Monday, August 4th, 2008...6:53 am
No Word on Whether Diego Maradona is Involved
There’s a post gurgling through these here intertubes that originally came from the PUMAs website. The PUMAs have been innundating DNC members demanding that Hillary Clinton’s name be put in nomination. Frankly, why folks who have already pledged to vote for John McCain (and that aren’t that numerous in the first place) think that any member of the DNC would listen to their opinions is beyond me.
Anyway, some of these responses have been quite amusing, such as this one from Washington Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz:
Man, you have to chill. Try tennis!
Given the tone of some of the e-mails from the PUMAs that I’ve seen, I can see why some folks wouldn’t let their best nature get a hold of them before they click on send. This response came from one of our DNC reps in Arizona:
GOD WILL GUIDE THE HAND OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!
Do not email us again. Thank you.
This is reportedly from our former State School Superintendent Carolyn Warner, who serves as a DNC member and is thus one of those vaunted “super delegates.”
I gave Warner a call, because, frankly, this didn’t sound much like her. I was interested in seeing what kind of e-mail she recieved that would have prompted this response. She was quite offended. She told me flat out that she didn’t write any such e-mail. She made it clear to me that she doesn’t take the Lord’s name in vain, and what I’ve seen of her over the last twenty years, I believe her. Despite her gruff voice, she’s a class act, polite and level headed. Would I have sent this reply? Probably. Would Warner? Nope.
I have no idea where this thing came from. A PUMA could have sent something to the wrong address, or just made the darned thing up. Unfortunately, it has made its way around the internet (it even made the Politico), so it will be “true” in some people’s minds.
26 Comments
August 4th, 2008 at 8:20 am
If it isn’t true, I feel very bad for Carolyn Warner. This thing is making the rounds very quickly. I have recieved word of it in my in-box at least 4 times from different places. The remarks included were not flattering. It’s very unfortunate.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
This is how urban legends are born. Unfortunately, the more specious they are, the more traction they get.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hello, my name is Darragh Murphy. I am the executive director and founder of Puma PAC, People United Means Action. Carloyn Warner did indeed send the email response we posted. I have copied the email exchange in question here (minus personal identifying information). As you can see, the original email from our Puma PAC member was neither provocative nor rude. I would never knowingly publish an unfounded rumor or accusation against any person — public or private. As author of this blog you had every opportunity to check the validity of the email with me before accusing me of being a liar. Thank you for posting this comment. I hope it clears this up.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From:
Date: Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Subject: RE: Obama surrogates are making death threats and he does nothing
about it. He is not qualified to be president. You must save our country and
vote for Senator Clinton.
To: Ton*****
“GOD WILL GUIDE THE HAND OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!”
Do not email us again.
Thank you.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: Obama surrogates are making death threats and he does
nothing about it. He is not qualified to be president. You must save our
country and vote for Senator Clinton.
From: “Ton****” gmail.com>
Date: Fri, July 18, 2008 2:28 pm
To: cwarner@car*******.com
There is no hate in my messages. I am telling you that ordinary citizens
are being threatened just because they do not believe Senator Obama is
qualified to be president. How you interpreted that to be hateful I do not
know.
August 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
The PUMA folks are despicable. They are obsessed with Hillary. Even though they have lost, they will not stop fighting. Because they are right, they can lie, cheat or steal with impunity because of the worthiness of their end. Everything that Hillary has stood for–healthcare for all, opportunity for all, respect for America, etc.–will be undermined if McCain is victorious. But these people don’t care about America and they sure don’t care about Americans who need a government that really serves them rather than only serving the wealthy. No, Hillary is more important than America. Hillary is more important than the needs of all Americans. Sick.
August 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
“GOD WILL GUIDE THE HAND OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!”
Wait a second…I have heard this phrase many times from several Obama supporters. Verbatim.
Is there some kind of script or something? WTH?!
August 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
It is very easy to spoof anyones email address. Hasn’t anyone here ever received emails from themselves that they have not sent? Or emails from friends or relatives that they haven’t sent? If she denies it, then I see no reason to doubt her. What, after all, is the point of insulting someone so publicly and then deny it? Therefore I am not calling Darragh Murphy a liar, just someone not very versed on the ways of the internet.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Re: Darragh Murphy’s Email
I’d be interested to see the original emails that were sent to Carloyn Warner. The email exchange that Murphy posted is clearly an excerpt.
