Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Delegation

It's About Voting Rights - Period

Just ran across this video of Hillary in Michigan (March), when all eyes were on my home state, and people were waiting to see if Obama would do the right thing and sign on to a plan that would let a re-vote move forward in my home state.

Hillary signed on.
The DNC agreed to it.
The state party in Michigan were on board.

So was most of the state legislature.  The rethugs were pointing to Obama's refusal to agree to this plan as an excuse for not moving forward with it.

Some supporters of Hillary's even said they'd raise the $15 million needed to hold these firehouse primaries.  But Obama refused to help make it happen and now folks are ready to punish my family and the hundreds of thousands of other voters who turned out to vote for the actions of others.

Hillary went to Michigan to speak to voters at a local AFSCME hall in Detroit (an no - that trip did not violate the four state pledge).  Take a look...


It's been a long day so I'll let Hillary say what needs to be said here tonight gang.



Display:


Dems Count the Votes - All of Them! (2.00 / 7)

Seat the delegations dammit.


Donate to Hillary Now!
by alegre on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:46:01 PM EST

Re: Dems Count the Votes - All of Them! (1.88 / 9)

So is this the thread where you engage the multiple substantive arguments against the talking points you've posted for the last week?


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:46:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If you want to help our girl (2.00 / 1)

start by reading this diary.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/28/2322 47/542

They want to push her out gang!

We can't let them do that.


No way. No how. No McCain!
by spacemanspiff on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:48:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

In It To Win It! (none / 0)


by dystopianfuturetoday on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:24:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: In It To Win It! (2.00 / 7)


NO 100 year WAR, NO McConnell run Senate, & NO GOP-led Supreme Court!!!
by Veteran75 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:32:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Count the Votes - All of Them! (2.00 / 3)

Why the TR, campskunk?

Explain yourself.


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:50:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

He's trying to be Carl Nyberg. (2.00 / 1)

He thinks it's the equivalent of the Nyberg 3 and "Hide" is the equivalent of "hide" on dKos.


by bobdoleisevil on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:51:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's Denver or bust! (none / 0)


RISE HILLARY RISE!
No way. No how. No McCain!
by spacemanspiff on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:47:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Denver or bust! (none / 0)

Uh, I think someone forgot the yeast (and the West).


by Twin Planets on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:50:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

When will she seat Ecuador and Paraguay? (2.00 / 2)

It's America too, dammit!!!!


by bobdoleisevil on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:49:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When will she seat Ecuador and Paraguay? (2.00 / 2)

Don't forget the race for county commissioner in Flint, Michigan.  After all, no one in that race voted for Obama...which mean they voted for Hillary.

All of your votes belong to Hillary!

Rise, Hillary, Rise!


John McCain: Healthcare for Kids? In America? No way
by bosdcla14 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:52:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Count the Votes - All of Them! (none / 0)

is this snark?


It's all about McCain/Bush now...
by thereisnospoon on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:52:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Kos's own words: (2.00 / 1)

"Clinton was the only top-tier candidate to refuse the ultimate Iowa and New Hampshire pander by removing her name from the Michigan ballot. That makes her essentially the de facto winner since Edwards and Obama, caving to the cry babies in Iowa and New Hampshire, took their name off Michigan's ballot. Sure, the DNC has stripped Michigan of its delegates, but that won't last through the convention. The last thing Democrats can afford is to alienate swing states like Michigan and Florida by refusing to seat their delegates."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1 /2/12427/74720


by phoenixdreamz on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:01:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kos's own words: (none / 0)

Eight years ago Michigan violated DNC rules and held an early primary; Gore and Bradley removed their names from the ballot.

...and instead of demanding that the DNC seat the results of a flawed primary, Michigan Democrats held a do-over caucus.


by forbes on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:54:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kos's own words: (none / 0)

Caucuses are completely un-American and illegal, plus stoopid Barack tends to win them, so clearly that won't do. The only way that is fair to do a Michigan caucus fairly would be to have only the candidates available to vote for that were on the ballot originally. Oh and you can't do uncommitted since that person doesn't really exist.
Congratulations Steny Hoyer! Our 2008 Chickenshit Leader Of The Year!
by RockvilleLiberal2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 08:00:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kos's own words: (none / 0)

