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Title: Clinton die-hards voice anger in convention protest
Source:
AFP
URL Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jBVZuDC6NTFcOMGz5wbSM6BoNe4g
Published: Aug 26, 2008
Author: staff
Post Date: 2008-08-26 18:10:47 by mirage
Keywords: None
Views: 178
Comments: 10
DENVER, Colorado (AFP) — Defiant Hillary Clinton loyalists marched through Denver Tuesday to vent anger at the outcome of the bitter Democratic primary race in a final show of support for their beaten idol. Just hours before Clinton was to address Democrats in a speech that party grandees hope will heal the schism caused by the nominating battle, more than 1,000 supporters of the former first lady paid vocal tribute to her campaign. Despite the calls for a unified front heading into November's presidential election, it is clear that some of Clinton's supporters will never be able to forgive Barack Obama for his hard-fought victory. "We're here to say thank you to Hillary and to protest the fraud perpetrated on us by the Democratic National Committee," said Geoff Clunas, 51, of Seattle. "It wasn't a contest, it was a foregone conclusion. They (the DNC leadership) just decided that Barack Obama was going to win." Clunas, a life-long Democrat, said he would boycott this year's election because of the perceived unfairness of Clinton's defeat. "It's going to be the first time since 1976 that I haven't voted. I just don't trust Obama. I think he'll do more harm than good." Laurie Long, a 49-year-old human resources director for a Los Angeles non-profit organization, said she felt betrayed by the leadership of the Democratic Party and did not trust Obama. "We're here to tell the Democratic leadership that it's not okay to ignore 18 million voices," Long told AFP, referring to the tally of votes accumulated by Clinton in the primary battle. Long said she had doubts about Obama's background and said she now planned to vote for Republican candidate John McCain in the election. "I don't trust Obama. He flip-flops all the time. We don't know anything about his past. How do we know he's not some kind of militant? I'm voting for McCain," Long said. Andrea Biggs, a 19-year-old student from Seattle, expressed similar sentiments but said she was still undecided about who to vote for. "There's a lot of us who feel pissed and angry at the party for the way Hillary was treated. There was a lot of sexism in the media and the whole process seemed rigged against her," Biggs said. "At the moment I don't know who I am voting for. I want to be able to forgive Barack Obama, but what happened to Hillary bugs me. I don't know though that I could bring myself to vote for a Republican," she added. But despite the pockets of rancor amongst the Clinton fanatics here Tuesday, many said that they would swing firmly behind Obama in time for the election. "I was unhappy and upset that she lost, but I'm going to be voting for Obama in November," said Carol White, 68. "He's a brilliant leader and we have to have unity in the party to win the election." Meanwhile two 20-year-old convention delegates from Michigan -- a key state won by Clinton whose votes were initially excluded from the primary race -- said Obama would have their support. "I'm disappointed, hurt and angry about Hillary, but I'm not deluded," said Brandon Hayes. "Four more years of a Bush presidency under McCain would be a disaster for our country." Hayes fellow delegate Kelly Bernero chimed: "We're not going to shoot ourselves in the foot in November. Hillary rocks but any true Democrat will vote for Obama." Poster Comment: The PUMAs don't give up, do they?
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#3. To: mirage (#0)
The same could be said for Hillary and McCain. Any of them will do more harm than good. I don't think the Constitution Party made the ballot where I live so I don't have a dog in this fight. Won't vote for the "lesser of two evils" because that is still knowingly voting for evil. I will be sitting this one out too I guess, at least the presidential charade, because there is nothing to vote for.
#4. To: James Deffenbach (#3)
Write in Ron Paul. There is ALWAYS an alternative and a vote is NEVER wasted if it reflects your conscience.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"It's going to be the first time since 1976 that I haven't voted. I just don't trust Obama. I think he'll do more harm than good."
Replies to Comment # 3. there is nothing to vote for
End Trace Mode for Comment # 3.