The “300″ petition that roared
Submitted by PUMA08’s Will Bower Live From Denver
When the Clinton and Obama campaigns announced last week that Senator Clinton’s name would be placed into nomination, a group of Clinton delegates cheered for a moment and went right back to work. With Hillary Clinton’s name “officially” on the ballot, the petition signatures were no longer technically needed. But this group of determined individuals pressed on.
“When we started this effort, it was the ONLY way for us to be able to vote in Denver to represent the people who elected us,” said a Clinton delegate from Texas. “We’re proud of what we did. We’re going to see it to the end. Just like our candidate – we don’t quit.”
According to DNC rules, a floor nomination petition needs a minimum of 300 signatures from voting delegates to be submitted. In July, a small but determined group of Clinton delegates and volunteers started reaching out to fellow delegates in true grassroots fashion – one by one – to collect the signatures. This proved to be slow going since Democratic Party officials would not provide contact lists for delegates. The 300 Delegate Petition group was born.
After national and international mainstream media attention, petitions started pouring in. When they received the requisite number of petitions, they once again took a breather and went back to work. DNC rules state that no more than 600 petitions can be submitted. They’re working on it.
“We’ve got well over 300 petitions now in hand,” explained Sue Castner, a Clinton delegate from Portland, OR. “Since we never consulted with Senator Clinton’s campaign, we don’t know if ‘the petition that wouldn’t die’ had anything to do with the two joint campaign announcements made last week. We will probably never know but it certainly made us feel good.”
Signatories include a governor or two, county Democratic party chairs, members of the diplomatic corps, and even some brave Obama delegates. The names of those who signed the petition will remain a mystery unless Senator Clinton decides to file the petition, in which case, their names will be a part of recorded history.
As a meager reward for those delegates who saw the nomination process as a path to party unity and signed this historic document, a numbered commemorative pin will distinguish them from fellow delegates. Rest assured, the green pin, featuring the number 300 with a pen, will be THE most coveted pin in Denver.
on August 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Who knew the biggest fight would be the restoration of the democracy and the biggest impediment would be the dnc itself
on August 24th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Just want to say THANKS to all the people that worked so hard for HILLARY. I felt so bad that HILLARY was never even considered for VP. Listening to the MEDIA,you get really down,cause they say with her in NOMINATION ,its only a formality to quiet her supporters. I cant be there but my CANDLE will be lit. God Bless you all
on August 24th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Kudos to these delegates and to all the PUMAs in Denver. There are millions of us cheering you on.
on August 24th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
god bless all good luck thanks for all the information
and watch for that puma carrying my banner
plan a
on August 24th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
The AP reports Hillary will meet with her delegates on Wednesday and release them. Is that why Florida and Michigan were seated today with full votes? Some back room deal. Why is the DNC afraid of a floor fight or letting the country see who should be the nominee? Once again, the DNC behaves like Republicans and the Supremes (Court that is). Suppress the will of the people because we know better.
on August 24th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Do we need ask what happened to Hillary? She was telling us, her supporters, just a short time ago, we must go to Denver to elect the nominee Now it comes down to her meeting with her delegates on Wednesday at which time they say she will turn them over to Obama. I don’t know about you but it sounds to me like giving in to the undemocratic process which means our voices will not be heard. What a tragedy. They still don’t get it there is no deal we are not going to fall in line behind a candidate who is not ready or equipped to be President His running mate said it a month ago.
It is so difficult to read Hillary will meet with her delegates and tell them to vote for Obama. Obvious she has no other choice don’t know how she is able to do it the way the party and Obama treated her, it’s disgusting and you call this democracy. Silence the voters and get them to fall in line so the party will be unified, not this voter.
on August 24th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Let’s say that for what ever reason, Hillary does win the nomination. It would be a political blood bath at the convention. She would turn off the other 18 million American people. She would never hold another public office again unless it’s in a rual small town in Ohio or Pa. And most importantly.. SHE’S BROKE! well her campaign is I meant. I thought Puma was going to pay down her debt. Last I read that was paid down by $1.3 million dollars. Where’s the other 5 to 9 million?
on August 25th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Do read this:
http://hireheels.com/blog/2008/08/24/the-peoples-court-berg-vs-obama/
In a nutshell, nobody (not the DNC; not the press) nobody vetted Obama, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.
on August 25th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I am a very strong supporter of Hiilary Clinton. I cannot support the presumptive ticket consisting of Obama-Biden.
A much better ticket would be Obama-Clinton to unify the party.
