My Back and Forth Correspondence with Mary Isenhour, Executive Director of the PA Democratic Party, Regarding Gov. Rendell and the Petition for HRC

I sent this to Mary Isenhour in response to learning that she had sent out a request for Ed Rendell to Hillary's delegates seeking those delegates' not signing on to a petition requiring 300 signatories so that Hillary Clinton's name can be placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention at the end of this month.

Learn more about this issue here

• Email #1: From myself to Mary Isenhour (this email was CC'd to a number of media outlets):

Dear Ms Isenhour,

I came upon the memo you sent out as instructed by Governor Rendell:
http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/discussion/showthread.php?p=280031&posted=1#post280031
...a memo that is seeking to thwart the efforts of Clinton's delegates to work to get the New York senator the 300 signatures that are required on a petition for her to have her name placed in nomination.

Similarly, I came upon this news story out of Denver regarding more 'muscling' of Clinton delegates: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10170139 ...regarding delegate Sacha Millstone.

And who could forget Debra Bartoshevich, another victim of what appears uncomfortably like the silencing of people one would expect to have received if she lived in the Soviet Union: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/hillary-clint-5.html

And so I was left wondering here in Wilkes-Barre, PA:

What in the hell is going on with my party?

When did the Democratic Party become the party of Chicago thugs, and Pinochet? Which delegate gets 'disappeared' next if they support Clinton?

I like Governor Rendell. I voted for him. I was planning on voting for him in future elections as he stayed here in PA or if he moved up the political food chain. Now, that commitment to the Governor is in doubt if it is not shattered irrevocably. Why would I speak up for a man, with my ballot, who is going out of his way to silence myself and millions of others? Why is he seeking to overturn a tradition in the party's conventions that go back decades, and has gone on interrupted for 40 years? Why does he feel Obama is so fragile and frail that he can't even hold up to what would amount to a ceremonial roll call vote?

You people are seeking to implement party unity through heavy-handed discipline. Instead, you are ensuring Obama's loss in November.

I am beyond infuriated. You have insulted me, my intelligence and millions of others with your actions. You have gone Russia to our Georgia.

I am a PUMA, one of many who is disgusted to see what the party has become in the service of an inexperienced man from the most politically corrupt city in our great nation. How can the governor countenance this thuggery?

You failed, Ed Rendell.
Failed spectacularly.
And no one will forget this.

Paul F. Villarreal

• Email #2: Mary Isenhour to me

The Governor made a simple request in ASKING delegates to refrain from signing the petitions until Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have negotiated and the wishes of Senator Clinton are known.

• Email #3: Myself to Mary Isenhour

Mary,

Stop, please. I'm beyond sophistry and parlor tricks. We both know this is a stall tactic and an attempt to confuse and demobilize the effort to get Clinton the 300 signatures she needs. Couch it as you must, but no one is fooled.

You seem like a nice woman. I like the Governor. Which makes the kowtowing to Obama that much more upsetting.

We all get it, we all understand the terrain here. You guys are doing what you feel you have to do, as subtly and surreptitiously as you can. Rendell was one of the best people at pointing out the games Obama's crew was playing during the primaries. He understands what he's doing.

My problem is not with the soldiers following orders, primarily. It is that the general doesn't deserve the soldiers. I think you can tell I'm intelligent enough to not be a low information voter, and I'm sure as heck not racist.

Barack Obama is an example of the worst of Chicago politics, which is really saying a lot. He is trying to smile and play the race card into The Oval Office, and it is humiliating as a Democrat and an affront to the principles of Doctor King. Beyond this, he is a drag on down-ticket Dems and is not bringing anyone the money that he said he would. The thuggish, Stalinist tactics are completely out of control, and have been for months. It is sad to see our Governor aiding in such efforts, however half-heartedly he is doing so.

Rendell is better than this, as I'm sure you are as well. I know that I am, and that is why I cannot support Obama. When Obama joked about Rendell's check bouncing or whatever, I and others were very upset. Obama has no class and just expects people to lay down for him as he is coronated.

No.

This man should not be elected, or nominated. You do what you have to do, and I hope that I can support Governor Rendell in the future.

In the meantime, as the saying goes, please refrain from spitting in my face and telling me it's raining. I know what's being done here, and no amount of spin or framing is going to dispell that knowledge.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your position and can understand that it is not fun to have to play the fall guy for the Governor's action and the Chicago chicanery which is being handed down the channel.

Take care,
Paul F. Villarreal
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As you can see, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party thinks we are fools and is trying to placate us with semantic games. The intent of Rendell's request is clear: Stop Hillary getting the needed signatures so that she can be entered into nomination at the convention.My friends, I urge you to contact Isenhour and the Party and register your outrage at Rendell's actions seeking to stifle our voices and Hillary's being put into nomination. All conventions since 1968 have had open roll call votes. There is NO REASON that this opportunity should not be afforded to Hillary Clinton and her supporters who constitute majority of the party.


Here is some contact information for Mary Isenhour and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Let these people know that you are outraged over Rendell's actions.

Contacting Gov. Rendell. Call all of these numbers:

Main Office, Capitol Building: 717-787-2500
Northeast Region: 570-614-2090
Southeast Region: 215-560-2640
Northwest Region: 814-878-5719
Southwest Region: 412-565-5700

Special Assistant to the Governor, Lance Simon: 717-787-2500

Here is Mary Isenhour's contact info: phone: 717-920-8470 e-mail: maryp1016@aol.com