August 20, 2008 Hardy Myers, Attorney General Oregon Department of Justice 1162 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301-4096 VIA FAX: 503.378.4017 SUBJECT:
Solicitation to Violate ORS Title 23, §248.315 Selection of delegates to national convention
Dear Attorney General Myers: Here in Oregon, obeying the above-cited law means that pledged delegates selected as the result of votes cast for Senator Clinton in the Presidential primary election must vote for her during first-round balloting at the party’s nominating convention. But in what can at best be interpreted as an overzealous advocacy on behalf of Senator Obama, in states throughout the country, including Oregon, proponents for his nomination have bombarded Senator Clinton’s delegates with subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to commit to switching support to him, before the convention. Or, failing that, they replace the Clinton-pledged delegate with one loyal to Obama. (See examples below. Note that while the first link shows the copy of a letter Senator Obama’s campaign sent to pledged delegates in Georgia, they distributed this same letter to delegates in all states. And Georgia, like Oregon, mandates pledged delegates to follow their candidates into the convention.) Therefore, in Oregon (and Georgia, and New Hampshire, and Indiana, and numerous other states), encouraging delegates entrusted with representing the political preference of Clinton voters, to pledge their support before the convention to Obama, solicits these delegates to break the law. As a concerned citizen of Oregon, I am bringing this matter to your immediate attention, anticipating you will take appropriate action to ensure that from now on, any campaigning in this state related to the upcoming Democratic National Convention is consistent with Oregon laws. Sincerely,
References:
“Bearing Witness” (posting of letter from Khalil Thompson, Obama for America, Chicago) http://heidilipotpourri.blogspot.com/2008/08/bearing-witness.html
Clinton supporters protesting removal of delegate at Democratic National Convention http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/WHAS11_POLITICS_080814_CLINTONOBAMA.486a4d97.html “Explain, Dems tell Clinton delegate” (article on state party efforts to discipline Colorado delegate for Clinton for refusing to switch to Obama) http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10170139 Copy:
Bill Bradbury, Secretary of State VIA FAX: 503. 373.7414 Meredith Wood Smith, Chair, Oregon Democratic Party
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