Perhaps the “GOD … WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN” comment, which appears in quotations in the original exchange, was actually a quote from an earlier PUMA email?
You’ll notice that the quotes have been moved in the version that appears on the PUMA PAC to encompass the entire exchange rather than just the portion in all caps.
Who is responsible for the edit?
August 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
While I often wish God would do something about these PUMA punks, I remember when I saw that on Politico, I thought that phrase was not part of the email, because I felt I remembered seeing it on some PUMA site earlier. I think it was picked up in error by the PUMA who collated the emails from other sites. I have no proof to offer, but it’s what entered my mind when Ben Smith posted those quoted emails.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I found it. The “GOD WILL GUIDE THE HAND OF JUDGMENT THAT STRIKES YOU DOWN” is from a PumaPac blog entry.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Darragh, if that’s really you, prove that there were death threats made. And then provide some substantiation that people making the death threats were Obama surrogates. Or shut the hell up.
Surrogate: One appointed to act in the place of another.
In other words, not every random freak you deem to be an official representative of Obama or his campaign. You are a surrogate only if you are specifically asked by the candidate or his/her campaign.
I’m fairly certain that you are no surrogate of Hillary Clinton’s.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Oh for heaven sakes, its ‘Puma’. 12 ladies munching on Krispy Kremes and Cheetoes while trying to claim ‘12 Million!!!’.
Criminey, I could get a better turn out for an evening of good cocktails and Die Hard movies.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
The PUMAS are a bitter bunch. They sad thing is that they truly believe all of their negative behavior and activities will produce anything positive. They disgrace themselves by lying and slandering other people…very unfortunate.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Pumas have been a well-behaved group of activists exercising their Democratic rights. The anger and name calling appears to come from other groups that believe Pumas should sit down and be quiet. Where would our country be if citizens didn’t stand up and fight for honesty, integrity and true transparency in our political process? I am not sure why people feel so threatened. Has contacting superdelegates and emailing political leaders actually caused someone discomfort? The last time I looked, our elected officials are supposed to hear from us, and should in fact answer to their constituents. Some people are upset that Obama keeps slipping in the polls. Perhaps it is time to acknowledge that BO probably doesn’t have what it takes to be an effective leader in these times of great uncertainty.
Stop blaming Pumas and question what 18 million of us have been questioning all along.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
No way that came from Carolyn Warner…..
August 4th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
“Pumas have been a well-behaved group of activists exercising their Democratic rights. ”
You mean like Harriet Christian?
August 4th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Oh, and greenfun, any chance you can substantiate those “death threats from Obama surrogates”?
August 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
puma had a picture of Senator Obama alongside a picture of a glaring dog-like creature. (I used to check the site for a laugh, but that drove me away.)
August 4th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Just as i thought-you obama supporters haven’t matured a bit-Hey hows that drilling offshore coming-a great candidate you have there-tell me why i should support him when he supports the same things McCain does????I wish to vote for a real democrat-hillary clinton-and will do so in Nov.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:00 am
PUMA summed up in three words: ‘Inadequate Black Male’
Disgusting bunch and you can’t believe a word that comes from them. Period.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I couldn’t remember what PUMA meant. Google brought up the urban dictionary.
“puma”
A woman who is not quite old enough to be a cougar, but still likes to date/mate with younger men.
Next:
“cougar ”
A 35+ year old female who is on the “hunt” for a much younger, energetic, willing-to-do-anything male. … End state, she will be going for the kill, just like you. …”Man is cougar’s number one prey”
Of course the political definition “P[arty] U[nity] M[y] A[ss]” is a little different, but I think the ladies running this particular rant should come up with a “cougar” acronym, because Obama probably has a comfortable lead in the Puma demographic.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:47 am
“Pumas have been a well-behaved group of activists exercising their Democratic rights. The anger and name calling appears to come from other groups that believe Pumas should sit down and be quiet.”
I have not been following the PUMA debate very closely but I have to say that, from what I have read here and at Politico, the statement above does not ring true. They sound like a bunch of disgruntled and menopausal women that have no grace in losing. Before you call me a a sexist, be aware that I am also menopausal and don’t find that to be an insult. I also know that hormonal surges sometimes effect the way I deal with things. Maybe all twelve of them need replacement therapy.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:47 am
“Pumas have been a well-behaved group of activists exercising their Democratic rights. The anger and name calling appears to come from other groups that believe Pumas should sit down and be quiet.”
