Friday, May 30, 2008

Pullman's Eileen Macoll is Casting her vote for Clinton



FROM THE OLYMPIAN -Eileen Macoll, the Washington Democratic Party’s vice chairwoman, said this morning she is pledging her super-delegate vote to Hillary Clinton. This reverses a trend that saw several state super-delegates including the party chairman Dwight Pelz go with Barack Obama.

Macoll had intended to wait until after Montana and South Dakota Democrats vote Tuesday. But she had a change of heart during Memorial Day, which she said hits hard in small towns like Pullman, where she lives. She also has a military veteran father in hospice.

“I’m convinced that Sen. Clinton is the one that will end this war for us. It was an emotional decision. I think she’s the right one to have as our commander in chief for the next four years,’’ Macoll said in a telephone interview from Seattle, where she was readying to attend an event for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray tonight. “We need a Democrat in the White House and I think she is the electable candidate. We have to end this war.’’

Clinton’s campaign announced Macoll’s decision, quoting her in part as saying: “On the issues that matter most — from establishing universal health care to improving our schools to ending the war in Iraq — she has never backed down and never wavered. Hillary has what it takes to beat John McCain this Fall and win back the White House.”

Washington Democrats meeting in caucuses in February gave Obama 52 pledged delegates to 26 for Clinton. The super-delegate count now adds seven more for Obama, six for Clinton and leaves four unpledged.

The unpledged super-delegates are former U.S. House Speaker Thomas Foley and party officials Ed Cote, Sharon Mast, and David T. McDonald, according to a New York Times’ tracker. Macoll has said in the past that site’s list appeared accurate.

McDonald serves on a national Democratic committee that meets Saturday in Washington, D.C., May 31 to decide what to do about the Michigan and Florida delegations; McDonald has said he won’t take a side publicly until after that committee’s decision.

And here is the rest of it.

3 comments:

Angel Ojeda said...

I do feel that Eileen is genuinely a great person. And though it is unfortunate that she did not follow the trend of Dwight Pelz and change his support, ultimately, we cannot do anything about that. That's why she's a super-delegate. She worked hard in the Party and has earned the right to cast her vote as she feels.

And I know this point is moot now, with the Primary finally over, but I still wanted to say that these people are not morons. They (implying super-delegates) earned their place in the party, and Eileen especially had an uphill climb to get to where she is. Misguided, certainly. Moronic, no.

Nicole said...

I do really like and respect Eileen, despite my disappointment after reading the news. Eileen described the process of being a superdelegate as "intense" and I can guarantee you she didn't take the responsibility lightly. She works incredibly hard for the Democratic party and the Young Dems, so I respect her right to make the decision she has earned, despite disagreeing with her 100%.

Luckily, Angel's right, the point is moot.

Tao said...

I'm coming from a view that demands respect for this countries PEOPLE.

The people who voted for Barack Obama, myself included, 78.1% in Whitman County, are done a disservice by her vote. I don't believe it should be a personal vote, because it demands a higher respect, the respect of the PEOPLE you represent. I was angry at this disservice, and still am.

but yes, all moot, because BARACK OBAMA is going to be the next PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!