No, No, NO!!!

You can't seat all of Michigan's delegates. They broke the rules.

Seat half of them, like the Republicans did.

All of them, NO!

If Michigan or Florida gets pardoned from their punishment I'm voting Republican.

Stupak = Stupid! Sorry, no deal. 50/50 or you can forget Michigan! Play fair, Bart!

All this bickering amongst the bleedin’ hearts over Michigan and Florida is nauseating.
This is your Democratic party America…

While Islamic terrorists in far off corners of the world plot the next attack on American soil, liberals bicker about superdelegates and Reverend Wrights and supposed sniper attacks in Bosnia.

While covert Madrasas operate in places like Pakistan and the Sudan; teaching hatred and vengance to a new wave of terrorists in waiting, liberals want to spend more resources on pork barrel social programs and a national health care system which doesn't have a chance of working.

While the nascent Iraqi Security Force and National Police are finally starting to turn the corner and be self sufficient, risk averse liberals want to call it quits and turn our backs on the Iraqis. Too afraid of taking more casualties.

While Osama bin Laden talks of the destruction of western society and the formation of a great Islamic caliphate, a liberal candidate for President talks superficially of hope and change to wild eyed audiences enamored by his good looks and charm….but never bothering to look closely at whether he has the relevant National Security and foreign policy experience required to be the Commander in Chief.

YOUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!!

Of course Obama will be against this because it doesn't favor him….it only favors the voters……

The DNC allowed themselves to be duped into disinfranchising voters when they decided BEFORE the primary NOT to seat the delegates. And, to give ANY delegates to senator clinton or obama would be patently unfair UNLESS it is decided to RE-VOTE in both those states. Although, even with the proposed strategy the numbers still wouldn't close the gap for Senator Clinton, I can't see any other way to fix this that would be fair and equitable.

Where was all the concern and outrage by both the voters and the candidates when it was FIRST told to them (BEFORE THE PRIMARIES) that this was going to be the outcome? There was PLENTY of time to try to fix it then. This election has really pulled the covers off of America — we find that we are not as racially tolerant as we thought, we aren't completely ready for a woman president, we have zero religious or cultural tolerance, and our current electoral system is less and less democratic………..

As a Hillary Supporter, I applaud this! This is all I wanted. Even the measly +11 votes that Hillary would get is great for those of us who supported her.

Yes, she barely did make 50% even in a state with Uncommitted being Obama but give the girl some love!

I think this sounds quite fair to both campaigns. So what if HRC gets a few extra delegates, it will put this Michigan thing to rest. As for FL, their legislature needs to pull it together as MI has.

Let's stop falling for the "It's all Obama's fault" strategy that the Clinton themselves signed off on.

Obama '08

Simple Solution: Give HIllary the delegates.

another AFRICAN AMERICAN backstabbed the clintons..OH wow..its the infamous 50 Cent who hates everyone..

Hillary was against Michigan's votes counting before she was for it.

This plan will work, but only under withering sniper fire.

DNC and democraticparty elite and media and celebrities are to blame for this mess.

They wanted a coronation of the American Idol- but the people did not jump on the bandwagon as expected.

So they suppressed the votes/voices of 2 very important states to continue to ram the rock star down the people's throats.

No matter what happens now, this election will not be viewed as legitimate if Obama is given the nomination.

We all know Hillary was bashed and trashed.

We all know the race card was pulled in SC for no good reason. It was freedom of speech and just a true historical factual statement.

We all know freedom of speech was used to excuse comments that were racist and deserved condemnation- if they had been verbalized by white people.

We all know the caucus format was flawed and gave an unfair advantage to Obama and disadvantaged Clinton.

We all know that the Fl and Mi votes need to count- and a re-vote is the only fair way. Well almost fair, since Obama boasts that time is on HIS side, a re-vote should tip in HIS favor. And current polls would indicate that a revote would tip in HIS favor.

I just don't understand how anything other than a re vote works for Michigan since Obama and others were not on the ballot.

why can't lawmakers live by rules?

If we change the rules for these cry babies,

then let all the criminals out of prison!

They KNEW by moving up their primary, the votes wouldn't count.

*I* had never HEARD of Obama before Iowa..

Now I support him

Michigan and Florida votes would have been DIFFERENT

if they had occured AFTER Iowa,

like they are supposed to.

This RULE CHANGING business is symptom of a DISEASE!!!

Yea, that's a good proposal… Let's award delegates based on an election that wasn't suppose to happen and one in which one of the candidates followed the rules, was not on the ballot and did not campaing. Yep - that's all kinds of fair.

Not giving Hillary the Florida vote is like throwing out Sout Carolina's vote.

We only want to count the states that favor Obama.

We want to throw out the states that favor Clinton.

Michigan needs a re-vote period.

Obama and his lawyers are blocking the re-vote.

Jeez… thug tactics

I don't really see how thats fair. If you are portioning up any of the delegates based on the January primary, then you are clearly giving Clinton an advantage. Why should she be rewarded for having her name on the ballot in Michigan when the DNC started the primary season by taking away the delegates from Michigan? That does not make sense to me. You are rewarding people for breaking the rules. Let the voices of the people be heard. Let ANYONE who wants to vote in the democratic primary including independent, democrats, and republicans re-vote in the michigan primaries. We need something fair and not something thats tilted to one side or the other. If you give clinton an advantage now then you should also give obama and advantage NOW and not later on.

I saw an interview over the weekend from members of the MICHIGAN legislature who made the decision to NOT do a revote….
and guess what - they are Obama supporters, and it was blatantly obvious that they were very pleased with themselves in their decision.
One man actually had a VERY SMUG smile on his face and said ' I guess it's a good thing Obama is in the lead'…..
can you say "hijack" - is this legal? probably not….I think there is much amiss about things going on behind the scenes in the Obama campaign.
There is a video also out about a Hillary delegate from TX who was called by the Obama campaign and they told her she was listed as being an Obama delegate, and when she called them on it, they hung up - it was a recorded video.
What's going on here?????? Does the media even care to ask?
Are they protecting him so much that they can't even report fairly and truthfully?????? or even report at all?
What about his lies? what about Rezko? what about his legislative embellishments? what about his strong desire to get Hillary to quit and hand him the nomination a on a silver platter?