I don't get it. So Iowa and New Hampshire voters will vote for someone because they won't have their name on the ballot in a primary that was going to take place a week after theirs anyway? How many votes d'ya think Obama gained from this manuever? 5? 6?
From a Hillary supporter: We laughed as that became our mantra - "Barack can't win!"..... ....."he can go to hell and i'll pay for his way there."
by Cochrane on Thu May 29, 2008 at 03:17:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

This is a powerful video (2.00 / 1)

and she speaks with conviction, intent, and challenge.  A few points worth noting:

--She will always stand for people's votes--it doesn't matter WHO they vote for.  That is a simple proposition and reflects confidence--let the people vote. It also reflects a mature understanding of what happened in 2000 and 2004 (OH), and a growing understanding of the consequences of the DNC rules.  I think this means that if she is the nominee or not, she, like many others, will work to reform the DNC rules (i.e., caucuses, primary schedule) to more truly reflect the will of the people.

--Revisiting the Obama response to the revote proposal. I know the obama excuses for not agreeing were something about who was going to pay for it (HRC affiliated), and "not wanting to break the rules"...and then after having removed his name from the ballot, still using that as a reason to somehow block a revote. It seems his response to the revote was not well thought out. And I believe Obama is a voting rights attorney, isn't he?

--Anyway, to reject a revote, in retrospect, now seems a clear strategy to deny HRC any chance at the nomination--cold, calculated politics.  The victim included not only HRC, but Michigan voters.  This is the risk he took, and now it is even more clear that Michigan and Florida votes would have challenged his campaign to truly work for the nomination instead of "riding the wave" to it.  This is one of those risks that has come back to haunt him, and seriously challenge his nomination prospects, making it even more clear how closely divided the country is between the two candidates.

Well, HRC has certainly earned my vote now and in November.  And yes, my vote does represent the hopes and dreams for my children and their future.


by 4justice on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:14:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is a powerful video (2.00 / 2)

You and Sen. Clinton and her supporters/protesters would have a lot more credibility if this issue was raised in the fall when the delegates were actually stripped.

No one cared then because it was a political issue.


United we stand, divided we fall.
by mefeck on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:17:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

say what? (none / 0)

not quite responsive either to the diarist or my comment.


by 4justice on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:20:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: say what? (none / 0)

Yes it was, you just don't want to respond.  It is probably because you are too busy drive-by 1 rating every non pro-clinton comment though.


Tony Romo for Secretary of Awesome
by kasjogren on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:41:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How about explaining (none / 0)

Why Hillary stated that "The Michigan votes won't count" when she did not need the delegates, and when she did need them that it was suddenly a civil rights issue.

We still have not settled that question and enquiiring minds want to know


"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"
by xenontab on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:41:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is a powerful video (2.00 / 2)

She will always stand for people's votes--it doesn't matter WHO they vote for.

Then why hasn't she publicly disagreed with her surrogate, Lanny Davis, who suggested that Clinton get the lion's share of the delegates in MI that were selected by people explicitly not voting for Hillary Clinton?

Also, why hasn't she severed ties with Mark Penn, who called broad swaths of the country "insignificant"?  She made a show of firing him, but continues to pay him and listen to him.

I think this means that if she is the nominee or not, she, like many others, will work to reform the DNC rules (i.e., caucuses, primary schedule) to more truly reflect the will of the people.

Funny, because she had a lot of influence in the Party last year - after all, one of her top lieutenants, Harold Ickes, was part of the committee that originally stripped MI and FL of their delegates.  If she will, as you say, always stand for people's votes, why didn't she stand for them back then in pushing the reforms the DNC needed?

Further, how could she possibly make the case for reforms after arguing here that states should be able to ignore any and all DNC rules that inconvenience them and suffer no penalty for it?  How, if she were to reform the DNC rules, would she enforce these rule changes, after arguing for several months that states should be allowed to break the rules with no consequences?

know the obama excuses for not agreeing were something about who was going to pay for it (HRC affiliated), and "not wanting to break the rules"

You forgot the big one, which was that the Clinton revote wasn't going to be open to people who didn't participate in the Democratic primary the first time around.  She wanted to disenfranchise all the people who believed her, and Obama, and the party when they said the MI and FL elections wouldn't count.

Anyway, to reject a revote, in retrospect, now seems a clear strategy to deny HRC any chance at the nomination--cold, calculated politics.

So you've agreed not to call Obama naive anymore?  Excellent.


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:22:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

But the truth is (2.00 / 3)

that Senator Clinton did nothing while her operatives in the DNC, to a person, including Harold Ickes, voted to strip Florida of its delegates. In fact, her campaign issued a press release defending stripping Florida's delegates just a few days later.

