- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 4
-
Sparkle (0)
Yesterday, the Rules Committee of the DNC agreed to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan, but gave delegates only a half vote each to use at the Convention this summer. In my view, this is a symbolic slap on the face to the delegations. A vote at the Convention does not mean much, as far as I know.
The Clinton campaign is using the decision as a rallying cry, echoing Florida in 2000. Campaign Manager Maggie Williams sent an email saying,
I know how passionate Hillary's supporters are about the importance
of counting every vote cast in Florida and Michigan and I hope that
they continue to express their feelings with the respect and
thoughtfulness they've shown during the course of this campaign.Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy made the following statement:
Today’s
results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice
in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at
our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee
honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates
the delegates accordingly.We strongly object to the
Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s
delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.The
Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by
Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This
decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our
Party.
We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the
Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s
delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast.
Hillary et al: This is not the 2000 Recount. The delegations misbehaved. They screwed the voters of MI and FL; Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and even Howard Dean did not. If you've ever spent time around delegates you can see how this would happen. Now, they had their hands slapped. I cannot see Clinton as a victim of unfair process here.
But Catherine Morgan disagrees:
Over the last few months I’ve made my feelings pretty clear on the issues of disenfranchising Florida and Michigan voters, a Florida recount, and my lack of love for Howard Dean.
People who don’t really know the facts, are quick to judge, and claim
that Florida and Michigan broke the rules and deserve their punishment.
However, a smart Democrat (and I’m not referring to Howard Dean, just in case there is any confusion)
would see the bigger picture. And the bigger picture is…Democrats have
a slim chance of winning the general election without Florida and
Michigan.
I just don't think for a second this will affect Democrat and Independent voter trends in November. By then, the delegates and the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the DNC will be long forgotten. I don't believe anyone ever cared much (or knew about) the Rules and Bylaws Committee before, and they too, shall soon fade.
For me, though, Clinton's likening the current Rules situation to the Florida Recount is abhorrent. Read this piece from the New Republic for a more eloquent spin on it. I can't even bring myself to care about this issue, Catherine, I'm sorry. I'm not a Florida or Michigan voter, but to me, this is the time of the night when guests have stayed way too long, everyone's drunk and weary, and we should all just call it a night. My clunky metaphor, in case you're wondering, refers to the 2008 Democratic Primary Season. Good night.
PS: I, for one, am angry at Michigan Democrats for tail-dragging on the "Tailpipe Bill." The proposed bill will make American cars more energy efficient, but Detriot's opposed, as is the UAW. It's this kind of regressive thinking that gives Dems and Unions a bad name.