Obama has a history of lawyering up to secure his wins whenever he campaigns.

But I doubt the entire Nation can be bullied into submission.

We just do not want Obama as the nominee.

Whatever. As long as Hillary is the nominee and not the "Clueless One".

Whatever, but many people think that it is unforgivable that
people let Hillary blame Obama for the Problems in Mich. and Fla.
It is not true. We are tired of the lies. We are trying to get awat from
lying politicians. Americans Crave the Truth. Wonder Why?

Retired Professional White Woman of 63 for Obama on Day 1

Buzz Thomas and Tupac Hunter, two African State senator from MI who are Obama blocked the revote. They are clearly not thinking about the general election. It's all about getting the nomination first. Not revoting in MI and Fl, democrats satnd a chance of losing in those states. Hello to President McCain who is so stubborn that is beyond believe. He hasn't learned from the mistakes of the Vietnam war. He wants more of our soldiers to die in Iraq. Maybe in 40 years we can all go to Iraq for a vacation just like people are vacationing in Vietnam. What an insult to families who have love ones that died in Vietnam.

Let's have a complete do-over in all states, knowing what we know now.

Lets close the primaries and ONLY let registered democrats have a say in the primary for the democratic party.

Lets trash the flawed caucus system and make them all primaries where MORE of the people who WANT to vote get to vote.

Ant this time, lets COUNT all the votes- not just the pro-Obama ones.

How many times does it have to be said: Hillary knew the rules and signed a pledge just like ALL the other candidates. Perhaps John Edwards should be allowed back in the race to have his name on the ballot in Michigan and Florida? She is on tape (under sniper fire no less) stating that Michigan and Florida would not count.

When will the media stop perpetuating all the Clinton spin? Never because then they would actually have to do some real work and investgative reporting instead of being spoonfed the news for the day by the Clinton machine.

Just split the delegates and be done with it…..how much more even can you get….

So…. we're going to address disenfranchisement in Michigan by allocating delegates based on a combination of tallying the national popular vote (which Michigan voters had no say in) and the January primary results (which Obama supporters had no say in)? The end result is that Senator Clinton will not receive any real boost in her delegate count despite winning Michigan by 15%. Who exactly is going to be placated by this??? The only people who will benefit from this are the chuckleheads in the Michigan Democratic Party who caused this whole mess in the first place.

Either hold a revote or don't seat Michigan's delegates, there really are no other options.

They have to come to an agreement. If not, Mc Cain '08

I think the delegates should be awarded to no one . The state made the wrong choice in holding their elections early so they shouldn't count. Clinton has lost this race and should endorse Obama. This is not good for the party and for young voters like myself. I dont like or agree with McCain on any issue , but he is in the presidental race by his lonesome. She needs to realize that this is not her time. And her husband time has came and went.

This plan is no good. The state forfeited it's rights to have their delegates counted by breaking party rules. Counting them despite following the rules means the rules don't matter. Tell those who feel disenfranchised to remind their politicians during reelection how you feel, by voting them OUT!!!

Here's another idea

Why don't we play fair.

Why don't we stop bashing Hillary and stop praising Obama.

Why don't we let the voters decide.

Why don't we keep the celebrities, the Kennedys, the Kerrys, the DNC and the media out of it.

But Obama's name was not even on the ballot in Michigan! Are we in a banana republic?

The people votes should not be ignored. Hence include FL and MI vote into popular vote while dividing the delegates

If Hillary would just go ahead and drop out then there would be no need for this mess. She still would not win even with the delegates.

Rep. Stupak is responsible for early voting knowing this would happen, it's a little late for a solution.

Hey, Hillary: If not counting Michigan now is disenfranchisement, why didn't you argue that point last year before you agreed to bide by the rules. Could it be that you are "using" Michigan and Florida to try to steal the nomination from Obama?

No deal. OBAMA's NAME WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT!! Because the DNC asked them to withdraw their names. Clinton the cheat did not. You cannot award delegates based on this election. Period.

MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA MADE THEIR DECISION, THE DNC, MADE

THEIRS, AND IT SHOULD STAND. YOU BRAKE THE RULES YOU PAY.

NO NO NO!!! You understood what would happen if you moved up your primary and you did it anyway!! You don't deserve to have your delegates seated at the convention, and I will leave the democratic party if you get seated. Some people have to have some morals and stand by whats right in this country. If you do something wrong you should be punished! Governors who have sex with prostitutes need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law! Mayors who have relationships with their chiefs of staff, need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law! We need a change in the way this country works. Thats why we need Barack Obama!

Obama Richardson 08!!!!

All negotiations for a revote should hinge upon the resignation of the state officials who were responsible for moving the primaries up. When are we going to hold those officials responsible. They led their constituency poorly and should not get off scott free.

That is not a fair proposal.
They need to come up with something that has nothing to do with the original 'unfair' election. That one should not count for anything at all.

Let their votes count!!!!!

“There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born. So don’t tell me I don’t have a claim on Selma, Alabama. Don’t tell me I’m not coming home to Selma, Alabama.”
And as far as Obama’s claim that he apparently was a result of his parents’ union at the 1965 march: That, too, isn’t possible — without a time machine, Dobbs says. Obama was born in 1961. One of many falsehoods from obama.

Democracy at work.. And we can trust these clowns to run the country. I don't think so. McCain for President. Any Republican for President.

50:50 is the ONLY fair way to seat these voters! Otherwise you are openly sanctioning disingenuous political practices which encourages them.
What is wrong with 50:50?

The reason the Michigan legislature did not vote on a re-vote was because two Obama supporters derailed the proposal. That is a fact.
Obama does not want a re-vote now that the cat is out of the bag.

I am an Obama supporter but I wouldn't give you 25 cents for this guys endorsement. It was all he could do to stay interested in the race long enough to even have an opinion. I doubt that he even voted.

Seat the delegates in such a way that it doesn't favor one candidate too much as compared to the other but STRIP THE STATE OF SUPERDELEGATES. They are the people responsible for this mess.

It seems to me that rules are rules and that one should follows those rules. (that's what I teach my kids)……So did everyone know those rules before the primarys starter? Oh, I forgot Hillary thought she would be winning and didn't care before votes were cast.