I have not been following the PUMA debate very closely but I have to say that, from what I have read here and at Politico, the statement above does not ring true. They sound like a bunch of disgruntled and menopausal women that have no grace in losing. Before you call me a a sexist, be aware that I am also menopausal and don’t find that to be an insult. I also know that hormonal surges sometimes effect the way I deal with things. Maybe all twelve of them need replacement therapy.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Oops. Sorry about the double post. A hormonal spasm, I guess :>)
August 5th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
This was my first time hearing about hormones (perhaps because I’m a Republican supporting Obama) but seeing their website made me wonder about hormones, too — and thanks for correcting my spelling.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Heavy sigh–the Dems once again just don’t get it and it may end up costing them yet another election.
More than ANYTHING the group who calls themselves PUMA are a group of VOTERS. That needs to be the priority not the name calling that you all seem to do so readily because, as “greenfun” said, they feel they are exercising their democratic rights because they feel there were problems during the primary cycle. Ok, so a few of them are wackos and have done some weird stuff but to toss out the group as a whole and condemn everyone associated and label them all as menopausal (really now?) is foolish.
I am a disgruntled Hillary supporter myself, but I don’t intend to vote for McCain as I have previously mentioned. As a Hillary supporter progressives STILL have a habit of tagging me as a “low life” within the party. Hello? Meetings I have attended that were designed to unify and sooth things over have been nice but still there were those who delivered insulting remarks–surly by well meaning but totally arrogant people.
I understand this is just a blog and don’t expect a single soul that comes by here to resolve anything, but just keep in mind that a few of us have requested more than once for a little respect from our fellow Democrats. Some of us are doing just great but others need more time.
Remember 2004–Bush did not receive a mandate and neither has Obama from the Dems. Just stop the insults and be nice.
And whomever wrote ths crazy email, Carolyn Warner is probably one of the nicest, most dearest people on the planet. She is being screwed over by a nut. Quit giving that nut so much attention.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
THE PUMAS ARE TOTALLY JUSTIFIED …
1. Contrary to what Obamabots say …
Obama and Hillary were in a dead heat,
when the DNC pressured Hillary into not
only conceding, but campaigning for Obama.
2. Obama is once again in a dead heat, but now
with McCain, even though Obamabots act like
Obama has already won (like they did in the
primaries against Hillary). So, this means that
half of the Democrats, and all the Republicans
(3/4 of America) dIdn’t want Obama. Plus, he
didn’t even win the popular vote, and refused a
revote in Michigan and Florida.
3. Obama has the thinnest resume in politics, and
he won state legislature and Senator by
disqualifications of his opponents, not by earned
experience, or votes.
4. Obama’s one claim to fame is being a community
organizer, where he boasts of registering voters.
Then he took their votes away from them, by
disqualifying his opponents on technicalities, prior
to the election.
5. Obama’s mentor of 20 years, was an anti-American
racist … not to mention other unsavory associations.
6. Obama is simply buying the election, since he’s
good at fund raising … hardly a qualification to be
President of the United States.
7. The media never vetted Obama, and they are
giving him a free ride, plus more than twice the
print and air time as McCain, as they did against
Hillary.
8. 90% of blacks are voting for Obama, because he is
black, while the campaign gained ground by
accusing most opponents of racism.
9. Obamabots were, and are extremely nasty and sarcastic
towards Hillary supporters, as well as McCain supporters.
10. Pumas should be applauded for putting country before party …
especially a party that did not represent them, and a party
which highjacked the nomination for Obama.
11. Obama added insult to injury, when he didn’t even consider
Hillary for V.P. … nor did he even call her … even though she
got 18 million votes in the primary.
12. Obama and the DNC are now holding a gun to the heads of
Hillary and Bill Clinton, giving them an ultimatum … either support
Obama, or kiss your future in the DNC and politics goodbye.
P.S. Michelle Obama subjected her two young children to anti-American racists … Jeremiah Wright, Farrakahn, Pfleiger, and others
at the black liberation Trinity church in Chicago, for several years. Is this who you want for first lady … I don’t think so !!