How many links do you want?
Don't you remember the "PUMA's"
"Party Unity My Ass"
reminiscent of "Bernie or Bust"
Hillary Supporters Split
BY AMANDA M. FAIRBANKS AUGUST 27, 2008 3:19 PM
August 27, 2008 3:19 pm
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com
“Whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said during her convention speech Tuesday night.
But some members of what Mrs. Clinton referred to as her “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits” remain unconvinced, despite pleas for unity.
“I don’t think she believed that her supporters are going to fall in line behind Obama — her request was tepid,” said Darragh Murphy, on her way to the Denver airport Wednesday morning. Now that Mrs. Clinton’s speech is over, the rest of the convention holds little appeal for her.
“The only thing I know is that I won’t vote for Obama,” she said.
Ms. Murphy founded Party Unity Means Authority, or PUMA, a pro-Clinton group, in the aftermath of Mrs. Clinton’s concession to Senator Barack Obama. Another pro-Clinton group, 18 Million Voices, is commonly lumped together with PUMA. But while many members of 18 Million Voices are still mulling whom they will support now that Mrs. Clinton is no longer in the picture, PUMA’s members are uniformly anti-Obama.
The split became more or less official on Tuesday, before Mrs. Clinton spoke. The two groups had marched in solidarity toward Invesco Field earlier in the day, but by mid-afternoon the gulf had widened, with 18 Million Voices on one end of the pro-Clinton spectrum and PUMA on the other. It went so far that PUMA’s organizers were not welcome at Tuesday night’s 18 Million Voices celebration.
“PUMA isn’t invited,” said Elizabeth Fiechter, 34, who founded 18 Million Voices two days after the final primary battle in June. Her group gathered on a grassy hill overlooking Denver’s Cheesman Park and in between folk songs, there was chatter of fundraising for a potential 2012 Clinton presidential bid.
Later, about 100 of Senator Clinton’s supporters gathered to watch her speech on a large screen. “We want a celebration—this isn’t about ‘Nobama’,” said Ms. Fiechter, referring to PUMA’s organizing mantra.
Many in 18 Million Voices said they gathered to experience something less easily gotten from the comfort of their living rooms. “Hopefully we can get some ending on the matter of her not getting the nomination,” said Rachel Dane, a 21-one-year old who is a junior at Colorado University, Boulder.
Nick Kelly, 63, watched the speech alongside Ms. Dane. Both are members of Colorado’s delegation of 18 Million Voices. “I feel that I’m going against her wishes, but I’m still waiting for Barack Obama to sell me, to give me a reason to want him in the presidency,” said Mr. Kelly, a retired Boulder resident. “We’re still not convinced.”
But while 18 Million Voices members say they are open to persuasion, the PUMA-ites will not even consider supporting Mr. Obama.
“PUMA members are not going to vote for Barack Obama,” said Ms. Murphy, who watched Tuesday night’s speech alongside 100 PUMA supporters.
Across town, Ms. Fiechter said she might still stay home come November if Team Obama doesn’t accomplish the sell. But, she said, “We’re not here to split the party. Hillary was our first choice, but we’re still waiting to get to know this candidate. She can take us to first base but he’s the only one that can take it home.”
Update: Some confusion has arisen since the same acronym PUMA has been used by pro-Hillary supporters to describe different groups of people. Darragh Murphy founded PUMA PAC, a pro-Clinton group, in the aftermath of Mrs. Clinton’s concession to Senator Barack Obama. While some affiliated with Ms. Murphy’s group described the acronym as standing for Party Unity Means Authority, Ms. Murphy later affirmed that her organization stands for People United Means Action. She described the umbrella term as “any disaffected Democrat that is unhappy with the behavior of party leadership during the primaries identify as PUMA–nearly all are Clinton supporters.” There is even a separate PUMA dedicated to people of color.
Another pro-Clinton group, 18 Million Voices, is commonly lumped together with PUMA. But while many members of 18 Million Voices are still mulling whom they will support now that Mrs. Clinton is no longer in the picture, PUMA’s members are uniformly anti-Obama.
The acronym P.U.M.A. has been used by several pro-Hillary supporters to describe different groups. PUMA movement is an y disaffected Democrat that is unhappy with behavior of party leadership during ht eprimaires, idenity as PUMA, most are Clinton supporters. Another thing comprised of different PUMA people is determination to not support Barack Obama in November. An individual describe themselves as a PUMA can come to mean various—Party Unity My Ass, Party United Means Authority, People United Means Action, PUMA POC, for people of color. |