It would be better to divide them and let them be a part of the process than nothing.

BARACK'S NAME WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

These people are IDIOTS !!!!! What is in the Michigan water? If anybody should be penalized it should be Hillary for "pretending" that the votes counted.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN FAIR?

So from what I figure with the current poll now saying Obama has a 10pt lead nationally he will get 80 and she will get 76. I would go for that or something similar, even dead even would be fair.. something needs to be done or nothing at all. Tired of hearing Hillary whine about it.

Are you interested in seating delegates? Then it's a clear 50:50 split. Are you interested in pandering to the Clintons? Are you interested in rewarding bad behavior? Why do that, too? Seating delegates is enough. 50:50 is fair.

BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any plan in Michigan that doesn't award votes/delegates 50/50, considering Obama wasn't even on the ballot is UNFAIR!!

NEXT.

Both candidates, clinton and obama, agreed that Michigan and Florida would not be counted in their respective delegate counts due to the two states violations of the primary rules. Now that Clinton is losing, she is vehemently pushing to re-do the votes for Michigan and Florida.
She doesn't keep her word, and does absolutely everything she can to twist, bend, turn and manipulate anything that might get her power.

Is this really someone you want as your country leader? She has a complete lack of integrity. That is the only this transparent about her campaign.

Sounds fair, but the Obama camp is too undemocratic and coniving to support it. They know it will be shooting their own foot if those votes get thrown into the total because there is a good chance (with Florida), Hillary will lead slightly in the popular vote at the end of all this, but still trail in the delegate count.

NO. I am being dis-enfranchised!! I was an Edwards supporter and could not vote for "uncommitted" and because it was an "open" primary I crossed over and voted for Romney who was anti-Mccain at the time. Split the delegates evenly or stop coming up with stupid ideas. Michigan screwed up.

When will people understand that a vote for 'uncommitted' is a far cry from a vote for Barack Obama? Hillary's Michigan "win" by 15 points against no one was pathetic! She should have left the race then.

I think all the people should be heard… This doesn't give any real edge to Hillary since it's only and extra 12 votes… which Obama could get back in the nationwide… that and it doesn't leave people out which SHOULD be important to all Americans…

I will not support this. Obama is neck and neck with Clinton in polls here, and there's no reason why the votes from the primary should count when Clinton was the only one to be on the ballot.

At this point, lets just go with something - anything, because at the end of the day Barack Obama is still ahead in every catigory thereby making this pretty much a moot process.

Dear Michigan and Florida Voters:

Your representatives disenfranchised you when they decided to move the dates of your primaries. Not the DNC, not Obama and not Clinton - YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. Respond by simply voting them out of office the next time their names appear on a ballot, not sitting at home and pouting or registering a grudge vote for McCain in November.

That is a perfectly acceptable solution to me. However, many people will complain about Obama getting any votes at all, and it will probably bring the democratic party to even more of a stanstill. I think that it would be good for Obama, so that he can show that we was willing to take allow Hillary to step outside of the rules, just so that he could recognize Michigan voters.

The Michigan and Florida debacle really does need to be resolved. I agree that we should not disenfranchise the voters of either state but the best way to make it fare to both candidates is to split the vote down the middle in both states. Being aware that Hillary got the better of the votes in both states it still doesn’t sit well with me be cause both candidates were asked not to campaign in those states and Obama's name was not even on the ballot in Michigan. I choose and support Obama but if he were to drop out or if his name was not on the ballot I would choose Hillary. Now this is what I really believe to be the case in Michigan. A complete revote or an equal split is the only way to go.

Sounds like a plan. Then we can just go ahead and seat the Florida delegates as they are and get on with the coronation of President Obama.

Let's see now - Stupak claims to be neutral, but proposes a plan that benefits the onecandidate who chose to ignore the rules; who stayed on the ballot when all other candidates followed the rules and had their names taken off. This, despite the facts that a) many Democratic voters stayed home, knowing their vote didn't count; b) a significant number of Democratic voters chose to vote in the Republican primary rather than not vote at all; c) Hillary benefited from name recognition when no candidates campaigned, therefore, they had no chance to influence voters who had not made up their mind; d) that he, as well as the rest of the Party powers that be, knew that this was a non-viable primary before it was run; and e) knew that all of the candidates had agreed that the results wouldn't count.

Despite all that, he wants to give the results directly to the one candidate who chose not to follow the agreed upon rules, without even taking the step that the Republicans did of cutting the delegate count in half. So, if I understand correctly, Hillary is to be rewarded for cheating (oops, misspoke - didn't follow the rules that all of the other candidates, including the one he endorsed, did) without any "punishment" for doing so? Obviously, the new rule is "Rules, we don't need no stinkin' rules!" Pathetic.

The last time l heard, we lived in a society of rules. We have laws that govern order in our society, we have rules that we teach our children, we have rules in sports and entertainment, we even have rules in war. How is it that two states that decided to blantantly derespect the rules of the National DNC and make their own decisions regarding the political process be rewarded seats at the National Convention under the banner of voter disenfranchisment?

There is nothing disenfranchising about those who break party rules being disciplined for their actions. Voter disenfranchisement occured in the Deep South when blacks and other minorities were denied the right to vote under Jim Crow segregation and discrimination. Voter disenfranchisment occured during the 2000 elections in Florida when votes in certain districts across the state were mysteriously lost, unaccounted for, or voters in those districts were sent to the polling places.

I live in Florida and am personally offended that people, pundants and politicians are claiming that our voters are being disenfranchised as if our votes counted in the first place.

In my humble view, any attempt to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida at the National Convention sends a bad message to future generations of Americans. The rules were set in the beginning and the citizens, candidates, states, and politicians knew the rules.

IF WE ARE REALLY ABOUT BRINGING CHANGE TO AMERICAN POLITICS, THEN WE SHOULD MAKE RULES AND ABIDE BY THE RULES THAT WE MAKE!

DRLTW

"…but the state's legislature was unable to agree on a proposal before it adjourned earlier this month."

Now CNN has resoted to outright lying to cover up the fact that the Obama Campaign refused to agree to the last proposal after both the Clinton Campaign and the DNC had agreed to it. They let the proposal die by waiting until the legislature adjourned.

We still get our news CNN, just not from you.