Just thought you should know.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:38:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Count the Votes - All of Them! (none / 0)

But its ok that she went back on her position to NOT SEAT THEM from earlier in the races.  Notice you fail to ever comment on that.  


http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!
by yitbos96bb on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:08:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (1.85 / 7)

yeah, seat florida too. here's my vote from FL.


by campskunk on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:48:00 PM EST

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 2)

Ah.  You voted in Florida.

Many didn't, because they trusted Hillary Clinton, the other candidates, and the DNC when they said that the Florida election wouldn't count for anything.

Why should those people lose their right to have a say in the process, simply because they trusted Hillary Clinton, the other candidates, and the DNC?


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:49:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

People should've known Hillary was a (2.00 / 1)

liar who will say and do anything to win.

It's their fault.


by bobdoleisevil on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:50:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You're not helping. (n/t) (2.00 / 1)


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:50:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's not a helpable situation. (2.00 / 1)


by bobdoleisevil on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:51:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's not a helpable situation. (2.00 / 2)

You do have a point.


by Same As It Ever Was on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:13:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 1)

T'rate for abusing the troll rate abuse on every single diary.

Finally you appear.


No way. No how. No McCain!
by spacemanspiff on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:50:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

and yet, she doesn't get her ratings privileges revoked.  Go figure.


It's all about McCain/Bush now...
by thereisnospoon on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:53:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 1)

I've begun reporting the more egregious instances of ratings abuse to the admins.

Maybe they'll do something eventually.


Obama in November.
by Artemis Jax on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:05:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

campskunk t'rated my comment on alegre's other diary.

Always comes in to rec. and t'rate other users.

It's been a long time se he/she posted.


No way. No how. No McCain!
by spacemanspiff on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:07:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

Seconded.


by interestedbystander on Thu May 29, 2008 at 03:20:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

You got to keep you ballot?


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:51:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hate to say it, Markos was right in January... (2.00 / 1)

on this:

Clinton was the only top-tier candidate to refuse the ultimate Iowa and New Hampshire pander by removing her name from the Michigan ballot. That makes her essentially the de facto winner since Edwards and Obama, caving to the cry babies in Iowa and New Hampshire, took their name off Michigan's ballot. Sure, the DNC has stripped Michigan of its delegates, but that won't last through the convention. The last thing Democrats can afford is to alienate swing states like Michigan and Florida by refusing to seat their delegates.

So while Obama and Edwards kneecap their chances of winning, Clinton is single-mindedly focused on the goal.

When jerks are right, they are right!


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:12:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Thing is... (2.00 / 1)

Hillary's people voted to disenfranchise you. Every .. single .. one of them.

The only person who stood up for you at the DNC was an Obama supporter from Florida.

More here.

Just thought you might want to know.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:36:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's about rules and the Democratic Party (2.00 / 2)

No penalty means chaos next time. Some folk might want to burn the party down for one person but the DNC most certainly won't.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:51:09 PM EST

Re: It's about rules and the Democratic Party (2.00 / 1)

lol, they don't care.  As long as HRC wins, they don't care if Alaska has the first primary two years before the convention.  Whaddaya gonna do--disenfrachise 'em?


It's all about McCain/Bush now...
by thereisnospoon on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:54:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's about rules and the Democratic Party (none / 0)

Clinton can't win if she and her supporters burn down the party.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:59:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

But if she doesn't win..... (none / 0)

...she will burn down the party anyway.  How dare they not acceed to her wishes!  Like watching a slow motion train wreck.


"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"
by xenontab on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:44:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But if she doesn't win..... (none / 0)

I have to say this. I thank G-d that Obama came out of nowhere and won this (and I think he'll beat McSame handily) because the crap I've seen from Bill and Hillary makes me dread those two in the WH. Not from a policy perspective - they're centrists so they might actually push it back to the center - but from a personal perspective. The drama is just too much.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 09:01:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

When is this going to end? (1.91 / 12)

Alegre, you're beginning to seem like the Japanese soldier in the Philippines who refused to surrender until 1973.

This intra-party war is almost over. We all have to prepare for the next one--the one in November.


by shermanfireflyace on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:52:03 PM EST

Re: When is this going to end? (2.00 / 4)

uprated to counter ridiculous and unpunished ratings abuse.


