here. As we all are.

But her utter horror at this behavior sent her over the edge.

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Me, too. But at least I took some action.

$25 at a time.....

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If it wasn't for the Supreme Court this would be easy for me.

We'll see if she just takes us all for granted and has any remorse for her carnage. She'll have to win me back. She'll have to win the black vote back, because she's toast without it.

If she doesn't do that work, I won't vote for her.

Over 70% of black voters still approve of the Clintons, in spite of the fact that they are running a tough campaign against a black man. Doesn't sound like she's going to have much trouble "winning them back."

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So far Al Sharpton has remained neutral. At the State Of The Black Union Sharpton made clear to Clinton supporter Rep Jackson Lee that if Clinton tried to change the rules using super-delegates, he would take sides. Sharpton may carry a lot of baggage, but if he goes on Black media outlets with a theft of the election message, he would have major impact.
Take the African-American vote for granted at your peril. Only 20% of the African-American electorate in Ohio voted for GW Bush, so your 70% number-Not so good.
Nationwide, GW got 11% of The African-American vote. If 30% of the Black vote goes away from Hillary, good luck in November.
Was the 70% number before or after Clinton's Obama less qualified than McCain message?

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"She'll have to win the black vote back, because she's toast without it."

Sorry, she won't.

They are gone if she is seen as stealing from the rightful winner of the contests.

The DNC should be under no illusions: Handing the nomination to the one who lost on delegates = suicide.

This is not my threat, it is just a fact. If any of these idiot pundits knew any black people, they would understand the depth of outrage. But Hillary's white uneducated oldtimer crowd hasn't a clue, since minorities aren't allowed in their 55+ communities.

Sources? Where do you get this stuff? From Doug Wilder? Politics doesn't work that way. The threats about black people leaving the Party or staying home are for the Primary. They are not going to give up the power Jesse Jackson busted his ass to get. You think they will get this close and make themselves irrelevant going forward. 70% of black voters still like the Clintons. That's a fact.

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Just to provide context, here is a link to a site suggesting the impact of 70% vs 90% of the African-American vote on the General Election.

http://pajamasmedia.com/2008/02/the_clintons_unforgivable_crim.php

Several states could be lost.

70 percent of black PEOPLE, or black VOTERS say they like the Clintons? OK, let's just say it is 70% of the voters.

Do you think black people are stupid? If Clinton wins because she scared some dip-shits into thinking Mr. Obama doesn't have the cojones that she and Mr McCain have, will blacks stupidly follow her?

If she had been at all honorable, what you say would be true, but she has insulted Obama. She has insulted the Democratic party, and she has insulted all the Yellow-Dog Democrats who want to go and pee on her tree!

70% of blacks for Hillary? After what she has said and done? Take your smug fist away from your jaw and smack yourself in the head, and say, "Gee! I could'a won an election!"

try listening to black radio and you will understand that any hint that Obama was "robbed" will result not only in a backlash against hillary but crossover voting as well.

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Well, though I've been an Obama supporter and voted for him in the CA primary, I hadn't voted with my wallet - until just now. I wanted to think that I would vote for whichever Dem won the nomination. But, Hillary has made that unthinkable. If she wins the nomination, I won't vote -- despite how much I hate what the Republicans have done to this beautiful country.

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Are you a current Obama supporter who (for any reason) will not vote for Hillary Clinton in the general election if she gets the Democratic nomination for President?
Then please take a moment to sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/obama725/petition.html

Or you could always do what Mishima did.

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Monster? Well, at least despicable, just like her husband. (I am fast moving the DNC to this category, as well.)