This comment will not be posted but will be read by an Obama supporter!

The majority of citizens in the US want a revote so that both Florida and MI get a chance to participate fully in this primary process. The Clinton campaign has been willing to do it all over again forever as money is not the brick wall–its been the other side. The Obama camp will not support anything that will not keep them in the lead. What does Obama have to fear in allowing these two states to participate in this exciting process? Come on young man, where's the "I can bring people together" to make it happen rhetoric on this one?

Well, DUH, if you wanted your votes to count in the primary you should have followed your party's rules. Maybe Michigan voters should instead vote on getting rid of their State leadership and try again in 4 years.

Unless Hillary is on the ticket, this life long Democrat will vote Republican for President as will many of Hillary's supporters. Wake up superdelegates and do the right thing.

OK–I don't get it–Barack Obama's name
WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT in Michigan–

SO HOW CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED FAIR???

Why would they award 83 delegates per the January results?
Sorry–I don't buy it–This stinks–

100% of the Michigan delegate seating should be done based on the nationwide popular vote—end of story—how can it be FAIR TO SEAT MORE THAN HALF—TO HILLARY when OBAMA'S NAME WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT–

Sorry–if this goes through I will stay home on November 4th—

Dems in '08

Let's do something to have a fair race!!!
Let OUR votes count.

Maya's words:
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Rise, Hillary.

Rise.

They are talking about disenfranchisement!! what about the millions of people who stayed home because they did not know their vote will be counted?!?!?

THIS IS A STUPID PLAN…SPLIT IT HALF WAY IS THE ONLY FAIR WAY!!!!!
(besides not counting it since they did break the rules!!!)

Michigan still doesn't have the right answer. Obama and Edwards were not on the TICKET. They should just split the votes.
I also heard that CLINTON is not paying her VENDORS IN OHIO
Aren't these the people SHE IS Saying she will look out for????
She OWES some of these vendors over $25,000.00. THEY HAVE
FAMILIES AND MORTGAGES TOO PAY.I NOW KNOW HILLARY is the RIGHT PERSON TO BE PRESIDENT.I am a woman by the way.
Obviously she ONLY CARES about HERSELF. THIS IS SHAMEFUL!!!!!
Don't bother to continue to say your for the COMMON person. AFTER hearing this you have LOST MY VOTE

I didn't vote in Michigan's primary because Obama wasn't on the ticket. I didn't know "undecided" literally meant Obama, how could I? It's not fair to award Clinton delegates who happened to choose her over a giant question mark. It's like asking if you want the washing machine or what's "in the box."

So let me get this straight 53% of the delegates awarded based on a "contest" where only one major candidates name was on the ballot and none campaigned while the other 47% are based on votes that didn't even take place in the State in question?

That's got to be the dumbest idea yet.

LOL so, this guy want to seat the first 83 delegates according to the Jan result? Is he crazy? Obama wasn't even on the ticket!!!! He should be fired for just being stupid. Please let me know if I interpreted the article incorrectly.

Go Bama!!!

The only fair thing is to split it 50-50.

Why would you want to give Obama the uncommited votes, How about all those millions of people who stayed home who would have voted for Obama?

I still think that its unfair, the delegates should be split 50/50 it would be a win/win instead of a loose/win for one side. and equal split is what is need and required.

50-50 is the only deal that makes sense.

I am ashame to be a democrat these days. I thought we were the party of the people, the party of change, or solutions. I have spent the last 2 hours reading comments posted here and they make me sick!! You so-called democrats who hate on each other and make up lies spread lies with racist and sexest points of view. What happned? I have come to realize that we are no better than the Bush republicans when it comes right down to it. We have divided ourselves in just a few short months. This blows my mind!! The republican John Mc Cain will waltz right into the white house. Then some of you same democrats who cried about Bush will have given his Presidency a seal of approval. I thought the Bush Presidency was just a mistake but then "we" re-elected him. Now I see Mc Cain on path to follow up where Bush left off and taken what I hear and read he will. America gets what America wants……. More Bush. But this time remember, you asked for it.

It is about time someone in all this mess came up with a plan to have our voices heard here in Michigan. Lets just pray King Obama wont disagree with this one too.. Oh and by the way CNN, how very sad is how you constently produce such negativ coverage of Hillary… shame on you cCNN, and the rest of the Media.. boy we learn something everyday in our wonderful Country

The delegate fix is due to the proportional distribution of delegates.
In a re-vote it should be winner take all.

uhhh no.

absolutely no delegates should be awarded based on the phony vote back in january. as much as hillary would love this rediculously unfair plan, ain't gonna happen. and hillbillies need to stop saying that obama is blocking the vote in michigan and florida. this is a blatant lie. if the legislature's of both states can actually come up with something fair to make up for THEIR OWN mistake, then we'll talke about seating their delegates. play by the rules or stop complaining.

Click on, "political Godfather boosted Obama's early career" if this doesn't give you perspective about where this campaign is headed, then you are truly lost and deserve Obama to be your next President.

YOU BROKE THE DNC RULES. Sit this one out.

As an Obama supporter…I think this is one of the best ideas I have heard that could potential resolve the mess made by MI & FL legislature when they decided to move up the primary against the rules of the DNC.

I just find it hard that anyone with any integrity would honestly suggest splitting the current results, when neither party campaigned in Michigan/Florida, and only Clinton's name was on the ballot.

Let's hope that Obama, Clinton and the DNC can come together on this one with the legislature and get back to what matters…Reclaiming the White House in November 2008.

I find it disgusting and condescending that the Democratic Party would so blatantly ignore the voice of the voters. The USA is rooted in individual expression and choice. To negate so many individual's votes in Florida and Michigan is anti-American and treasonous. Dean should go to jail for this outrage! Benedict Arnold!

Not a bad proposal but it does not make it equitable. These people are the ones worried about their delegates because their positions are in peril next time they are up for election. Did they really think that Howard Dean would deal with things like any normal person? I say seat the delegates as voted and let the dust settle from there. This should be for both Michigan and Florida.

Here is how I have come to this conclusion -

1. Any person who says that they are a democrat and is not for seating these delegates should go and vote Republican. That is the party that does not care about fellow citizens and are all for themselves.