It's all about McCain/Bush now...
by thereisnospoon on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:55:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When is this going to end? (none / 0)

He's admirable in his own crazy way.


Donate to Hillary Now!
by guazatragicness on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:05:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When is this going to end? (none / 0)

Admirable? Seriously?

"Though he had killed some thirty Philippine inhabitants of the island and engaged in several shootouts with the police, the circumstances of these events were taken into consideration, and Onoda received a pardon from President Ferdinand Marcos."

You want to rethink your statement?


by shermanfireflyace on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:14:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When is this going to end? (none / 0)

Consider that the stated goal of many of Hillary's supporters is to destroy the Democratic Party's chances in November.

I'm pretty sure the commenter doesn't want to rethink that statement.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:27:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When is this going to end? (2.00 / 1)

I guess you're right. My mistake. I thought we were dealing with rational people.


by shermanfireflyace on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:40:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When is this going to end? (2.00 / 1)

That's what war is: killing people.  I think it's possible to both admire his perseverance and deplore his killing.

I'll admire alegre for campaigning for Hillary in 2039, even while I think she's crazy for supporting an 89-year-old candidate


Donate to Hillary Now!
by guazatragicness on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:47:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ask Obama (1.00 / 3)

he could sew this up so easily. Yet he continues to try to smear his opponent by contacting the press and misinterpreting her RFK remarks...odd. He continues to trash the reputation of a two-term Democratic Senator and two-term Democratic President.

He could come out in favor of seating the delegates, but he's hanging back, trying to kick the can down the road.

Maybe like he said a while ago, he wants more experience in the Senate before being president.


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:14:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ask Obama (none / 0)

The delegates are going to be seated. Obama's people are open to a compromise. But Michigan and Florida not going to be seated fully. Get used to that.


by shermanfireflyace on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:16:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

He could be hugely generous (1.00 / 0)

in his compromise and get this sewn up. But he's stalling. It's so odd.


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:18:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He could be hugely generous (none / 0)

Yeah, it's called he's waiting until the meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee this weekend. You know, the committee where these sorts things are decided.


by shermanfireflyace on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:21:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Thing is (2.00 / 2)

The DNC isn't hearing proposals put forth by the campaigns; they're hearing proposals put forth by the states. And the DNC rules state that the best those states can hope to get is 50%.

I've been arguing that Obama should argue for seating all the delegates "as is," and end this stupid trumped-up controversy once and for all. But it's not up to him or to Clinton, not anymore.

Ironically, the only person to offer any dissent when these states were disenfranchised was one Obama supporter. Clinton's people, to the last person -- including Harold Ickes -- voted to disenfranchise. More here.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:24:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Then IA, NH, and SC will be stripped too? (1.00 / 0)

Of half their delegates? Since they too violated the rules? I guess that would be OK.


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:33:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

No (2.00 / 2)

Because the DNC specifically crafted the primaries so that those states would go first.

I agree that the rules are silly, but they're the rules that all the campaigns agreed to abide by, including Senator Clinton's campaign. You can't dispute that because it's provably true. Senator Clinton has no legitimate warrant to argue for changing the rules now.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:43:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Actually the rules say IA NH and SC (1.00 / 0)

should be punished because they moved up their primaries.


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:22:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And all the campaigns... (2.00 / 1)

...agreed to grant them waivers while punishing MI and FL.

Again, I agree that it's stupid. But Clinton agreed to this before the primaries, just like Obama did. She can't argue to change the rules now just because she needs a reason, any reason, to extend the clock.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:28:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Then IA, NH, and SC will be stripped too? (none / 0)

I can smell your bullshit in MN.  Perhaps you should lay off the peppers?


Tony Romo for Secretary of Awesome
by kasjogren on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:44:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ask Obama (none / 0)

Yet he continues to try to smear his opponent by contacting the press and misinterpreting her RFK remarks...odd.

All the wishing in the world won't make that lie true.


Obama in November.
by Artemis Jax on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:21:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 7)

Not all of us here in MI share the perspective of the diarist and her family.  Many of us will feel doubly disenfranchised if the delegation is seated in full as such.  Many of us, Clinton supporters and Obama supporters alike here in MI, feel the contest was highly compromised, that the primary culprets were Carl Levin, Jennifer Granholm, and Debbie Dingell.  Many of us, here in MI, resent the way this political issue is being portrayed as a moral issue, as if what is at stake here and in question is suffrage itself and not a particular contest between two campaigns that was compromised by the irresponsible behavior of the leaders of the party apparatus.  Play football with us, but don not tell us it is about our rights.


