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PUMA ("People United Means Action" or "Party Unity My Ass", also known as the "Sour Grapes Party") is a political action committee in the United States that is protesting the Democratic Party leadership and the presumptive nomination of Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for President in the 2008 presidential election.[1] PUMA began as an effort of supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton who believe that Clinton should be the Democratic nominee.[2][3] According to PUMA, "We are protesting the 2008 Presidential election because we refuse to support a nominee who was selected by the leadership rather than elected by the voters." [4]

Pumapac.org

Organization

PUMA PAC is registered as a non-affiliated political action committee (PAC) with the Federal Election Commission and organized as a 527 Organization with the IRS. [5] PUMA originated out of online comments of a group of Clinton supporters on a pro-Clinton blog.[3][6] [7] PUMA is also part of a coalition of online activists with similar goals, the JustSayNoDeal coalition.[8] The PUMA acronym as originally coined stood for "Party Unity My Ass", however, the official PAC is registered as "People United Means Action." [9] Executive Director Darragh Murphy estimates that PUMA PAC proper has gathered over 10,000 members and the organization's official site has received more than a million hits between its founding in June through August 2008.[10] Dianne Mantouvalos, founder of the larger JustSayNoDeal coalition, estimates the coalition comprises over 100 groups, and is more than ten percent of the eighteen million votes Clinton received in the primaries.[8]

Will Bower, a media spokesperson for PUMA and JustSayNoDeal, has summarized many of PUMA's objections to the actions of the Democratic Party during the 2008 presidential primaries. PUMA believes that Obama was selected undemocratically by the party leadership rather than through respect for Democratic voters' wishes.[11] Further, PUMA argues that Obama was unfairly advantaged by the ruling by the Rules and Bylaws Committee on seating Florida and Michigan delegates.[8]

Finally, PUMA members point to charges of media sexism and misogyny directed at Clinton during the primary campaign and express anger at the failure of Democratic Party leaders to speak out against them or otherwise respond appropriately.[12][13][14] Post-primaries, DNC Chairman Howard Dean stated "The media took a very sexist approach to Senator Clinton's campaign" in response to hearing objections from what he described as "cross-section of women, from individual voters to powerful politicians and chief executives."[15]

PUMA's protest actions take several forms, including encouraging a Clinton write-in campaign for the general election, voting for no presidential candidate, or supporting other candidates such as U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).[16] [17] [18] Some hope that enough superdelegates will change their minds to give the nomination to Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in August.[19] Some state that they are willing to put McCain in office this year, and have Clinton run again in 2012. Finally, some have also suggested that Clinton run as an Independent candidate in the election.[20] Some have noted that the internet has fostered the organization. Many PUMA advocates are part of the blogosphere and use it for organization, advocacy and viral communication.[8]

PUMA advocates for an open convention in which Clinton's name would be placed in nomination and her delegates allowed to vote for her at the convention.[2] The group is supporting a petition by delegates to the convention to put Clinton's name into nomination.[21][22] Allied organization The Denver Group has spearheaded an ad-based media campaign advocating for an open nomination convention including placing Clinton's name in nomination, allowing speeches in support and a roll call vote. [23][24][25] The ad campaign emphasizes a connection between historical events and the 2008 convention, calling on DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to "follow fair and honest application of the democratic process and according to democratic principles" and resist turning "the convention into a coronation."[2]

PAC members are also one of several groups protesting the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[26] PUMA's protests and events of the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries are the subject of an upcoming film by documentary filmaker Brad Mays,The Audacity of Democracy.[27] [28]

Organizers/co-founders and associated movements

Darragh Murphy, Executive Director of PUMA PAC, created the organization in June 2008.[8] She says that the immediate goal of her website is "to let the party know, let the leadership know that millions and millions of us are not going to support [Obama]. That we believe the nomination process was flawed beyond belief, that is was unfair and biased."[3] According to one reporter who interviewed her, "Murphy ... believes that the only way to save the Democratic Party at this point is to destroy it. Mr. Obama must lose, and his supporters must be purged."[29] Murphy has characterized PUMA PAC's goals, however, as "not an organized effort to leave the Democratic Party, but to get it back, to bring real unity to the party. Millions of voters are still very unhappy. We're going to still be here on November 5."[8]