2. Florida is the easiest…that was done by the Republicans in Florida and not one democratic voter should be harmed as a result. Both candidates had their names on the ballot and Obama campaigned there….by ads and Clinton 'campaigned' there by having dinners. So seat the delegates as voted and move forward!!!

3. Michigan - well, I think the delegates should be seated as voted! Senator Obama made a critical error removing his name voluntarily from that ballot. Anyone with 1/2 a brain would know to leave it on as Senator Clinton did. She is a savy politican whether one likes her personality or not. So because he made a judment error there (amoung alot of other judgment errors) - he should not be rewarded for that error. He had campaign staff and ads running to the voters to vote uncommitted as a vote against Clinton. She didn't campaign there either so what is the deal? Seat the delegates NOW….and move forward!!!!

So suffice it to say, since the blogs are full of Camp Obama supporters I am sure there will be the typical nasties……but - this would be equitable. Aside from all this - as a democrat - how do each of you support the idea that any voter should be left out of this process??? That is not democratic!!! But again, that is Camp Obama's way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be very shrewd of the Obama campaign to buy into this proposal and start taking this issue away from Clinton.

We wouldn't be talking about this if Hillary Ridiculous Clinton hadn't gone back on her word. She is the pill of the century, and I'm sorry the Michigan voters were duped.

Your battle is with the Clintons, not the DNC or America.

Obama 08

This is the first plan I've heard that might actually work. Distribute Michigan's deligates perportional to the national vote (if one of the candidates has 55% of the national primary vote, he or she gets 55% of Michigan's delegates). This will allow the delegates to be seated, and the delegates to be allocated fairly.

At the end of the day, though Michigan did something they were specifically told not to do. The problem is that the DNC allowed the elections to even take place. This puts part of the blame on the DNC.
This solution will allow Michigan to seat their delegates, allow the DNC to save face, and we can all move forward.

Next time a state tries to move their primary forward, no elections should take place at all. Period. Then no candidate will be tempted to do something slimy, such as leaving their name on the ballot when all other candidates followed the agreement and took their names off, then proposing that "the people's voices should be heard" later on when on the losing side of the tally. What nonsense!

That would be fine if they also cut MI's delegates in half (they have to have some penalty). Clinton still cant catch up. And her "electability" argument has been killed with the latest poll numbers showing her high negative/low approval ratings. And another poll out today showed that democrats think Obama is stronger against McCain than Hillary by almost 30%!!!

What about people who voted uncommitted but did not intend to vote for Obama! This proposal may work in Florida because at least Obama was on the ballot, but not Michigan.

Blame Rep. Bart Stupak and your elected state officials, not Dean, not Obama, not Hillary. The rules were simple, they decided they wanted to break them. People who scream disenfranchisement are stupid.

YEAH, HILLARY MAY FINALLY GET WHAT SHE HAS COMING! THAT IS IF OBAMA DOESN'T TRY TO BLOCK IT AGAIN!!!!!!

I am so tired hearing about Michigan and/or Florida's right or desire to seat their respective states' democratic delegates!

Can't we just split the delegate votes equally in each state - 1/2 for Obama and 1/2 for HRC. My eyes are glazing over every time I hear or read about all of the suggested delegate reinsertion possibilities.

I don't think HRC should be rewarded for campaigning in Florida and Michigan nor should Obama be penalized for adhering to the DNC's primary election guidelines these states.

As far as I'm concerned . . .
YES - Florida and Michigan messed up.
NO - they shouldn't get a primary election do-over.
NO - they shouldn't be allowed to allocate their delegates based on their primary elections since the results are invalid.
YES - they should be allowed to have their delegates sit at the Democratic convention table, so to speak. Maybe not at the grown-ups table (since they didn't have their listening ears on), but they should at least be able to eat the same food.

Okay Demmies - let's get this settled soon before the McCain bus becomes a mack truck and takes us out.

"The last thing we want to do as Democrats is to disenfranchise voters"

I guess you didn't think about that when the DNC told you that is exactly what you would be doing if you broke the rules. The State Government has dug a whole that they can't seem to fill back up, and Mr. Stupak is trying to "help" Democrats and Independents get their votes heard…Or should I say help him give them reasons to re-elect him.

Not a bad proposal but it does not make it equitable. These people are the ones worried about their delegates because their positions are in peril next time they are up for election. Did they really think that Howard Dean would deal with things like any normal person? I say seat the delegates as voted and let the dust settle from there. This should be for both Michigan and Florida.

Here is how I have come to this conclusion -

1. Any person who says that they are a democrat and is not for seating these delegates should go and vote Republican. That is the party that does not care about fellow citizens and are all for themselves.

2. Florida is the easiest…that was done by the Republicans in Florida and not one democratic voter should be harmed as a result. Both candidates had their names on the ballot and Obama campaigned there….by ads and Clinton 'campaigned' there by having dinners. So seat the delegates as voted and move forward!!!

3. Michigan - well, I think the delegates should be seated as voted! Senator Obama made a critical error removing his name voluntarily from that ballot. Anyone with 1/2 a brain would know to leave it on as Senator Clinton did. She is a savy politican whether one likes her personality or not. So because he made a judment error there (amoung alot of other judgment errors) - he should not be rewarded for that error. He had campaign staff and ads running to the voters to vote uncommitted as a vote against Clinton. She didn't campaign there either so what is the deal? Seat the delegates NOW….and move forward!!!!

So suffice it to say, since the blogs are full of Camp Obama supporters I am sure there will be the typical nasties……but - this would be fair. Aside from all this - as a democrat - how do each of you support the idea that any voter should be left out of this process??? That is not democratic!!! But again, that is Camp Obama's way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OBAMA IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED!!!!!!!

REMEMBER NAFTA?

I do not understand how they can count their primary votes when Obama's name was not on the ticket. If some states do not disclose their total vote count, as was reported on CNN, then how can those numbers be used at all? While, it seems lousy that these voters are penalized there does not seem to be any real way to accurately seat the delegates without some form of a redo or by awarding them as to advantage no one.

Wow, I am glad there are still some people fighting to seat the delegates. Everyone keeps comparing the two states to children breaking the rules, but as far as I know, a handful of people decided to move the primaries up, not the millions of registered voters who had no say. I don't know about the rest of America, but I try to teach my children to be fair, as well as follow the rules (which weren't even broken by the actual citizens anyway). I would love to see the Dems win the white house without FL or MI; that would be an impossible battle.