The future is unwritten
by Strummerson on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:53:03 PM EST

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 1)

If anything I think at least those three need to loose their votes at the convention.


John McCain, supports 100 year of war, but not education
by desertlover on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:58:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (2.00 / 6)

"It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything."
Hillary Clinton on Michigan, Oct. 2007

Explanation, please?


"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it." -- Dr. Horrible
by BobzCat on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:53:22 PM EST

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (2.00 / 3)

they have none.  It's like the Republicans' "that was before 9/11" argument.


It's all about McCain/Bush now...
by thereisnospoon on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:56:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (2.00 / 2)

I can't understand the lack of outrage from this diarist.

Sen. Clinton clearly told the diarist's family in Michigan that their votes weren't going to count for anything. Anything! What about their rights?

Her statement offhandedly advocates the disenfranchisement of Michigan voters. It egregiously and with dismissive contempt ignores the will of the Michigan electorate (and the diarist's family in particular). Stunning.

And I can't believe this diarist hasn't asked Sen. Clinton about it during one of their conference calls. Imagine having that kind of access and ignoring Sen. Clinton's clear support of disenfranchisement and her outright contempt for the voters themselves.

But all I really want to know is, why did she say that, and did she mean it?


"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it." -- Dr. Horrible
by BobzCat on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:07:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (1.00 / 0)

You mean like this:

...Obama spokesman Bill Burton offered a reminder that the primaries in Michigan and Florida will "have no bearing on the Democratic nomination contest" because the states won't have any delegates at the national convention.

Not so fast, says the Clinton campaign. In a memo just circulated in response, the Clinton campaign denies the charge that it's planning to campaign in Florida; says the Obama campaign is pushing the Michigan-doesn't-matter line only because its efforts to get Democrats to vote "uncommitted" isn't working; and seems to be hinting that it may fight to have delegates from Michigan and Florida seated at the convention after all.

"While Sen. Clinton will honor her commitment not to campaign in Florida in violation of the pledge, she also intends to honor her pledge to hear the voices of all Americans," the campaign says. "The people of Michigan and Florida have just as much of a right to have their voices heard as anyone else. It is disappointing to hear a major Democratic presidential candidate tell the voters of any state that their voices aren't important ... Sen. Clinton intends to be president for all fifty states. And while she will honor the pledge she signed and not campaign in either state, she intends to continue to give every American a voice during this election and when she gets to the White House."


by catfish2 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:16:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (2.00 / 1)

Or like this, for that matter:

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process," Patti Solis Doyle, the Clinton campaign manager, said in a statement.

The pledge sought to preserve the status of traditional early-voting states and bring order to an unwieldy series of primaries that threatened to accelerate the selection process. It was devised to keep candidates from campaigning in Florida, where the primary is set for Jan. 29, and Michigan, which is trying to move its contest to Jan. 15.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:19:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case (none / 0)

Or you mean how Clinton's campaign said that numerous states weren't important or didn't count?

Or was that thing OK?

It's tough to keep track of what behavior is not OK at ALL or is OK just for Clinton.

Do you guys have a score card or a list of some sort?


Obama in November.
by Artemis Jax on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:22:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How interesting.... (2.00 / 1)

this was made 10 days AFTER Hillary's defeat in Iowa.  Do you have any before she needed the delegates?  Otherwise the point is still proven, it was a VERY convenient concern for the voters of MI and FL


"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"
by xenontab on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:51:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

voting rights... (none / 0)

Voting rights are honored where the outcome of an election does not change after the vote has already been held.

Voting rights are also respected where every legitimate candidate is able to receive a vote.

When it's not about either of these measure- it's not about voting rights... it's about getting YOUR candidate elected by whatever means one may argue.


by Casuist on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:53:51 PM EST

Serious question (2.00 / 1)

When the FL and MI delegations are seated, and Obama is still ahead in delegates, should Clinton at that point concede that he has won the primary and thus the nomination?


"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it." -- Dr. Horrible
by BobzCat on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:55:25 PM EST

The likely answer is.... (none / 0)

No -- because this isn't about delegates anymore.

This is about sabotaging the Democrats in 2008 unless she gets the nomination.