It seems that there is a certain consensus that Hillary has acted despicably somehow in the last few weeks. Many people here think that they wouldn't even vote for her if she got the nomination. But what exactly is it that she has done that is so out of bounds for a primary campaign? Most political observers who have followed this campaign have said that her statements and ads are fairly normal for a primary campaign. See this piece by John Dickerson at Slate for example http://www.slate.com/id/2185819/. If you want to see what a more nasty primary campaign looks like check out some of the ads that Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean ran against each other in Iowa or some of the ads that Mitt Romney ran on the Republican side. Is it so wrong to ask which Presidential candidate would best respond to a crisis like Hillary's 3 AM ad? And if this ad is evidence that Hillary is some kind of a monster, what about Obama running his own version of the ad the next day?
So the amount of vitriol toward Hillary seems out of line with anything she has actually done. People who followed politics while Bill was President got used to Republicans playing by the "Clinton Rules" where everything either one of them did was assumed to be done of ill intent. It was certainly expected that Republicans would do that to Hillary this time, but what is the excuse of so many Obama supporters? Whatever Hillary and her supporters have said about Obama they haven't implied that he doesn't genuinely have good motives as Obama's supporters have. This kind of black and white way at looking at the race makes it ok for Samantha Power to call Hillary a monster , but not ok for Bill Clinton to say "fairy tale." Have some perspective people.

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Monster? Well, at least despicable, just like her husband. (I am fast moving the DNC to this category, as well.)

It seems that there is a certain consensus that Hillary has acted despicably somehow in the last few weeks. Many people here think that they wouldn't even vote for her if she got the nomination. But what exactly is it that she has done that is so out of bounds for a primary campaign? Most political observers who have followed this campaign have said that her statements and ads are fairly normal for a primary campaign. See this piece by John Dickerson at Slate for example http://www.slate.com/id/2185819/. If you want to see what a more nasty primary campaign looks like check out some of the ads that Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean ran against each other in Iowa or some of the ads that Mitt Romney ran on the Republican side. Is it so wrong to ask which Presidential candidate would best respond to a crisis like Hillary's 3 AM ad? And if this ad is evidence that Hillary is some kind of a monster, what about Obama running his own version of the ad the next day?
So the amount of vitriol toward Hillary seems out of line with anything she has actually done. People who followed politics while Bill was President got used to Republicans playing by the "Clinton Rules" where everything either one of them did was assumed to be done of ill intent. It was certainly expected that Republicans would do that to Hillary this time, but what is the excuse of so many Obama supporters? Whatever Hillary and her supporters have said about Obama they haven't implied that he doesn't genuinely have good motives as Obama's supporters have. This kind of black and white way at looking at the race makes it ok for Samantha Power to call Hillary a monster , but not ok for Bill Clinton to say "fairy tale." Have some perspective people.

Obama just won the Wyoming Caucus 59% to 40%.

Another State that ACCORDING TO HILLARY.......doesn't count..........


It is very rewarding to participate in the campaign at whatever level one can. It will take the efforts of each and every one of us to fight the Clinton *FIX* machine and advance Barack to the general election and on to the White House this November. His website provides all the information needed to get involved.

Thanks "obamanotclinton', for starting the petition. Great idea. I signed it and added my comments.

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Hilary's harsh tactics, supporting McCain, NAFTA-gate, the veil about her experience on nat. security, have helped solidify my support for Obama. I also realize something I've suspected for a while is true: Hilary snapped a long time ago and has been focussed on the presidency in 08 to redeem her. She's been sensing defeat - and her public reaction is all out war on Obama, Republicans, the country. She doesn't care if she brings down the party, then stands cackling in the flames holding the match. Power was right.

What a disappointment. But...I don't have to look back now, or worry that I'm witholding support for the first female president. Obama really is - all new. Thinking about his reaction to the NAFTA stuff, some say he was slow, isn't that a normal, non-rehearsed reaction to the carpet being pulled out? Just keep supporting this incredibly hopeful visionary who will bring the country to a better place. Already is.

I was thinking how people kept saying Gore should 'loosen up' for the media as he looked too uptight against gregarious Bush. But the real advice when your opponent starts with the Rove tactics is to keep doing your own thing, building delegates wins, not perceptions, and in Obama's case it just keeps on working and working.