Anything based on the Michigan vote, where Obama's name was not on the ballot, is insane! A 50/50 split would be the only FAIR way to divy up those delegates, lest the Michigan folks should just show up, enjoy the show, and forget about voting. Michigan voters should vote the bums out who put them in this mess — their own politicians did this to them. You have to play by the rules and you have to accept the consequences! There is no legitimacy in the Michigan vote!

Don't worry, Obama will ask Dean to seat the delegates after HillBilly drops out. Should be long now. Bankrupt, superdells migrating to Obama…it's over.

Are they STILL trying to get MI to count? What part of "you broke the rules" do they not understand?

This proposal doesn't even sound remotely fair.

Could someone in MI have been promised a position of power if Clinton gets the presidency? Something to consider…..

I'm a firm Obama supporter and I don't think that this is to bad of a compromise….she'd probably gain about 10 delegates overall over him out of this deal and he leads her by 166. Compromise on this and get at least this part of the headache done.

Sounds fair to me.

She will net maybe 7 delegates.

Then all she will need are 163 more to catch up…

To seat the delegates this is a good plan, it gives Obama the "uncommitted" vote and will give him more because of his popular vote lead.

However the results are still largely inaccurate. She got only 55% of the vote while she was alone on the ticket. She would have gotten FAR less if she had competition.

Stupak's proposal strikes me as a fair solution of the Michigan situation. I hope that Dean, Clinton and Obama will agree!

This actually sounds like a reasonably fair proposal. It is what should be looked at on about May 15 when the chicken entrails look easier to read! It won't help Hillary much though….so if you see it implemented then you will know for sure…ITS OVER HILLARY!

Plus this is coming from a neutral party, he was a Edwards supporter and both Pres Candidates like Edwards, so maybe this guys plan will satisfy both parties.

About Michigan that sounds ok but there is 2 things I have concerns about. 1st. the main thing is it WAS NOT 40% IT WAS ONLY 33 % they need to add up all the uncommitted then divide the total by the counties again it is only 33%. 2nd. What about Edwards he wouldn't have gotten any? I do think that they should give him some even if it's a small amount. It's only fair. Obama is always preaching fairness that would only be fair. Of course I don't really expect him to be fair because he's not just like the media and his supporters. Jean

That is only fair since Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot.If they can't be divided equally then they need not to be divided at all. Honestly, they shouldn't have a revote, their party broke the rules.. maybe they need to think about voting for some different electives next time….

You broke the rules. Why didnt you guys think of the voters when you decided to violate the party's rules? You met the penalty so deal with it.

Here we go again. Obama would agree if the votes were distributed equally ie: 50/50 That is'nt what happened in Michigan or Florida. Nice try Obama but you are starting to show your real colors. and they are'nt red, white&blue. You are cheating!again!

As unfair as the MI process ended up being…this seems like a semi-fair way to settle it. The problem is, "uncommitted" and Obama aren't the same thing…and it's easier to garner votes if your name is on the ballot against "uncommitted" instead of a venerable candidate.

But at this point I just want it over with.

Obama '08

Hillary will not even get her job back as a New York Senator.
The Clinton's and their cut throat politics will "do them in"
People are tired of lies in politics.

Retired Professional White Women of 63 for Obama from Day 1.

I forgot 1 more thing all the rest of the people the in Michigan should get there votes that they got. Then FLORIDA stand like it is because all the peoples name was on it even Obama Hillary can't help if they liked her better. So give her the delegates she deserves. Jean

Sounds fair, I hope Dean comes up with a good solution soon.

+Well it sounds like an idea that could work. At least our fellow Dems would have a voice.

Shouldn't happen, not going to happen.

It's better than nothing!
At least Mr. Stupak is trying to come up with a fair
solution that somewhat reflects the primary results.

I think the rules set for this election must be followed through.

The Michigan and Florida delegates should either not vote in the primary or may be allocated votes according to the national distribution.

It may be worth not seating those states delegations so the DNC would have a presedent of strogly enforcing its rules.

The Obama campaign is going to turn down any plan for MI and FL.

They want to win, and it's irrelevant whether the voters in MI and FL get run over.

|||||||||||

How can any delegates be given out except evenly?? Only one name was on the ballot - as per the rules agreed upon by all parties. This would only be the fair way to resolve this issue as there will not be a revote.

Another Clinton way to change the rules. This one will fail as well!

Of course Obama would like to split the delegates, he LOST!!! How stupid!

Why would a person who leads, has followed the rules, agree to play along with a "cheater and loser" DUH !

Yet another bad plan from Michigan. It appears that not only are jobs leaving the state, but intelligence as well. I am sick and tired of hearing the media report that Hillary "won" Michigan. She ran virtually unopposed!! This is yet another arm-pulling tactic on behalf of the Clintons, and exactly the reason why I will never vote for her. Claiming that Michigan and Florida should count as they stand now is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. The primary either needs to be completely re-done in a fair way (which seems to be impossible) or the delegates should be split 50-50. Anything else gives an unfair advantage to the Clintons, and would be a stain on American democracy.

Not like it matters much anyway, Obama will still be the nominee. I would just like our democracy to live up to its standards and not reward a candidate who actually thinks those elections were "fair."

Are you kidding me?! How can you get away with giving Obama the 40% uncommited vote when there were still other candidates in the race at the time? For all we know, those votes could have been for Edwards.

This plan is unfair.

Clinton chose to be on the ballot. Clinton campaigned. Clinton deserves the delegates.

End of story.

Wow!! This guy is pretty smart. Looks like the voters will be heard and looks like Clinton will be the beneficiary of this proposal. Florida, your next. Democracy at its best.

Clinton would rather see McCain win the election than Obama because she wants to be the first to set a president (woman president). She never thought that it would be this difficult to win the primary. She just knew that she was a shoe-in. It's more about her than it is about the people of America.

Come June it won't matter. Obama will have enouhg delegates that Clinton can have all the MI & FL delegates.

Any propasal without a vote is just plain stupid and I hope that Michigan and Florida voters soundly punish the DNC for it's bungling of this issue.

