The gathering, held at the Ritz-Carlton residence of Jim Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at which former Treasury secretary Robert Rubin was honored. But the guests were well aware of the symbolism as they sipped cocktails and admired the views of the Potomac River and the Washington Monument. The event honoring a prominent Clinton supporter was held at the home of an Obama backer and co-hosted by another, former senator Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.).
"The people there had all picked sides," one attendee said. "There was a sense that there is an obligation to lead by example."
Rival Camps Plan Inevitable Merger
Clinton, Obama Supporters Discuss Combined Effort to Win in November
By Matthew Mosk and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, May 18, 2008; A01
Top fundraisers for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have begun private talks aimed at merging the two candidates' teams, not waiting for the Democratic nominating process to end before they start preparations for a hard-fought fall campaign.
Despite Obama's apparently insurmountable lead in delegates needed to claim the nomination, aides to both candidates are resigned to the idea that the Democratic contest will continue at least through June 3, when Montana and South Dakota will cast the final votes of the primary season.
But in small gatherings around Washington and in planning sessions for party unity events in New York and Boston in coming weeks, fundraisers and surrogates from both camps are discussing how they can put aside the vitriol of the past 18 months and move forward to ensure that the eventual nominee has the resources to defeat Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in November.
Mark Aronchick, a Philadelphia lawyer who has raised more than $1 million for Clinton's bid, said that while her supporters have not given up on their candidate, they recognize the need to start preparing for the general election.
"Only if we do this right, and see this through in the right way, will there be a chance for a full, rapid and largely complete unification of the party," Aronchick said.
Aronchick was one of about 35 Clinton and Obama insiders who attended a dinner last week in Washington aimed at what he characterized as helping the two sides "grope towards unity."
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The ruling class is seldom
The ruling class is seldom confused about where its real interests, as opposed to its preferred interests, lies. The Clinton supporters in this group know that the race for the nomination is over and, more importantly, they know you can't cash losers' tickets at the winners' window. They have business to do and interests to protect down the road.
Down here on the ground, however, Sr. Hillary and her supporters have gone off the deep end. They may not be frothing at their mouths but their madness is palpable and probably incurable.
The ruling class is seldom
Yeah, I wanted to draw attention to that.
pt, you never fail to make me laugh
Down here on the ground, however, Sr. Hillary and her supporters have gone off the deep end. They may not be frothing at their mouths but their madness is palpable and probably incurable*****
You often speak the truth so simply, it's obvious. The thing is, if you ask them for a REASON as to why they hate Obama, all they can tell you is that ' he didn't wait his turn.'
"The thing is, if you ask
"The thing is, if you ask them for a REASON as to why they hate Obama, all they can tell you is that ' he didn't wait his turn.' "
My paternal grandfather used to tell me that the only creature that was content to wait its turn was a buzzard.