WASHINGTON (CNN) – Hillary Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein threatened to cut off contributions to congressional Democrats unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embraced his plan to finance revotes in Florida and Michigan, three officials familiar with their conversation said.
Weinstein and Pelosi talked on the phone late last month, the sources said.
The three officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the conversation.
They said Weinstein, a top supporter of Clinton's presidential campaign, appeared determined to buy Clinton more time in her battle against Sen. Barack Obama by pushing for the revote. He was also pressing Pelosi to back off her previous comments that superdelegates should support the candidate who's leading in pledged delegates in early June, the sources said.
From CNN Politics
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Let's see.......can't win the popular vote, can't win enough delegates, can't win enough of the states, can't win the caucuses, so that leaves the best chance at wining is.......EXTORTION!
Mr. Weinstein should remember that a great many of those who patronize his films are the very folks who support Obama's candidacy. If he wants to create a backlash against him by threatening the Speaker in this manner, then by all means continue to cary water for Sen. Clinton's campaign. I think it is the feigned altruism over voter disenfranchisement that is the most bothersome component of the Clinton argument to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates. Where was her fervor when the decision was being made and she was agreeing to exclude those states from her campaign. Incredible!
The BULLYING, BLACKMAILING and THREATENING method – the next phase in the Clinton election tactic.
I think Sources should keep innuendo to yourself. I agree with Pelosi, what harm can it do to Obama if Obama is winning. He should be very happy to have the fight go on. If he still wins, he is the better candidate, if he loses, he should'nt have been there in the first place. and the Democratic Party will have the strongest candidate.
Obama supporter
Huh, you mean politicians are influenced by money? Who knew?! Shocking that it's a Clinton supporter. Walk away Nancy – look at the money Obama raised online from small supporters...the money appears to be there, don't get bullied.
Typical. Exactly why the Clintons get no sympathy from me. What a bunch of losers!
I think Harvey Weinstein should be thrown in jail for what is effectively an attempted bribe.
If the supers do their job, threats like this will be a mute point. For the good of the party and this country, it's time the superdelegates removed the fence polls from their backsides and do what they were chosen to do – make a decision. They can put an end to this, but fearing repercussions, they won't do that. I think they need to look at the fact that their fear of making a decision brings their re-electability into question. Who wants a politician that can’t make a decision even with most of the facts already in and a clear choice to be made? If they can't take a little criticism for their choices, then they should not be in politics.
These Clinton supporters are getting selfish and delusional. And Democratic office holders are getting angry, because donors have to keep giving to the Clinton and Obama campaigns, and they can't raise any money.
It's time to be positive and accept the inevitable. Support Obama, the Democratic nominee, and see what role Hillary Clinton might have in an Obama administration. VP? Cabinet post? Let them work it out and move on to challenging John McCain, who would be a disaster for the country.
Threatening to withhold contributions sounds like the old politics of arm-twisting. Some things apparently never change. What is different is hearing about it close to the time when it actually occurred (or is alleged to have occurred).
Regardless of what many posters may think of CNN (and no, I did not get a request from CNN to post this), there is a genuine public service to informing us of these kinds of backroom dealings. We need to know, because it tells us more about the kind of potential administration we might be dealing with, were the candidate in question to be nominated and elected.
This is the kind of story we need more of, because it tells more about ethics than just reporting the race for superdelegates. There is something sophomoric about focusing on these individuals who can do whatever they want to do, when they want to do it, so far as casiting a vote goes, up to the time they cast their ballots on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Denver late in August.
Thank you, CNN!
This does not surprise me. He is a skunk. This is what they mean when they say Money buys influence.
Walt Reed
Billionaires are for Billary, and Obama is called an elitist!
BLACKMAIL AND EXTORTION. THE CLINTON CAMP WILL STOP AT NOTHING IN ORDER TO STEAL THE NOMINEE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE, AS THE ORDINARY AMERICAN CITIZEN IS BEING SCREWED BY THE MONEY BAGS. SOMEONE SHOULD TELL WEINSTEIN TO TAKE A HIKE WITH HIS FILTHY MONEY.
Ahhh...now this underhanded and duplicitous excuse-for-a-producer wants to use blackmail so that Hillary can will at all costs. This person should be condemned by all proud Democrats!
The Clintons will do anything to get what they want. Have they no shame? Of course not, they have sniper fire.
Post my first comments CNN, they are NOT outrageous, they are the truth.
Go figure... the rich wanting to keep the rich in power? If she bends, she sould resign for having no backbone. And he should be banned for political parties! If he is doing this now, what has he done to "buy" what he wanted in the past and will "buy" in the future. What happened to, by the people for the people? Go to hel...
Who needs him?
Every one else is doing the same. Even I said I wouldn't support the party if Hillary gets the nod.
This is becoming more and more corupt. Sounds just like a Clinton campaign not to mention Presidency.
Once again, the Clinton campaign is trying to pull another shrewed act...
Just another example of what normally goes on the Washington....More of the same old politics!!!
We need the man of change!!!....Obama 08!!!
Before you threaten to vote Republican, Democrats, there is another way! Vote third party, and before you say it's a wasted vote remember that the Republicans started out as a third party.
We don't care that Obama is Black, but we care very much that he is Green!.....We need her experience to get us out of the mess Bush has made. We'll write her in if need be, like many others will.
Let him cut them off .... its about time big money quit having these kind of influences..... time for public broadcasting (debates) and public campaign funds to cover it all. Get rid of these "vote buyers".
More dirty tricks from the Hillary camp. Question: If she cared so much about the party and truly wanted the best for the country, wouldn't the best be for her to concede at this point. The democratics needs to start campagning for the general election. What's going on? Please stop the nonsense and let's see Obama to the white house.
The democratic party get more democratic. Think about cuba communism while you think about someone forcing the speaker of the house.