Bottom line, is now it's going to be unclear as to if the eventual nominee is legitimate or not.

NO no no

THIS PROPOSAL IS REASONABLE AS LONG AS THE POPULAR VOTE IN MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA IS NOT FACTORED INTO THE THE SUPERDELEGATE APPORTIONMENT AS THESE ELECTIONS WERE IN VIOLATION OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES.

Now who in the world would agree to something like that? Obama's name was not even on the ballot. Please explain to me why he should be penalized for playing by the rules? Forget it!

Totally unfair since Obama stuck to the agreed rules and didn't include his name on the ballot nor did he campaign there. A 50/50 split would be more feasible.

This is out of control. Rules are rules MI and FL! Not that I think that your votes shouldn't be counted…but hey, they shouldn't. These states knowingly broke the rules and are now trying to go back because Hillary decided that she needs them. Isn't it just like the Clintons to want to change the rules for their own advantage. This being said, lets have a revote. I think Hillary has given everyone enough time to see that she has nothing to offer but lies.

congrats for a factual reprentation of the reason Obama removed his name from the Michigan ballot - to gain political favor from the early primary states. He should quit whining about his Mi and Fl losses and let those delegates get seated or risk being protrayed as being t divisive himself

What you think? Haven't applied this plan to the outcome…who would benefit from it jp

Come on! How much brain power does this really take? Divide the delegates between Clinton and Obama 50% each and let it go

To change the rules in the middle of the game, to favor/ or let win/ or otherwise change/ the course of the on going game is shamefull.

The people whoever that are/ need to stand up and give an apology to the voters that they denied a vote due to there unfair and unsportsmanlike conduct. They get a technical foul and are outsted from the game.

Come election time just remember who they are and how stupid this is and vote them out of office. After all if they don't show better judgement than the actions they took they need to be replaced by those who are willing to serve fairly and just. To break a rule and get away with it is not something The Vast Majority of Americans are in favor of.

this is preposterous. obama wasn't even on the G.D. ticket (excuse my use of profane letters). how do you justify the election when there is only one candidate on the ballot. this is a circus. america needs to grow up and hold a legitimate democratic election for once. is this cuba? i feel like i'm taking crazy pills.

Sounds nearly fair, so it wont happen, Dean and Pelosi are against it.

I am all for Hillary but since these two states broke the rules, they should not be counted.

Reward them for breaking the rules?
I think NOT !

Voters are still disenfranchised if their vote goes to a candidate for whom they did not vote: UNCOMMITTED DOES NOT EQUAL Sen. Obama: it equals Sen. Obama, Sen. Edwards, Gov.. Richardson, Sen. Kucinich, and Sen.Biden. Obama should get 1/5 of the total uncommitted vote, not the whole thing.

I voted "uncommitted" in Michigan in January, knowing that my effort was futile. It is ludicrous to allocate ANY delegates using January results. It is impossible to turn back the clock to January. This state broke the rules. Lesson learned. Period. Get over it, HillaryBots!

Senator Clinton promised not to participate in MI, and she went back on that promise (aka, she lied). She is quoted as saying that Michigan's votes should not be counted, and said that right up until Super Tuesday (aka, she is lying again) The party should NOT reward her any delegates for her behavior. A five year old will tell you that it is cheating, why can't Clinton see that?

My candidate, bill Richardson, wasn't on the ballot. My husband's candidate, John Edwards wasn't on the ballot and my mother's candidate, Barack Obama wasn't on the ballot. Some of my friends voted in the Republican primary instead. Some chose to stay home that day. I will be one angry voter if the entire DNC bends to the will of a woman who will do anything to get what she wants.

ridiculous. lets move on. Michigan and Florida broke the rules plain and simple. Also, to base results on an election where only 1 candidate was on it is patently absurd. They should split the delegates in half and move on.

to all the Clinton supporters who try to bash Obama as being not democratic because of his position on Michigan and Florida (although he is just respecting the rules), what do you make of Sen Clinton who's basically asking superdelegates to overturn the decision of millions of Americans by choosing the candidate who has less states won, less percentage of popular vote (even if we include Florida) and of course less delegates.
If Obama is disenfranchising Florida and Michigan voters, then CLinton would be responsible of disenfranchising all voters who participated in the primary process all over the country!

No double standards Clinton supporters!

Michigan and Florida will be seated….. After Obama has cinched up the nomination.

As a Hillary supporter I have to concede that Obama's name wasnt even on the Michigan ballot, how are we even talking about using those votes? Florida though, should be seated as everyone was on the ballott, just give them 50% of the delegates.

No one got to see the real Hillary Clinton because of the vial pen of Howard Wolfson, Terry McCauliffe and Mark Penn. Had she fired them long ago and told Bill to shut up, she would have won this thing.

Worst run campaign ever. It was given away.

It would be a fitting punishment to let Michigan's delegates count but make them wait until every last state has had their say first. That's what they do in kindergarten: kick you to the back of the line if you try to cut in line.

I've been hearing various excuses why Michigan or Florida shouldn't be punished at all: the Republicans made them do it, the "smaller" states where getting the better end of the deal, etc.

There are 48 other states in the union in which the GOP managed to behave themselves. Just because a bigger state feels they should be first because they are "bigger" neither is justified nor is it fair to the other "bigger" states who apparently weren't as antsy as Michigan or Florida.

I don't think Michigan and Florida is going to change the outcome of the race like their original intent was. It's going to make an already close race closer. If you're down by a touchdown, going for the extra point or kicking a field goal isn't going to make one iota of a difference in the outcome.

This guy must be really "sick in the head."

Why should Obama get any delegates in Michigan and Florida? He cheated and campaigned in both states when he wasn't supposed to. Ask him questions about why he wouldn't agree to revotes, ask him about his election in Illinois????

Obama's offer of spliting the delegates with Hillary shows he is willing to have the delegates seated, but not willing to agree to any last minute rule changes designed to benefit Hillary in her final hour. Hillary won't take this offer, because there is no clear advantage in it for her, and as we all know, it was never about the people's vote counting, but her whining, I mean winning.

Unless Hillary drops out like she should; this plan seems terribly obvious.

Sounds Great!