Clinton's strategy is to get inside Obama's head. Very old school Republican. Make him react and un-Obama-ize him, even get his own supporters to demand he change. All he has to do...is be Obama. Hilary is doing herself enough damage.

All these posts have a desperate feel to them. Lighten up! Obama is Not the second coming and Hillary is Not a monster. They are both politicians, both trying to bring their best game to the race. What you are seeing now is his teflon coating getting scratched and her trying to see what sticks. This is normal politics folks. Very tame compared to historical races. Obama supporters should welcome the scrutiny. He will never win a general election until he shows what he's made of. The same old same old of his inspirational rallies is wearing thin. He needs a second act. They had to bus union workers in to fill his rallies in Ohio. If he is worthy he will win. At the least he'll be her VP and get a shot at 16years in the white house. He can thank his cousin Dick (and Al Gore) for making the VP something significant.
Mccain is toast either way Hillary has done him no favors this is a non issue, all the angst is wasted.Don't villify Hillary she is not the enemy, and you just turn off the allies you will need for November.

Clinton/Obama'08 OR Obama/Clinton'08 either way the people win!

If HRC is on the ticket, either top or bottom, I will stay home. Period.

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If Obama is on the ticket, either top or bottom, I and many more Clinton supporters will NOT stay home. Period. We will vote for McCain.

Yeah! At least McCain is white, right? And on the right side of the war, right? And let's hear it for permanent tax cuts, and of course Hillary SAID he is the only choice except for her! Wow! You are sooooooooo smart!

Is your real name Bill Clinton?

It is the height of hubris for Hillary to suggest a Hillary-Obama ticket. She is LOSING! LOSING! LOSING! It is like someone losing at poker but offering to split the winnings with the winner!

As to this:

"Clinton/Obama'08 OR Obama/Clinton'08 either way the people win!"

President Obama can pick his own running-mate, thank you very much! If the only thing Hillary has going for her is her (fake) experience, I'm sure Barack can find someone with better credentials than hers (and a tenth of the scandals) to run with.

By the way, this thing about vetting: Hillary is constantly repeating it. Her idea of vetting is that she can stare down anyone who confronts her with her self-made scandals and not bat an eye. That only means she doesn't care; not that she is right.

VOTERS ARE NOT IMPERVIOUS TO A RERUN OF ALL THE CLINTON'S DIRTY LAUNDRY! Why do republicans vote for her in primaries? Because they have a treasure-trove of mud to throw. True, Hillary won't care, but voters will! This vetting stuff is absurd! She is Karl Rove the 2nd! To claim that she has done so much crap and gotten away with it is a plus----jesus!

You're oh so right, getting pissed is no use if we don't do something about it. I've been increasingly beside myself over Clinton's lies about her experience. I know some have called it puffery, but it's simply not. It's lies. She went to women's conferences to speak about women's rights, which may have helped push policies but didn't directly influence anything. She gave Bill her advice but didn't make the decisions (unless there's something we don't know about their relationship). The macedonian border was open before she got there. She was an effective FIRST LADY, for heavens sake.

So I want to fume and rage instead of calling voters and sending money. I get all discouraged and cynical. But if I do that, like I keep saying, the terrorists--the fearmongers of every nationality and party who want us to cower in the corner while they grab more and more power over us--will win. And dammit, I don't want to help them!!

Obama wins Wyoming! Deep breath, donate. Deep breath, donate. Hey, I feel much better - it does work! Nakorami!

They are both politicians, both trying to bring their best game to the race. What you are seeing now is his teflon coating getting scratched and her trying to see what sticks. This is normal politics folks.

How normal is it for a candidate to say, "I'm qualified to be President, and the Republican candidate is qualified to be President, but my fellow Democrat opponent is not qualified."?

