Is He or Isn't He?

Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) became the latest Democrat to be elected a "superdelegate" - that all-powerful title that could make it or break it for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in their bid for the presidential nomination.

During the Potomac Primary in February, Thomas said he was in Clinton's camp. After Obama stomped Clinton 3 to 1 in the District, he hedged a bit.


Last week, he narrowly beat Obama supporter Miriam Sapiro 24 to 22 to become an unpledged delegate who would represent District Democrats at the national convention in Denver in August. Council member Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) was the clear winner among 12 candidates for two superdelegate spots. She garnered 31 votes. She also has been in Obama's camp from the beginning.

So the question remains: Is Thomas for Obama or isn't he?
Did local Democrats who clearly favor Obama elect someone who will just cast his vote for Clinton because he can?

"I didn't know being an unpledged delegate would make me so popular," Thomas said in an interview this morning. "I've gotten a hundred, two hundred calls, and e-mails from the listserves from Obama supporters."

The local committee sent out a news release last week, saying Thomas was pledging himself to Clinton. Thomas asked for a correction, which was sent out yesterday. "I'm unpledged," Thomas said. "It's not political gamesmanship for me. I'm really undecided."

"I, at least, want to meet with the candidate (Obama) and see what he has to say," Thomas said. "I take this very seriously."

He said he will also listen to his constituents. That would make him for Obama, right?

"I will make a decision...before the Pennsylvania primary," Thomas said.

By Nikita R Stewart |  April 8, 2008; 8:46 AM ET  | Category:  D.C. Council
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Comments

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I would hope all the superdelegates in the District, will go for Senator Obama, because if we want change this is the way to go, Sorry but Hillary can not save America which needs the kind of healing only Senator Obama can deliver today.

Charles

Posted by: Charles | April 8, 2008 4:25 PM

I hope the superdelegates decide who they feel is a better candidate - based on their policies and record - NOT based on a popularity contest.
And before you all harp on me for saying they should be based on constituent vote, remember Kerry, Kennedy, and Richardson.

Posted by: emily | April 8, 2008 10:40 PM

I want to ask those people that endorse Obama, how well they know him? After all, he's not been in the gov't for too long (2 years?). How do they know he can handle the job? I do not have confidence in him in dealing with the clever, sophisticated world leaders like the Russian and Chinese. You know the world hates us because of George W. Bush. With a weaker candidate like Obama, I'm afraid the world won't even care about us. Let's hope he's a black JFK like his campaign or news media framed him, and not a black Jimmy Carter.

Posted by: Newcomer | April 8, 2008 11:16 PM

I am confused about Super Delegates. How does one become a Super Delegate? Are every Democratic City Councilmember in every city in the U.S. a Super Delegate? How is it that D.C. Councilmembers are Delegates? Does this mean City Council members in Durham, Raliegh, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, North Carolina are Super Delegates?

Posted by: BlueDogDemocrat | April 9, 2008 12:49 AM

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...

p.s. You Might Be An Idiot!

If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...

You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. Naughty Girl. :-)

Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. And I could go on, and on...

Posted by: jacksmith | April 9, 2008 12:55 AM

I am confused about Super Delegates. How does one become a Super Delegate? Are every Democratic City Councilmember in every city in the U.S. a Super Delegate? How is it that D.C. Councilmembers are Delegates? Does this mean City Council members in Durham, Raliegh, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, North Carolina are Super Delegates?

Posted by: BlueDogDemocrat | April 9, 2008 12:49 AM
___________________________________________

Blue Dog you are right. The Superdelegate list is very, very, very long. Too long if you ask me.

Here is more information:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Portal:Superdelegate_Transparency_Project&gclid=CNKV0KjgzZICFQQlHgodEVadCg

Click the linke for each state to identify their delegates/superdelegates.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 6:19 AM

If Councilmember cares at all about bring re-elected to a second term, he would follow the will of his constituents. Otherwise, he can stick his head out there and hope that they have a short memory when his re-election bid come's around again. One thing that the District electorate can hold, and that is a grudge.

Posted by: | April 9, 2008 6:25 AM

I didn't even vote for Thomas. What has he done for Ward 5? Nothing, just like Vincent. Who do you think he is going to vote for? Most of Ward 5 voted for Obama because the poll workers were telling them to! (At least at McKinley Tech they were). I can't wait for the market to turn around so I can move back to Ward 1 or 4!

Posted by: Dave in Ward 5 | April 9, 2008 8:09 AM

How can Obama "heal" the nation when his health care plan leaves out 15 million?

Posted by: EV | April 9, 2008 5:35 PM

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