Paterson says Clinton frustrated, not desperate
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/28/art.paterson.gi.jpg caption=" Paterson backtracked from his comments last week describing Clinton as desperate."] (CNN) - Hillary Clinton supporter and New York Gov. David Paterson appeared to backtrack Wednesday from his comments last week suggesting the New York senator's latest actions on the campaign trail showed signs of "desperation."
Speaking on a New York radio station Wednesday, Paterson said "desperation" was probably not the correct word to attribute to the New York senator.
"I think a better word would have been 'frustration,'" Paterson said Monday on Talk 1300. (Listen to the interview here.) "The frustration was that the senator had won votes in Florida and Michigan and would like to have those delegates. Certainly in Florida, I think there is a very good argument with that."
"I still believe that number one, she is the best person suited for the presidency and number two, she is the most likely to defeat John McCain," he also said.
Paterson's original comments came Thursday, when he appeared to express disagreement with Clinton over her continued push to get the full delegations of both states seated.
"I would say at this point we're starting to see a little desperation on the part of the woman who I support and I'll support until whatever time she makes a different determination," Paterson said then.
Paterson, a Democratic superdelegate, also said then he disagreed with the party's initial decision to penalize the states, but added he thought the party should now "leave it where it is."
Clinton won both states' primaries, though Barack Obama removed his name from the ballot in Michigan. Clinton uses popular vote totals from both Florida in Michigan in her claim that she is beating the Illinois senator in the overall popular vote. The Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee is slated to meet Saturday to determine if and how it will seat the two state's delegations at the party’s nominating convention this summer.
you say obama has zero chance to win the swing states, just like he had zero chance to beat hillary this year, things change and so should you. We need to unite..
I have been a loyal and proud Democrat since I was 20 years and have voted Democratic for 40 years. I have always believed that the Democratic Party truely represented my beliefs and concerns about this wonderful country. Senator Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton have always had my respect, admiration and love. It has hurt me deeply that they have been treated so badly and disrespectful during this primary season. The Florida and Michigan situation is mindboggling to me. How is it possible that these 2 states votes do not count, however other states that pushed up their primaries were not. I may be sentimental and naive but I do know that there are 50 states in the United States of America. If the Democratic National Committee will not count all votes and treat all states fairly and consistenly, I no longer want to be a part of this Party that I have believed in so strongly. After the last elections, if the DNC cannot count all votes and disenfranchise over 2 million voters, I will leave the Democratic Party.
You are wrong Leon! GWB is the worst ever by a wide margin.
And your full of crap too.
There is not even any sense in trying to explain it or say anything else about it because you and her will not listen other than to say. She is desperate. She did not care about FL and MI until she started loosing. Look at the history of the race from the begining. If she was winning she would not give a hoot about this until after she was nominated then she would have had them seated. So quit trying to make excused for a SORE LOOSER. That is all this is about, had she won in February or March, we would not even be talking about this.
she's desperate.are you blind?
Why is McCain only attacking Obama? He acts like Hillary does not even exist. Is it because they are so much alike that he prefers to run against her. He has blasted Barack for days and never says one word about Hillary. Is she irrelevant or is he treating her with kid gloves because he hopes and prays to run against her?
Enough already. Senator Clinton signed onto the sanctions that were applied to Florida and Michigan, as did her various supporters on the DNC. She then violated the letter of the law by keeping her name on those ballots when the other candidates honored the earlier ruling and abstained from doing the same. Subsequently, she becomes a champion of these disenfranchised voters because it suits her electoral needs. To use another person's phrase, these are "situational ethics." The GOP would call it a flip-flop. At this juncture, I call it a lack of regard for the democratic process masquerading as support for the same. The blame for this fiasco lies with the state parties that violated the electoral rules of the party in an attempt to impose their larger money markets on the early races which are traditionally and wisely allotted to small states where less wealthy candidates have a fair chance of having their voices heard. Had Obama run in these states, or had he run well, I am sure that the Clinton faction would be clamoring for the DNC to enforce its earlier judgment. Such squalid opportunism is an insult, a disgusting farce. Enough. Enough. Enough. End this, and end it now.
GO OBAMA 008 Our NEXT president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only he could see her face, he would know that he was right the first time.
If Hillary is running on experience, she has already been in the Whitehouse for 2 terms, and thus she's ineligible.