Someone should ask Senator Clinton who she will vote for if she is not the nominee and not let her weasel out of answering by saying that she is going to be the nominee.

Then they can ask her if Obama is not qualified to be President, why she would even entertain the possibility of putting him on the ticket and putting the country at risk? Does she figure that she can have him ready by Day 2?

I just read today that it was said by Modale about Hart and by Carter about Kennedy and someone else. I think it was on TPM. Shouldn't be hard too find. Hey he admitted he would have this problem on his first interview after announcing. It's time to make his case. Don't get all over her for asking. Relax. Obama is a good guy he will do just fine. You do no favors by shielding him. And she is not his enemy. She is just his primary opponent.

Obama might be the first in your lifetime but I campaigned for Mcgovern and he was at least as transformative and he had a brilliant record as a war hero. I'm thrilled about what he brings to the process. Winning the nomination is not enough. you have to win the general. Obama has done nothing but campaign his whole adult life. six campaigns in the last 12 years. He needs to answer the questions now being posed. If he is worthy of your support he will do just fine. but He needs to do it! It's like his supporters are afraid to take off the training wheels.

Clinton/Obama'08 OR Obama/Clinton'08 either way the people win!

Well, I am old enough to remember MCGovern, and Obama is a far stronger candidate. I am also old enough to remember George Bush, and that is who Hillary is reminding me of. Her tactics are pure Karl Rove, and I don't want her anywhere near the white house. If she were VP she would surely need the limelight and would do everything in her power to sabotage President Obama.

How in the world could Barack Obama offer the VP slot to someone who said he was a weaker choice than John McCain? Maybe in Hillary-world it doesn't matter what you say, but in the real-world it does! She is LOSING! LOSING! LOSING! She just can't accept it!

Sincerely, Jan Hussain Knaus

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You don't have to be so hysterical.

Please give a quotation that demonstrates hysteria. Otherwise, strain you brain to come up with some substantive criticisms.

Now, if you are speaking of hysteria, maybe you have me confused with the Hillary Camp, where they are calling Obama "Ken Starr" for reminding Hillary that she promised she was going to put her financials out there. (Not like she had to climb up into her attic to find her records)

Hysteria? Please be specific.

what is Ok with saying that Hillary is like Karl Rove. The clintons spent their whole lives fighting Lee Atwater and karl Rove. Nothing in Hillary's remark about Mccain is like what those two did in their sleep. No way this is hardball politics or dirty politics. her comment was a T-ball shot and you should not worry. your guy is good and he's a big boy and he can take it. If he can't You don't want him. None of us do. He needs to go through the fire and come out whole--you can't prevent it. Obama is strengthened by this scrutiny. Democrats are strengthened by this race. RELAX! Let all the states do their thing.let florida and michigam do their thing twice. let the supers vote however they each want to. and lets get these two fantastic candidates on the same ticket. her fans won't accept another skirt and his fans won't accept "Obama like". It is these two specific people who split the dems. they split the dems 50/50 and that means that together they bring in all. there's only 8 weeks for the general we will need both these groups united. If you hardline against her-you loose! If all you have to offer is hating---- you loose! and then we'll all know it's really you who acts like Karl Rove.

Clinton/Obama'08 Or Obama/Clinton'08 either way the people win!

What a dumb comment:

"If you hardline against her-you loose! If all you have to offer is hating---- you loose! and then we'll all know

it's really you who acts like Karl Rove."


Give me a break! Hillary is a huge success! Her goal is to ruin the Democratic Party and you are proving it!

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blusage,

Clinton/Obama'08 OR Obama/Clinton'08 either way the people win!

The technical term for that is horse hockey.

Yeah, I can see Obama nominating Hillary for VP:

"I have decided to hire Hillary to answer those late night calls. It will save the country a great deal over having Goldie Hawn answer the phone. Hillary can do it while she waits for Bill to come home."

Don't think so, blusage, though we here in New York wouldn't mind having a chance to finally elect a Democrat to the Senate.