I'm going to donate $200 to the most credible primary opponent she has in her 2012 Senate Race unless she either get the nomination or quits by July 1. She's worse than Lieberman at this rate.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:16:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Did anybody else hear NPR tonight? (2.00 / 7)

They took down Hillary's shifting rhetoric decisively. Some relevant passages:

When Michigan and Florida moved their primaries ahead of the dates set by the Democratic National Committee, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton supported the party's decision to strip those states of their delegates.
..................
Clinton [said] . . . that she stayed on the Michigan ballot because she didn't want to totally dismiss voters in an important swing state.

"It's clear this election they're having is not going to count for anything," Clinton said. "But I personally didn't want to set up a situation where the Republicans were going to be campaigning between now and whenever. Then, after the nomination, we have to go in and repair the damage to be ready to win Michigan in November 2008."

But really, Clinton said, leaving her name on in Michigan wasn't a big deal.

"I personally did not think it made any difference if my name was on the ballot," she said. (Emphasis added)
..................
By the time Florida voted Jan. 29, Clinton was making the case that votes in the Sunshine State mattered. It helped her win Florida, and her campaign began a full-scale effort to get Michigan and Florida's delegates counted.

As for Clinton's earlier comment about Michigan and how being on the ballot didn't matter? By March, she was telling NPR it did matter.
..................
The change in strategy has given Clinton's campaign some explaining to do.


Not editorializing.  Not propaganda.  Just clear, fact-based reporting on how Hillary's reasoning has changed in direct response to her need for the Michigan and Florida delegates.


Obama leads the popular vote too
by kellogg on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:56:41 PM EST

Re: Did anybody else hear NPR tonight? (2.00 / 3)

I believe that's called opportunism.


by shermanfireflyace on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:58:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

kind of strange (2.00 / 2)

but it seems the Democratic party will be handing the nomination who is NOT the democratic choice of the people. Just like the Republicans in 2000 we are overturning the popular vote to hand over the nomination to the person who has the most non-binding pledged delegates.

As of now no one is the nominee and this thing goes to the convention...that is what they are for anyway.


by tarheel74 on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:57:02 PM EST

Re: kind of strange (2.00 / 1)

The one with the most delegates wins.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:01:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: kind of strange (1.00 / 0)

you mean those non-binding entities that can be bought? Yeah I guess that is the authoritarian concept of democracy.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:04:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The kind Hillary started with 200 of (none / 0)


Obama leads the popular vote too
by kellogg on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:16:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

you'd have a case... (none / 0)

if it weren't for the fact that the present alignment of the delegates is proportional to and consistent with electoral results. Any means by which Clinton wins the nomination at this point would represent the contrary.


by Casuist on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:17:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Funny... (none / 0)

for most of our history it was considered representative democracy designed to protect the minority.  But who give a fuck what the founders thought, eh?  The Great Compromise is authoritarian!!!!!


by Same As It Ever Was on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:17:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Funny... (1.00 / 0)

when the founders wrote the document we had 13 states, slavery, no voting rights for women and minority. What's curious is that Obama and Obama's campaign are using the above talking points which was first used by the Republicans in 2000 after they denied the winner of the popular vote and steadfastly opposed any electoral reform that would honor the popular vote. So way to go for using their talking points.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:24:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So now the Constitution is a Republican talking (none / 0)

point?  

Are you available for parties?

I'm sure the residents of New York and California would prefer  that we dispense with the Great Compromise.   Would be pretty bad news for the interests of most of the country though


by Same As It Ever Was on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:29:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Funny... (none / 0)

You're confusing a general election with a primary. There is no right to vote at all in a primary. You also appear to think the country operates on simple majority rule. It does not.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:36:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: kind of strange (none / 0)

Bought? Break each one down for me and show me that they're bought.


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:35:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: kind of strange (none / 0)

If John Kerry had gotten 70,000 more of Bush's votes in Ohio, he would have been elected President, but still lost the popular vote.

Would you have protested that as well?


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:13:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: kind of strange (1.00 / 0)

coulda woulda shoulda. He lost both delegates and popular vote. Obama is heading in that direction.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:18:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh get real (none / 0)

Even the poll trackers on MyDD say you're wrong.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:32:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh get real (1.00 / 2)

read the latest gallup poll? here let me help you:

According to Gallup's May 12-25 tracking polling, Clinton is running stronger against McCain than is Obama in the 20 states where Clinton can claim popular-vote victory in the Democratic primaries and caucuses. By contrast, Obama runs no better against McCain than does Clinton in the 28 states plus the District of Columbia where he has prevailed. On this basis, Clinton appears to have the stronger chance of capitalizing on her primary strengths in the general election.