Clinton is really getting on my nerves now along with her supporters. Its like they live on another planet. What is wrong with you people? Leave it up to the democrats to lose the election. Can't Dems for once act as Republican and win this election!
Brian, you must be living in lalaland for what you say. Give us proof of why your candidate is strong, strong among uneducated voters who can't think for themselves? Strong in lying or running negative campaigning or mismanaging her campaign or what? There is nothing that has happened so far to give credence to what you're saying. If she cannot win a primary against a junior senator from Illinois, how the hell is she going to win the general election? It is like a kid who didn't graduate from high school and thinks he would do well in his doctoral studies! If you are as feeble-minded as most HC supporters are, good, go on believing in fantasy because no amount of reasoning or analyzing of the facts is going to convince you otherwise. And this crap the HC camp keep on throwing out that she is tough, tough on what? Tough for doing what exactly!
She's desperate
There were alot of people who did not even go out and vote because they knew that their vote would not count. How many of Obama supporters did not vote...there were 700,000 people who voted uncommited...how many of these were for Obama. Shame on Queen Hilliary for wanting the whole pie...she is trying to steal this election and I for one would never vote for another Clinton...she has shamed her name and all of us for thinking we are stupid enough to believe her lies...she cannot win against McCain because if she steals this election I doubt if any of the Obama people would support her.
One can't help, but , wonder why there are those who sayes that Hillary is the candidate that can most likely defeat John McCain. Is this because those voting for Hillary do not want a black person for president at all cost. Meaning those swing states are putting race votes above the real issues at hand? Secondly, what happened to the Bush back lash? Is status quo that important that there are those who would have business as usual than making social progress. Thirdly, I do believe the many superdelegates that haven't voted, is holding out for some miracle, ie Florida, Michigan, inclusion that would aid in swinging votes Hillary's way. Its one thing to disenfranchise the voters of Florida, Michigan, but its best to disenfranchise all minorities who vote. What a great country we live in!!
Wow...could it be that CNN has done a story somewhat positive for Clinton. My Lord...its going to snow!
You sir are out of touch... to say that she could best defeat McCain in the fall.
If Hillary was in touch She would be the front runner and running against McCain and not Obama, She wouldn't need to stretch the truth on her experiences and she would know from these blogs that people don't like her.
IN DENIAL and that ok at this point, I'm so tired of it... I look forward to the crash, her crash
Hillary is desperate, frustrated, and she better not be hand the nomination. No, more boo-whooing, whinning, from the Clintons. get out gracefully like a woman!
Senator Hillary Clinton is being stubborn and she is obstructing the Presidential nomination process for the Democratic Party. I once admired her tenacity; now it is a hindrance. She and former President Clinton need to bow out gracefully and go home while they can. Senator Clinton looks foolish and desperate at this point. We do not need this kind of activity. We need to move forward without her getting in the way.
As an Obama supporter, I would just like to say Hillary has a steel spine and has done alot of great things for this country. However, American Democrats have voted and Obama has won. Period. Obama did not make the primary rules; the DNC did. It is fine for Hillary backers to be upset right now, and understandably so, but Obama has won the nomination. He is a good, liberal Democrat, just like Hillary. Think about that before you start singing the praises of McCain, a right-wing, Bush clone.
I would have liked to have been on the phone call that the Clintons made to this weasel.
When he made the origional comment he got my respect; but now all he's done is prove he's nothing but another wimp polititican willing to succumb to pressure or bribery.
Sure glad I don't live in the state of NY.
If Hillary has so much support, why is she losing to a newbie?
Let's be honest, we've known her for 16 years and never heard of Obama till last year. But he won.
The majority wants Obama, the end.
Please, pick up an Obama tshirt on the way out.
Sounds like someone got the phone call and
got their arm twisted. Just sayin........
Obama is showing his true colors. He is young, inexperienced and lacks decisiveness. Any criticism leveled at Hilary, can be said for him, as well. Would you rather have a charismatic kid who will leave us in the lurch when under pressure. Not me!!!
I wish Senator Clinton the best, and feel she is the best for the country.
Hillary should have run instead of Bill Clinton the first time around, she put him in the white house. Bill has done his part yet. They both have a muddy past before and during the white house days. Some people still think about santa clause as being real, some people think of Hillary as being real. Most people don't like her. I don't like her She reminds me of my x-wife.We need new government today, not 4 or 8 years later.