Obama stated that Hillary Clinton would be on anyone’s short list and then he did not even consider her as his running mate. He also stated he wanted change. So much for change when he chose Biden who has been in the Senate since 1972.
The delegates should wake up and nominate and elect the real dream ticket of Obama-Clinton.
If this does not materialize, I would have no other option than to vote for McCain or do a write-in for Hillary Clinton in November.
I am very depressed about not having the dream ticket that would unify the party. I am so depressed that I am crying over. this.
on August 25th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Not one person has mentioned the 3am text message was a finger in your eye to Hillary for here 3am red phone ad earlier in the campaign.
on August 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I still believe that Hillary Clinton is the best hope for our country.
Does anyone know if there are any protests going on in denver by Hillary Supporters?
I just keep hoping that something will happen in Denver. When she releases her delegates she gives them permission to vote however they want. They can still vote for her.
on August 25th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
we must wait and see what will happen at the convention when hillary releases her delagates, will they still vote for her or will they have to vote for the one the dnc selected(i can’t even say his name) if she’s gets more votes, will she be our true nominee? or will they steal it from her and us again.
if hillary is not our nominee i will never vote for the lier and fraud.
i will vote for mccain, because at least we know who he really is..
Forever HILLARY
on August 25th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I am sick about how Obama has abused the Clintons. I know it was long clear that he would never choose her as vp, but there was no need for him to treat her like his own personal circus pony. He has made her trot out in support of him just to preserve her position in the party. I love the new ad by the McCain camp with the former Clinton delagate!
on August 25th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Now the Clinton family is being threatened if they do not spend all their waking hours telling everyboday how wonderful Obama is.Somebody sent me an e-mail that I better support Obama because he was going to put her on the supreme court.Still worried about my uterus?When did he make that promise?
on August 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I share the pain of all the Hillary supporters. I would ask that those who are considering a vote for McCain think about that twice. I think McCain will win but not by my hand. I think McCain should choose Hillary as his VP. Wouldn’t that get Howard Dean screaming again! I love all of you for your fidelity to a woman who should be our next president. I think the democratic party needs a really clean out. I am a new Independent voter at age 77. I can’t be part of a party that negates women.
on August 27th, 2008 at 2:39 am
“O bum a” and his malcontent wife have prolonged 5,000 years of sexism!
They are great news for religious fundamentalists all over the world. Allowing them into the white house is a direct act of harm against all women and the non-sexist men of the world! Hillary should found a Third Party right away. Thanks!
on August 27th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Where is the unity? This is crazy it is like playing soccer with a goalie that allows goals. The only reason to do this is to divide the party, so the question is…..
Are you really democrat? I welcome the response since Clinton has already said who she supports
on August 28th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I’m from Canada and even my family and friends are for Hillary. We thought, Obama is the biggest nightmare for an American presidential candidate. We’ll pray that Obama will not win the election for the sake of U.S. and the world. God bless you all for standing up for what’s right.
on August 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
please see Biden’s ties with the Islamist sexists:
http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/045318.html
on September 1st, 2008 at 10:26 am
and more:
http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/045475.html
on September 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
The DNC, Howard, Obama, and Nancy ignored the wishes of 18 million voters who voted not only for Hillary, but also for the superdelegates. Yet, absolutely no one honored the voices of us 18 million people. Now the “O” wants us. He needs us (or at least our money or our votes). The hell with that!!
Meanwhile, the DNC, when down in the polls wants to threaten us women with our utureses. Did you ever hear them threaten men with the loss of their Viagra? Yes, The DNC, who blatantly allows sexism and turns a blind eye to all the “bitch,” “lipstick on a pig,” and “fish” comments, now wants to blackmail us with the “A”(bortion) word. Why don’t they use “ED” blackmail on the men? Just another example of their “good old boy network.” Just another reason why I (a member for 34 years of the Democratic Party) will never vote for this ticket. And, if any of them are listening, they’ll have to really clean up their act if they ever want my vote again. The “party of diversity” seems to be really the “party of adversity.” Buyer beware.
on September 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
thank you anne marie for your principled expose of institutional sexism of the “democratic” party!
obuma should talk about that cocaine on his nose!
on September 21st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
How did Gwen Ifil got chosen as the host of vice-presidential debates? She is an Obuma agent paid by PBS. She must recuse herself!
on September 27th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
in the debate last night obuma proved how drugs have impacted him when he said that he would meet with any evil person that he wants. does he think that he is running for the office of a king or , may be, a queen?
on November 5th, 2008 at 4:46 am
get his Kenyan birth certificate before the inauguration day:
http://poll.pollcode.com/dJtk