However, just focusing on the swing states in Clinton's and Obama's respective win columns, the two are fairly similar. Clinton beats McCain in her purple states (including Florida and Michigan) by 49% to 43%, while Obama slightly trails McCain (43% to 46%) in these states -- a nine-point swing in the gap in Clinton's favor. Conversely, Obama beats McCain in his purple states (49% to 41%), while Clinton trails McCain by one point, 45% to 46%, in the same states -- also a nine-point swing in the gap in Obama's favor.

Clinton's main advantage is that her states -- including Florida and Michigan -- represent nearly twice as many Electoral College votes as Obama's. However, removing Florida and Michigan from the equation, her purple states are about comparable to Obama's in electoral vote size, and thus the two appear more evenly situated.

What gives Clinton an additional boost in national support -- but is not likely to increase her chances of winning Electoral College votes in November -- is her superior performance over Obama in the red states where she has captured the popular vote in the primaries. These include such typically safe Republican states as Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, and Arizona.

and Jake Tapper: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/ 2008/05/gallup-analysis.html

"Are the Democrats about to nominate their weaker candidate?"


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:43:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh get real (1.00 / 0)

great  some sneaky Obama-loving turdbloom gave me a zero-rating. These guys are amazing in their love for disenfranchisement and fascism.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 10:22:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: kind of strange (none / 0)

Would you have protested it or not?


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:36:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (1.66 / 3)

Seating as-is is a violation of the rules as agreed to by Clinton herself. Indeed by not removing her name she even violated her own pledge. Seating as-is  rewards her internal violation.

How can this contest be seen as a valid vote? The ballots where either reflected an erroneous basis based on Clinton's pledge and assertion that MI would face sanctions, or simple a matter of orchestrated voter fraud... "Oh, I meant to remove my name, but ooops, look at that I'm the only major candidate on the ticket, guess I win it all now".

I see the situation as analogous to a State voting a day after the GE and expecting it's voters to count towards the contest. They would not, no matter how much the voters protested, it would be the fault of the State, because the state violated the laws. FL and MI violated the rules, the voters in those states would seem to have a direct complaint against the governments of FL and MI, and should sue, and recall the State elected officials and hold those governments accountable for the rule violation. It is not the fault of the DNC, it is not the fault of the candidates (they agreed to it), it is FL and MI state governments that are at fault, and those should pay the price.


by notedgeways on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:57:40 PM EST

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (1.00 / 0)

that is a bs rationale. Obama never even tried to get on the MI ballot because he thought he would not be able to compete there and instead focussed on Iowa. After winning Iowa he decided to campaignin MI through surrogates. In FL both candidates had their name on ballot and Obama was the one who campaigned there breaking his pledge. So nice try at revisionism.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:27:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 1)

Nice revisionism yourself. Here's what really happened.

Some intellectual honesty from the Clinton people would be nice for once.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:31:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 1)

Thanks for playing but nowhere does it say that the candidates pledged to take their name off ballot.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:38:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks for participating (none / 0)

But both candidates agreed that the delegates would not count.  Something we have Hillary on tape confirming more than once.  Unless you are stating that her word is worth nothing.


"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"
by xenontab on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:56:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

Your comment taken at face value (which I do not, but lets go beyond that) does not invalidate the greater point, that the states of MI and FL are the principal agents at fault in these cases, not the candidates, they are the ones that the voters should have real issue with.


by notedgeways on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:31:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (1.00 / 0)

Voters should feel the real issue with the DNC. All states moved their primaries up. MI and FL decided that they bein swing states with a more heterogenous population and a stronger Democratic base than either Iowa, NH, SC deserved some more respect. The problem was the "leaders" at DNC were absolutely clueless.


by tarheel74 on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:35:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

The "leaders" established a timetable, the candidates agreed to it, 48 states, DC and the territories agreed to it. The states of FL and MI violated it. Everything was clear cut and up front.

The States of FL and MI knew what they where doing would get them sanctioned, yet they chose to put their population in the situation that occurred. It is not the DNC's fault. If FL and MI had maintained the schedule they could have been king makers, but they decided to be rouge agents and got slapped down. The population of those states where ill-served by their leaders

What would have happened if FL and MI where unsanctioned? IA and NH would have moved their contests up, possibly into 2007. Where would the cycle have ended?

