May 28, 2008
Posted: 10:45 AM ET
A Florida court threw out a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Democratic Party's decision not to seat delegates from Florida.
A Florida court threw out a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Democratic Party's decision not to seat delegates from Florida.

(CNN) — A Florida court threw out a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Democratic Party's decision not to seat delegates from Florida — as litigants prepared to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Political consultant Victor DiMaio and his lawyer Michael Steinberg had compared the party's decision to earlier prohibitions against allowing African-Americans to vote and invoked the trauma of the Florida recount in the 2000 contest between Al Gore and George W. Bush, both arguments also used by Hillary Clinton to support the seating of the state’s delegates.

"This is nuts. This is not right. How can they remove Florida after all the things that Florida has suffered through– hanging chads, through Bush v Gore, and they're sticking it to us again," DiMaio said before the hearing.

Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean says the situations are not comparable.

"You cannot violate the rules of the process and then expect to get forgiven for it," he said.

Judge Richard Lazarra sided with the party, saying political parties have the right to make their own rules.

DiMaio's is the second Florida lawsuit protesting the Democratic Party's decision to be thrown out of court. An earlier one filed by Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings, both Florida Democrats, was also dismissed.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Democrats • Hillary Clinton


Jeff in Saint Paul   May 28th, 2008 12:19 pm ET

Gee Roland, not content to campaign for Obama in your own blog, you have to reprint here?

There is nothing wrong with counting Florida, everybody was on the ballot there, nobody campaigned there, the results should stand. The only purpose in not allowing florida to move up was that the DNC wanted to keep a rush of states from going earlier and earlier and affecting the process at its early stages. The early stages are now over, so lets count the vote. I wouldn't worry about any 'future' precedent, because you can put money on then entire primary season being overhauled to prevent the exact problems we are seeing today.
Michigan should also be counted, nobody forced Obama to pull his name off the ballot, it obviously wasn't required, so its his own fault for not planning ahead.

Frankly, I'd rather be part of a party that occasionally bends rules to ensure every vote is counted than part of a party who intentionally and viciously tells voters, who have little control over when primaries are held, that they do not deserve to have their vote count.

ron   May 28th, 2008 12:19 pm ET

Why they are fighting now. They should have followed the rules. Hillary's supports don't get it. Hillary can't even manage her campaign how is she going to manage is country. Keep this sick woman out of white house.

Lori, Spfld IL   May 28th, 2008 12:19 pm ET

to Roland: Amen!

Chuck Philadelphia   May 28th, 2008 12:19 pm ET

What I find very hard to fathom is that the Clintons who lost fair and square continue to seek ways to undermine Obama.

*You cant say "We know Florida and Michigan will not count" then decide because you know need their votes that this has become a Civil Rights issue

*To say that she offers the best chance to beat Mccain is just stupid. NO ONE NAME WILL MAKE REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO WHERE GOING TO "SIT THIS ONE OUT" COME OUT IN DROVES TO KEEP BILL FROM GETTING BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AS THE "First Dude"

*I don't know if Obama can beat Mccain or not but I do know HILLARY CANT!!

*I hate that as an African American who was one of them millions who liked and respected the Clintons that I now have nothing but disdain and anger towards them for rude and sometimes condescending remarks that have been made by both of them.

* For the Clinton supporters who state that would rather vote for Mccain then Obama I feel sorry for you because both Democrats want to end the war while Mccain wants to continue as we have been in the war.

TO THEM I SAY YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

goodvote   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Could have voted for either Hillary or Obama… But she has been sounding more like someone who is stubborn and unyielding.. like the other decider that I'd like to see riding off into the sunset. Next she'll be asking the courts to decide.

Ok...   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Seriously, anyone that can justify disenfranchising voters is somehow legitimate is out of their mind!!!!! What do you think this is, a dictatorship or an oligarchy?!?!?! How can Americans actually justify this- it's SICK to think Americans think this way. It just shows how messed up people can become just because they want to win! Democrats have turned into the very person they hate- George W. Bush!

j kothary, Blaine, WA   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

simple : Stick to the rules….both Obama & Clinton agrred to.

later send 50% of the delegates to the convention…again 50 to each
candidate.

Mrs. Clinton isout to destroy the Democratic Party….time to suspend her membership along with Bills Clkintons.

Not An Election   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

People cannot be disenfranchised because this is not an election. Technically, a political party can use whatever criteria it wants for choosing its candidate. They could flip a coin if they wanted.

The people of Florida and Michigan will be allowed to vote in the actual election, and therefore, are not disenfranchised.

So stop saying that they are, morons.

Mary in AL   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

I am very glad to see a judge with good working commonsense. Abiding by the rules and having those rules supported is exactly what we need more of in America.

John Veverka   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

I agree. The rules that they both signed are "the rules" the should stand b y. You can't change the rules just because you are losing. The DNC should probably seat both states, but split the delegates evenly so as to not change the outcome from the actual elected delegates.

I once supported Hillary, but she is looking nothing but desperate now. Playing the sexism card after winning so many states is just sad. It is obvious she is in the ME ME ME mental world rather than the "US" world. DNC - the rules are the rules. If you change them just for Hillary what message are you really sending?

Enlightened Voter   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Thank you Florida. Didn't Hillary herself sign the paper agreeing to this? She sounds like another bush trying to break and bend the rules and we don't need her or her kind in the whitehouse.

Michael Soos   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

I pray that the era of the Clintons and their kind is finally over. The lies, the half-truths, the dishonesty. I hear so many people say - "well, that's politics". - I refuse to believe that this is what our country is all about.

This last attempt for the Clintons to pull one over on the American people - to suggest that these votes are hers and hers alone is quite simply…disturbing.