Best, Terry

But those questions would require an intelligent person asking them. And someone who had the confidence to call her on it when she didn't answer. Not happening!

PS! When did anyone last see any actual reporting from Iraq? Hundreds dead every day, but the "Surge is Working" is never challenged.

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It is time that we call Senator Clinton what she is--Karl Rove's favorite student. She does not care whether she tells lies or truths. The "60 Minutes" interview was her graduation diploma from Rove's class--one of the three defining moments that have shown she is all about Hillary and Clinton power, and gives not a damn about the country or her own Democratic Party.Much like Bush and the Rovian strategy, if you have done something wrong always charge your opponent with the crime. Take no responsibility for anything you say or do. Smear, play victim--like W has done on many occasions, and smear again. Always moving the goal posts, just like W and company have done in Iraq. What is the meaning of "is"? If you want straight answers, don't ask Senator Clinton-Rove-Bush.

I'm continually impressed by the skill and thoughtfulness the posters to many of these threads demonstrate in their articulate responses to issues. The other way I think we all can help the democratic party is by penning eloquent, dispassionate letters to the editor of the local paper. You'd be surprised: they do print some of them (not always my best, I find). Not everyone reads the blogs, but many do tend to read the op-ed page of the local paper.

P.S. Just the title of this post suggests you might have a problem with ANY woman in charge. "Infuriated" is what you get with your mom or your girlfriend. It is this uncontrolled anger than is a problem in the race. Not Hillary Clinton.

You'll have to take my word for it, but I have no problem with women being in charge. Bush, his rhetoric, and his policies "infuriate" me; it's not the language of sexism, at least not here.

Blusage, I guess it's be better to say:

Gee, I feel just, well, awful, you know, I just like Barack, more than Hillary, which is not to say that I don't like Hillary, I respect her because she is a woman and her life as a woman has been very very hard, and people have been so awfully nasty to her, and although she has survived so far so she is very very frail and tenderhearted and I know I can't really say anything bad about her, not that I want to, really, she has nice hair and is a very pretty lady...

Hillary is in politics. If she can say that she's just not sure whether Barack is muslim, I can say I'm infuriated by her. And, by the way, I've never heard a pissed-off man say he's "infuriated" by his girlfriend. According to my observations, it's an awful lot of syllables for your average pissed-off guy.

correction, meant to say; It is this uncontrolled anger thaT is a problem in this race.

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I agree with others here who suggest that the Democratic party needs to be purged of the Clintons. If voting Republican is the only way to do it, so be it.

I never dreamed I'd consider doing such a thing, but I'm convinced the Clintons are poison. Hopefully, we can get the DNC and the superdelegates to realize that. If not, I'll do what I can on my own.

I'm originally from PA - have a lot of family and friends there - and will be lobbying heavily.

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Let's remember the poison that Obama has spread among his supporters. Reasonable people can’t possible vote for the same candidate that Sara F is going to vote. Defeat the hate, Don’t vote for the leader of a hate movement.

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Obama's stated goal is bringing the country together. Clinton works by divide and conquer. I don't think the Clintons should be purged or anything like the previous post suggests, but I do think we can do better.

PA is a closed primary. You have to be a registered Democrat. Deadline for switching registration is March 22. BTW, due to odd local party dynamics in the Philadelphia suburbs, many folks who vote for Democrats in national and statewide races are registered Republican. One of the big GOTV efforts going on now in the Obama campaign, especially in Delaware County, PA and the majoirity-black city of Chester, PA, is to get those folks' registrations switched so they can vote in the PA primary for him.

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Anyone in Pennsylvania has until March 24 to register as a Democrat:

https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

If you live in Pa, or just know someone there, encourage them to do so. This might be the biggest thing you can do to help things along in Pa. Especially important is to get people registered in the all important COLLEGE TOWNS, and don't forget Philadelphia!

Spread the word!

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