Diane Mantouvalos, who also founded HireHeels.com, a website trying to get women involved in politics[8] founded “Just Say No Deal.com” along with Peter Boykin (creater of the slogan for the domain name), Will Bower, Cristi Adkins, and Thuc Ngyuen after Hillary Clinton announced her suspension of her campaign. Just Say No Deal is a coalition of groups, including PUMA, advocating against the selection of Barack Obama as the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee.[8][30]

Christi Adkins, along with Anne Franklin, Peter Boykin and other Clinton supporters, created Clintons4McCain.com.[8] Adkins’ organization is composed of volunteers who donated time, effort and energy to elect Clinton, and now feel Hillary was subjected to unfair attacks during the campaign by "sexism, misogyny, reverse racism and ridicule."[31] Clintons4McCain.com is "opposed to the DNC, the media and Hollywood's influence in the Democratic nomination process."[31] The group’s membership intend to vote for Republican John McCain in November, and believe that John McCain would be tolerable.[31] Adkins has been interviewed on Fox News on multiple occasions about the mission of the PUMA organization.[32]

Criticism

PUMA has also been criticized for their support of Republican John McCain. Officially PUMA does not support any candidate, the common thread being that its members oppose Obama as the DNC candidate.[5] Some Democrats argue that the organization's goals contradict to Hillary Clinton's stated views. [33] On CNN's Situation Room, Clinton herself has been quoted as saying, "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that anyone who supported me... understands what a grave error it would be not to vote for Sen. Obama." [34] One Democratic state committeewoman who says she supported Clinton, and whose attitude was "Enough with this PUMA stuff," said "It's not like it's 'Rah rah Obama'. No. But he is our candidate....". She is distributing buttons saying, "Hillary Supports Obama, So Do I!!"[35]

Patti Higgins, the Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party, wrote to a PUMA supporter: "Having Senator Clinton’s name on a roll call without having the votes would just embarrass her, waste time, and make people agonize over nothing. I find it difficult to believe that this organization is not an undercover McCain operation."[36] On August 14, 2008, Senators Clinton and Obama issued a joint news release stating that Senator Clinton's name would be put into nomination and a roll-call vote held at the convention, in response to calls from Clinton supporters. [37] [38] Clinton previously stated at a fundraiser that she happens "to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their voices were heard and their views were respected. I think that is a very big part of how we actually come out unified." [37]

Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon has accused PUMA of being a front for McCain advocacy, pointing to founder Darragh Murphy's financial support of McCain in February 2000.[39] [40] Murphy admits donating to McCain, stating that the donation was to help defeat George W. Bush in the primary. She says she voted for Al Gore in the general election, although she did not donate to his campaign. She says she was "devastated when Bush stole the election". [41] According to the Huffington Post's Fundrace 2008, Murphy has donated $750 to Clinton's presidential campaign through Q2 2008.[42] Marcotte's accusation omits Murphy's campaign contributions to Clinton. The donations to Clinton have not yet appeared on the official FEC site as of July 29. [43] Bowers rejects the claims of Marcotte and others: "People have been trying to paint this as a Trojan horse, you know, as though I'm a Republican, that this is a Republican strategy... No, that's not it at all. From dog-catcher to president, I've voted Democrat."[44]

Clinton-supporter Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl) has argued that while she sees why many have subscribed to the "Puma attitude", she argues that for women "reproductive rights, the economy and a range other issues, the only choice is Obama." She believes that voting for McCain, or letting him win by default, is worse than not having Clinton as the nominee.[8] Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has stated that PUMAs and other Clinton supporters "have been less than gracious" for their continuing refusal to support Senator Obama.[45]

DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee co-chairman James Roosevelt disputes the claim that the Michigan–Florida delegate decision was in any way pre-ordained to favor Obama. He argues that Party rules and regulations were "followed and interpreted fairly." He continues that there were allegations of impropriety in the Texas caucuses, but only one complaint was filed with a delegate.[8].

