Link: sevenload.com
The divisions within the Democratic party were amplified today when Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech and endorsed Barack Obama some audience members booed.... when Obama's name was mentioned.
The divisions were reported earlier showing that almost a quarter of Hillary Clinton supporters, shown in a CBS Poll, said they would be voting for John McCain and 8 percent said they would not vote at all, but the divisions might just run deeper than anybody predicted.
I first read about the boos at the mention of Obama from National Review Online's "The Corner", but I didn't write about it until I heard it for myself and saw it mentioned in more than one media report.
I just returned from the Clinton rally, and I don't know if this really came across on TV but there was a surprisingly audible number of boos every time Obama was mentioned. There were also a lot of people who didn't clap for him.
The majority obviously are enthusiastic about Obama, but the boos sort of took everybody in the press area aback when she first mentioned his name.
I looked for more information because although it can be heard on the video above, I wanted to see if what was heard was representative of the "feel" of the audience attending Clinton's speech.
From the National Post:
Still, the deep divisions within the Democratic party were laid bare once again during Ms. Clinton's speech. A muted chorus of boos went up on several occasions when Ms. Clinton mentioned Mr. Obama's name.
Dallas News.com:
Ill will lingered on the Clinton side, too. A few boos echoed through the cavernous hall Saturday as she called for party unity, and even when she said that "life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been."
The earlier report showed how Hillary Clinton supporters were reacting on her open thread comment section of her website, from before her speech. Going back after her speech was made, there were over 700 comments and they were still commenting and the overwhelming majority were stating flat out they will not and never will vote for Barack Obama.
We support you FOREVER!!!
BUT we will NEVER support BO!!! He doesn't deserve it! He stole it!!! NEVER means NEVER!!!
Also, we will FOREVER remember what BO, his nasty supporters, MSM, & the UNdemocratic DNC did in this election.
McCain 08!!!
Hillary 2012!!!
by People at 6/7/2008 1:33:08 PM
Just a sample to show the theme of those comments.
One commenter mentioned Taylor Marsh, who in the blogosphere has been called the hub for Hillary supporters. Ms. Marsh stood by Hillary Clinton and now is prepared to stand by Barack Obama, and even she is being criticized by one of her commenters for jumping on the Obama bandwagon so to speak. That particular individual says:
"I am also disappointed from Taylor. She could not wait to jump to his camp. I am not going to post here anymore. Go to NO QUARTER"
nancysabet | 06.07.2008 - 8:25 pm
A few on that comment section is also insisting they will not vote for Barack Obama and some saying they will be voting for John McCain.
The divisions are deep and for some, they will be healed, but for others, that doesn't seem likely by their tone, their words and their anger.
To give Hillary Clinton credit, she did not smirk when some of the audience members booed the mere mention of the name Barack Obama, even when it happened more than once.
She seemed to have handled it well.
.