Obama '08

Are these people for real????
Michigan lost it's voice for breaking the rule of the DNC & these Michigan politicians knew that they were going to loose their voice at the time but chose to break the rules. None of these politicians, the clintons and their supporters raised the issue at the time. They are now trowing a tantrum over the issue because they think they can use it as leverage. Why did they not try to find solutions back then?
All of you people that are trying to blame the Obama campain, none of this is his fault. HE COMPLIED WITH THE RULES, CLINTON DID NOT. So why would he agree to the terms that are being offered, none of it benefit him, they benefit her. She did not comply with her signed agreement, Michigan broke the rule and now Obama is expected to sit back and agree with everything and anything that's thrown at him. The amazing part of this whole thing is the amount of media coverage this has gotten. I wonder if their positions were reversed, would we still talk about it or try to find ways for bim to make a comback.
For all of Cinton supporters, ask yourself one question, do you thing that if the roles were reversed, would your candidate be willing to let her opponent cheat her of all her hard work????? I think not!!!! She should stay in the race and finish all the primaries but trying to bring Michgan and Florida into this process now makes her worse than the idiot we have in the White House. Even Bush did not cheat with such open disdain and contempt towards the American people.

Emma
Springfield, VA

Who made up the formula? Clinton must have. Don't bother disenfranchizing voters if you can just say you count them they way she sees them.

I still don't see how that is fair? Why don't they just split them evenly?

I am a Michigan voter who "crossed over" because I believed my vote didn't count. There was no way I was going to vote for "uncommitted" and expect people to know I meant Obama. Obama did the honorable thing to remove his name from the ballot. I don't understand why Clinton should benefit from that.

Michigan was to be punished and deservedly so. I could accept that. But now those in Michigan who were for Clinton have their punishment lifted and get to silence those of us who would have voted for Obama.

This weakens the Democratic party because I was previously willing to go with the winning Democrat against McCain. Now I won't because I don't like to be silenced while Clinton's supporters get to count on my vote.

Seems like a good alternative to this fiasco. After this election, the Democratic leaders need to overhaul the primary system. The primary should be one day, all 50 states at once. None of the proportional state by state garbage!

Three attempts at comments. They are going off into never-neverland. What is happening?

GO HILLARY 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the people in Michigan want to be seated at the convention, then divide the delegates evenly. Had I been in Michigan to vote and there was only one democrat on the ballot, I to would have voted for that person, but given a choice of two candidates the choice may have been much different. If Obama had been on the ballot there he would have won, because of the auto industry in Michigan losing so many jobs to NAFTA. The Clintons are not very popular there. What is disturbing is that all candidates including Hillary were supporting the decision of the DNC. Then she slipped in the back door and declares victory. Is it just me or does this sound like a page from Slick Willy?

There is NO way if the present numbers were reversed and if Clinton had followed the rules would they agree to this especially adding the numbers to the popular vote.

What about the Michigan voters who did NOT vote because it was not going to count.

Why bother having campaigns at all? Just make up the ballots and vote?

The Democratic party, with it's caucuses (a "time tax"), super delegates, punishing 2 states by disenfranchising them, and the bosses calling on Hillary to bow out of the race kinda makes me question if the "people's party" would just prefer that all us pesky voters would just get out of "their" race.

Larry B

San Antonio, Texas

You've got to be kidding! Obama didn't even have his name on the ballot (because he agreed not to) and Hillary had agreed not to–saying it didn't matter and then left it on. Who calls this fair? Hmmm, let me think, probably the person who changes rules when they help her!

This seems like a smart and fair resolution. Much better than Hillary's take it as is (with Obama off the ballot).

The only fair approach to solving the Florida and Michigan problem is to give half of the total delegate count of those two states to Obama and another half to Hillary. No candidate should be given even one delegate more than is given to the other. Obama obeyed the DNC's rules and, therefore, did not campaign in those states. Thus, it will be a blutant unfairness and favouritism to give to Hillary even just one delegate more than is given to Obama.

Clinton's name was the only one on the ballot in Michigan.

It was a sham 'election'. Not one delegate should be awarded based on that.

If they want to split the Michigan delegates based on the nationwide vote, that seems fair…

thats his ideas,who cares,rules are rules and the law is the law,it should be followed not to favor others..
the fair game will be split 50/50.if not ,then i vote obama

maybe the superdelegates should not even be counted or seated; afterall they are the state party leaders who allowed this to happen. apportion the elected delegates by some formula agreed to by both parties. that way there would still be some penalty plus the voters who participated and who might otherwise be disenfranchised would be recognized. this could work for florida also.

If Hillary had won as many states as Obama has and was ahead in pledge delegates I am sure that she, her campaign and her husband would be demanding ( no dought about it) that Obama get out of the race to keep the party united.

The Clinton's will do anything (including lying, cheating and stealing}
to get the nomination because they feel that it is their right.

another obama dirty trick to hold out so he can get delegates not his

I disagree with Michigan Rep. Stupaks approach for seating the delegates from his State and I hope the Clinton Campaign does as well. If you look at the timeline of events for the Democratic Primary for Michigan on January 15th there were 5 Democratic candidates (Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Gravel & Kucinich) still vying for the parties nomination. Senator Obama should not be awarded the 36 delegates based on the 'uncommitted' result as a portion of those would have gone to Edwards, Gravel & Kucinich as well. They need to come up with a fair and equitable solution for the uncommitted votes. If they want to split the votes then split the entire delegate count based on the 55/40 and award 90 to Senator Clinton and 66 to Senator Obama. Fair is Fair.

No one in Michigan was informed that write in votes would be thrown out. Where's the number of thrown out votes? That could have impacted HRC's supposed 55% "win" in Michigan. Michigan voters will be disenfranchised any way you cut this. Our voters are that way because our legislators made decisions to take away our rights as citizens. That is why we are disenfranchised.
Thanks Stupak for at least trying. Try educating the rest of the legislators on how to follow rules and then how to educate your voters.

Good spin attempts from the Clinton supporters but come on. Ask yourself why were so many Republicans voting for Clinton after McCain cinched the nomination? If you are being honest you know it's because they HATE her and know that no one will bring out the Republicans voters like Hillary will. With Obama running there are a lot of Independents and some (myself included) Republicans who will vote for him. Lastly to all those Dems saying if Obama wins they are voting for McCain here is a little phras