Is the primary calendar wacko? Perhaps. But, the first thing you learn when you learn to protest is that you don't protest unless you are prepared to serve the time, or pay the fine for your actions. FL and MI engaged in brinkmanship and lost, their voters now need to enact the fine against the State leaders who did so.


by notedgeways on Thu May 29, 2008 at 01:21:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

MI & FL decided they wanted more money and publicity than either Iowa, NH, SC. Don't kid yourself.
From a Hillary supporter: We laughed as that became our mantra - "Barack can't win!"..... ....."he can go to hell and i'll pay for his way there."
by Cochrane on Thu May 29, 2008 at 03:21:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Florida and Michigan should not count (none / 0)

As I explained in a diary, the DNC decision amounts to a boycotted election in Florida and Michigan.  Boycotted elections are not generally considered legimate.  The proper analogy for Florida is not Zimbabwe but Chad.


Obama leads the popular vote too
by kellogg on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:57:48 PM EST

down with rating abuse (2.00 / 1)

Could certain people please stop with the rating abuse. This is getting out of hand.


by Hillarywillwin on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:58:18 PM EST

Women Count (1.00 / 2)

They will be coming on buses. They will be coming on planes. They will be coming in droves to cause great pains.

The party will be divided by our women troops. They will do what we say and they will jump through our hoops. It is not fair. It is not right. Stand up for Hillary and fight fight fight.

If the Democrats lose, so what. That's what you get for talking your  Hillary smut.

Join the movement to create chaos for the Democratic Party.

Women Count/Hillary Matters


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Wed May 28, 2008 at 11:58:53 PM EST

McSame Brigade 1st Sergeant trying (2.00 / 1)

to round up troops eh?


John McCain on social security.
by heresjohnny on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:03:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Women Count (2.00 / 2)

What better way to counter "Hillary smut" than to further push progressive policies out of national government for another 8 years!


by apd on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:05:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Women Count (2.00 / 2)

Yes.  Please direct the readers to hillaryis44.

I'd think neutral readers who see that cesspool would be much less inclined to ally themselves with the racists and hatemongers that post over there.


Join the Matthew 25 Network and help Democrats win the next generation of evangelicals.
by mistersite on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:14:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't tell (2.00 / 3)

(I support Obama.)

These rabid Hillary supporters scare me. I fear they will cost the democrats the election, with a little propoganda from the C-Team.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:17:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Women Count (2.00 / 2)

So be there or be square
you silly old coots,
and remeber to wear
your fuzzy pink suits!

That way they'll know
that we're nuts to the core,
we're the low of the low
from Hillaryis44!


Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove.
by fogiv on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:22:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (2.00 / 2)

How are you going to count the people who believed that their vote wouldn't count?

Or the people who would have voted for Obama had he been on the ballot but instead voted for Clinton or one of the others still on the ballot?

Or is it ok for your candidate to say that the election won't matter, thereby gaining illicit votes and then demanding that those ill-gotten votes count?

Admins, when did it become acceptable to simply post a diary and NEVER respond to substantive criticism? This is akin to spamming or soliciting, it's certainly not engaging or participating.


Obama in November.
by Artemis Jax on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:08:24 AM EST

Re: Hillary Makes Her Case for Seating the MI Dele (none / 0)

Which reminds me, there was a substantive question I posed, oh, almost a week ago, in response to the "she won the first half" diary. I think Elsinora had one, too. Maybe someday we'll even get answers to them...


Ceci n'est pas une <<snark>>
by ipsos on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:12:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You know what else Clinton signed on to? (2.00 / 2)

Excluding the Michigan vote in the first place. Quoting the New York Times:

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Sept. 1 -- Three of the major Democratic presidential candidates on Saturday pledged not to campaign in Florida, Michigan and other states trying to leapfrog the 2008 primary calendar, a move that solidified the importance of the opening contests of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Hours after Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina agreed to sign a loyalty pledge put forward by party officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York followed suit. The decision seemed to dash any hopes of Mrs. Clinton relying on a strong showing in Florida as a springboard to the nomination.

In other words, Senator Clinton was for disenfranchising Michigan before she was against it.

Rachel Maddow called it: the only reason why she's making a big stink about Michigan or Florida now is because she's grasping at any straw possible to delay the inevitable.


Finding God in a Dog
by maxomai on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:13:13 AM EST

Rachel Maddow obviously hates women (none / 0)


by JJE on Thu May 29, 2008 at 12:18:26 AM EST
[