Hillary supporters, still angry, frustrate attempts at party unity

Original Link: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Hillary_supporters_still_angry_frustrate_attempts_0727.html

By Andrew McLemore

Hillary Clinton supporters have been criticizing Barack Obama with increasing frequency as the senator's trip overseas captured media attention bordering on adulation.

A political action committee named PUMA, or People United Means Action, has devoted itself to the continued support of Clinton and in an announcement on its blog called Obama's trip 'a flop' and an 'ego trip'. Alternatively, PUMA also means Party Unity My Ass.

The entry continued in a tone directed at Obama supporters:

"Your guy can’t even make a dent against an old guy who hasn’t even begun to campaign against you in earnest. You’re losing during the warm-up?"

Questions of Obama's viability as a presidential candidate from fellow Democrats have resurfaced in Texas recently as the Obama campaign attempts to unify Texas Democrats, The Austin American-Statesman reported.

"An uncounted swath of Clinton backers" is supporting the nation-wide efforts of PUMA and frustrating Democratic politicians in Texas trying to boost party unity, including those who worked for Clinton's campaign.

"We all need to do whatever it takes to get him elected," said Garry Mauro of Austin, who directed Clinton's campaign in Texas.

But many Clinton supporters are still angry over the perceived injustices committed against her during the Texas primary. Clinton won the primary, but Obama took more delegates because of caucus turnouts.

Austinite Frances Morey said she will skip the November presidential election entirely.

"So why is he prancing around in Europe like he's the president-elect?" Morey said this week. "I cannot vote for him. I cannot bring myself to vote for this poseur."

Protesters brought their anger over the supposed mistreatment of Hillary Clinton by the Democratic Party to a Howard Dean appearance in Charlotte Friday, some carrying signs that read "Dump Dean."

Two dozen of the New York Senator's supporters shouted down the Democratic National Committee Chairman with a chorus of, "I own my vote!" the Charlotte Observer reported.

The protest was sparked by a rumor that Clinton's name would not be put in for nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver next month.

The supporters were loud enough that Dean was forced to stop his speech to the 150 people who showed up for the voting rally and address the demonstrators.

"There will be a roll call vote at the convention if Hillary Clinton wants one," Dean said. "We all respect each other and we certainly respect Sen. Clinton. This is a unified party. It is not easy to be on the losing side, and I know ... because four years ago, I was on the losing side."