References

  1. ^ Abrahams, Tom (2008-07-14). "What'a P.U.M.A.?". ABC 13 VOTE08. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b Preston, Mark (2008-07-23). "Preston on Politics: PUMAs Stalking Obama". CNN Political Ticker. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "preston" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c King, Allison (2008-06-24). "Obama, Clinton might not find united party". NECN. Retrieved 2008-07-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Party Unity, My Ass group shows Obama's fight ahead". News.com.au. 2008-06-10.
  5. ^ a b PUMA PAC.
  6. ^ Riverdaughter. "Monday: PUMA Power". Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  7. ^ Riverdaughter. "Ladies and Gentlemen, You Are Looking Fine Today!". Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Merida, Kevin (June 27, 2008). "Hill, Yes! O., No!". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  9. ^ Burkeman, Oliver (June 7, 2008). "'Party Unity, My Ass' - what the Pumas really stand for". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  10. ^ Costa, Robert (2008-08-17). "Political Diary: Darragh vs. the Obamabots". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Party Unity, My Ass". Fox News. June 9th, 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Cocco, Marie (2008-05-15). "Misogyny I Won't Miss". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Stephen, Andrew (2008-05-22). "Hating Hillary". New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Erbe, Bonnie (2008-06-09). "Obama and the Democrats Owe Hillary Clinton and Her Supporters a Formal Apology for the Campaign's Sexism". US News & World Report. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Katherine Q. Seelye and Julie Bosman (2008-06-13). "Media Charged with Sexism in Clinton Coverage". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "WriteinHillary". Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  17. ^ "McCain Dem/Clinton Republican". Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  18. ^ "Clintons4McCain". Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  19. ^ Saul, Michael (June 12, 2008). "Hillary Clinton fanatics keep fight alive". New York Daily News.
  20. ^ Niedowski, Erika (June 7, 2008). "Clinton supporters vow to fight on". The National. Retrieved 2008-07-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Satter, Andrew (2008-08-13). "Efforts to Promote Clinton at Convention Heat Up". CQ Politics. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Democratic National Committee (2006-08-19). "Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention" (PDF). Democratic National Committee. pp. p.16. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Wheaton, Sarah (2008-07-23). "The Caucus: Clinton Supporters Try One More Tack". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "The Denver Group". Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  25. ^ Horowitz, Jason (2008-08-12). "Defiant Clinton Women Refuse to Support Obama". The News York Observer. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Chozick, Amy (2008-08-12). "Pro-Clinton Force Plans Protest in Denver publisher = Washington Times". Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |title= (help)
  27. ^ "Brad Mays". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  28. ^ Mays, Brad (Director). The Audacity of Democracy (trailer) (Documentary). LightSong Films.
  29. ^ Horowitz, Jason (August 12, 2008), "Defiant Clinton Women Refuse To Support Obama", The New York Observer {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  30. ^ Parker, Jennifer (2008-06-26). "Clinton Supporters Protest Outside Obama Finance Meeting in DC". ABC News, Political Radar. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ a b c Clintons4McCain.com About us
  32. ^ Member of Clintons for McCain, Cristi Adkins, Speaks. Fox News, June 11, 2008.
  33. ^ Visible Vote '08
  34. ^ Clinton: It'd be 'terrible mistake' to pick McCain over Obama May 14, 2008 CNN
  35. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (August 24, 2008), "The Anti-Pumas", Daily News {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  36. ^ "Why Are These People In Charge?". PUMAPac.org. July 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ a b Kate Snow, Jake Tapper, Jennifer Parker (2008-08-14). "Dem's Deal: Hillary Gets Convention Vote". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Clinton, Obama Deal Could Let Supporters Disrupt Convention". Fox News. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ ""Donor Lookup"". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  40. ^ pandagon.net
  41. ^ Abrahams, Tom (2008-06-23). "P.U.M.A. Passion". ABC 13 VOTE08. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Huffington Post Donations Search Fundrace 2008
  43. ^ Official FEC Search[1]
  44. ^ Tomasic, John (2008-07-18). "Hell No: P.U.M.A. Spokesman Will Bower on Post-Clinton Party Unity". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Mooney, Alexander (2008-08-14). "Pelosi Not Happy with Some Clinton Backers". CNN Political Ticker. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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