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On Demand

Congressman/Rock Star

Monday, August 25, 2008

Congressman John Hall is in Denver as part of the New York delegation. But he's also the co-founder of the band Orleans. Which means he knows a thing or two about standing on a stage in a giant stadium. We get his advice for Barack Obama, who will address thousands of supporters at Denver's stadium on Thursday night.


Comments

  • [1] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ August 25, 2008 - 10:56AM

    Re: Roll Call Vote--What might have happened IF the Clinton and Obama vote count had come out the reverse of what it is now? (A hypothetical, of course.)

    Would Obama have come out full square for Hillary just days after the final primary, pledging to support her with every ounce of energy, to work as hard for her as he had worked for himself, to do whatever was asked of him by her? Would he have told his voters to back Hillary, long before the convention? Would he have claimed his right to have his name placed in nomination?

    I don't think he would have released his voters; indeed, I think that if he had he would be reviled as a traitor, possibly called a traitor to his race, for giving up what would have been a historical opportunity to show that a black candidate could and nearly did achieve the nomination of the Democratic Party.

    I'm not sure he would have given up his campaigning as early as Hillary did; probably, he would have said that he would await the judgement of the Democratic delegates to the convention, all of them, pleged and super. Because to not do so would have indicated weakness and would have disappointed his many, many supporters. And he would be looking forward to the future when he would run again, being only 46, soon to turn 47.


  • [2] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ August 25, 2008 - 11:00AM

    Roll Call Vote cont'd--I believe he would have given a great Axelrod speech prior to the vote--he would have praised his supporters for sticking with him and would have told them to vote their pledge and their beliefs. He would have begun his next campaign at that moment.

    After the first vote, then and only then would he have released them and urge them to vote unanimously for Hillary Clinton as the party nominee.

    But, amazingly, Hillary Clinton is being told to be the good little woman and get in line and get out of contention.

    Her supporters, especially her female supporters, are being told "get in line" and "where ya gonna go, sweetie?"

    I might be wrong--this is purely conjecture. I just got angry listening to Carolyn Maloney (D-CD 14), a pledged NY super delegate, just now saying on WNYC that of course she would vote for Obama on the first ballot, it's all over for Hillary's campaign, that Hillary was backing Obama, and, she added, wisely I think, that Hillary can do more for the country and the state as the US senator from NY than as the VP.

    What really angered me is she then justifed her change of pledged vote by saying Obama's nomination was a historical first.

    As if Hillary's is not?


  • [3] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ August 25, 2008 - 11:03AM

    Roll Call Vote cont'd, Part 3--

    He would never have said that Clinton was "entitled" to his and his supporters' votes. He would have made demands, some publicly, more in private, and leveraged every bit of power he had accrued.

    Clinton was not permitted by the DNC, the pundits, the MCM to do that.

    Grrrrrrrr.

    (NJ delegate now saying delegation is united and will all support Obama. Did not mention whether they would initially vote as the voters directed them to voet. Oh, my. I am getting more and more angry. Asking that Hillary release her delegates prior to vote. Sheesh. No one would do that to Obama were he in her position. Conjecture, but I totally believe that. His maleness requires his be able to get his earned votes.)Roll Call Vote cont'd, Part 3--


  • [4] chris o from new york city August 25, 2008 - 11:20AM

    The real rock star is speaking now...


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