Obama Lawyer Crashes Clinton Conference Call
Top Obama lawyer Bob Bauer, “made an unexpected appearance on the Clinton campaign’s conference call this evening, calling in on a line intended for reporters to challenge Clinton aides’ claims of irregularities in several Texas precincts.” And Politico has the audio. Listen to it, it’s a fascinating exchange, all the more so because Bauer calling in is incredibly awkward. He had no business calling in, mostly because it was a conference call for reporters.
Bauer called in because he objected to the claims of Hillary Clinton’s campaign that irregularities took place in Ohio and Texas yesterday.
Bauer said: “stop attacking the caucus process,” among other things.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson responded to Bauer saying: “What is happening in Texas is extraordinary. We, of course, don’t hold you personally responsible for it, … but we believe that you do share our commitment to strong democratic values.”
“This is not about the process, Bob; it’s about the way this particular set of caucuses are going as we speak.”
After Bauer hang up, Wolfson spelled out his name for reporters and said: “What you heard was Bob Bauer, attempting a vigorous defense of the indefensible.”
An awkward episode in this year’s election history. Calling in like that… it’s a bit amateurish. As if Bauer couldn’t control himself and, in a passion, called in. I’m not sure how this will play among voters. But if it gets some attention, well, I don’t quite see how this helps Obama. Better: it would not help Obama in the Netherlands, perhaps Americans respond differently to this kind of thing.
Pamela Leavey has some of the details of the allegations:
Some of the specific reports of irregularities/intimidation (per Clinton campaign):
- Precincts 18 and 24: Obama campaign took precincts chair’s materials.
- Precincts 75, 851, 2052 in Harris County: Obama supporters have taken control of precinct convention (caucus), they reportedly refused to allow any Clinton supporters in, but were allowing Obama supporters in.
- The Clinton campaign said tonight that Obama precinct workers illegally obtained caucus packets in the following Texas caucus precincts:
- Precinct 2316 in Tarrant County
- Precinct 1205 in Dallas County
- Precinct 3127 in Bexar County
- Precinct 3082 in Ft. Bend County
- Precinct 18/224 in Harris County (Houston)
- Precinct 3221 Dallas county
- Precinct 87 in El Paso County
- Precinct 458 in Travis County
The Clinton Campaign has released a memo that provides a bit more detail for their allegations.