Darren M.   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Hillary is good, old fachioned, CRAZY! This has been a historic campaign, but it's over. Time to shut in down. The party needs to unite in order to bean McSame in in the fall. It can be done, because Republicans aren't drinking McCain Kool-Aid.

We've done 7 years of crazy already. We need a change!

Obama - 2008

"He's not Crazy"

What if?   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

PATHETIC…In Florida on Wednesday, Clinton invoked slavery and the epic civil rights battle against Jim Crow in her quest to count the vote in Florida as-is. I as an African Americans do not support this use of the minority do agree with the use of the epic civil rights for selfish reason.

Clinton and her supporters now discount all of that and act as if they were always champions of the "disenfranchised" voters in Florida and Michigan. But they weren't. HER SIGNATURE QUESTIONS THAT CARE FOR ALL VOTES, and ALL candidates signed an agreement not to campaign in those two states.

Thank you Florida court for throwing out DNC suit. Rules are Rules…
yes, yes, yesssssssssssss

peter in PA   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Hahahahahahahahhahhahahhahahha!

This is funny!!!!

sdmackey   May 28th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

As a native Foridian I am sooooooo ashamed!

TRUTHFULLY   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

Girl give it up i love you, try for governer of NEW YORK. Obama will make a great president, let support him and bring the party together, for some reason the odds are against you girlfriend. i was with you from the start and then i got discouraged and went for Obama, BUT I FORGIVE YOU HILL, LET'S LOCK IT UP!

Jill American   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

The great Shirley Chisholm once said that she was discriminated against much more for being a woman than she ever was for being black.

Sexism, like racism, does indeed exist and to think that one, but not the other is being played in this race is naive and just plain irresponsible.

As far as Folrida is concerned, anyone that didn't go out an vote can only blame themselves. Did they learn nothing from 2000?

CECILIA AZU   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

RULES ARE RULES ARE RULES!!!
PEOPLE MUST NOT BE REWARDED FOR VIOLATING RULES.

THE CLINTONS SHOULD KNOW BETTER!!!
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND ABIDE BY THE PARTY RULES WHICH EVERYONE AGREED NOT TO CAMPAIGN IN THOSE TWO STATES.

PLEASE, PLEASE OBEY THE PARTY RULES WHICH YOU AGREED ON!!!!!

MJV Tampa   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

Go Billery GO keep up the good work make up your mind not do what works for you at the moment how would you do that as commander in chief…… SCARY

Senator McCain next President!!!!!

Theo   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

"the past few days, her surrogates, and even Clinton herself, have ramped up the talk about sexism."

She's laying the groundwork for a 14th Amendment challenge at the Supreme Court.

It's a DEMOCRAT thing. When you cannot win fairly, you SUE…

MN Indy   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

Maybe an analogy can put this into perspective…

So you have two baseball teams about to play in the World Series. All games are played according to the rules set by the MLB, which both teams agreed to before they joined the league. Team A ends up winning the series. After Team B loses, they say that they would have actually won if one of their players wouldn't have been suspended for steriods. Team B's fans say they were cheated and threaten to boycott baseball and watch NASCAR instead. The MLB decides to let them make their case.

If this happened anywhere else but in politics, it would be the joke of the year.

Kenneth M   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

WHAT IS WITH THIS GUY DNC Kevin Rodriquez (VI)? HE HAS Switched from Obama to Clinton. He switched from Clinton to Obama on 5/10. We got confirmation from the Clinton campaign that he has re-endorsed Clinton. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM? PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE STRIPED OF HIS ENDORSMENT POWERS. ITS LIKE DEALING WITH A CLOWN.

DEBRA GA   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

Howard Dean Should be fired he knew this would happen in the begining he should have stood up for these 2 states and treated them the same way the other 3 states that held theres early was done so all there votes could be counted .it just isnt fair to fl or mi to be treated this way . and Hillary did win fl she should get all the votes she won there and obama did not want a redo in mi so she should get those also and anything other then that will be unfair to her .and she should take it to the convention if they dont give them to her the party has allready been devided over this so whats to lose now fl mi and half the dem will not vote for obama in nov anyway

john williams san diego, ca.   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

this lifelong grab for eternal power and the lies that have ensued by a very evil woman is going to do more harm not only to her party but i hope also to her senate re-election…no more lies and deception.

Jeff   May 28th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

This is just sick. The rules were clear more than a year in advance. These are rules that everyone agreed to, including Senator Clinton. Florida and Michigan knowingly broke the rules all the while knowing what the penalty would be.

It's deceiving on the part of Senator Clinton to now act as if she's standing for disenfranchised voters. And then to also make it seem as if somehow Barack Obama has something to do with these votes not counting is deception at its highest level. The game was played fairly and she lost. How anyone can justify her arguments is beyond my understanding. It doesn't matter who you support, Clinton is just wrong on this issue.

And let's also not forget that the ones who KNOWINGLY broke the rules AND their consequences, are some of the same ones now crying foul. This issue needs to be put to rest and the truth told to the Michigan and Florida voters. Your state elected officials let you down in a big way. It wasn't the DNC or Obama. Clinton, again, is just plain wrong.

Jan   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

What an insult to women. Lies, Lies, and more Lies. She should complete her campaign with dignity and grace, not like this.

Jeff   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Let's summarize the complaint in the lawsuit: "Waaahhhh!!!!

While the Clinton supporters are "looking out for the Florida voters", they just tacked on a frivolous lawsuit that their taxpayers will have to pay for. Ever wonder how their campaign ended up $20M (and counting) in debt?

Scott, Charlotte   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Florida ( like Michigan ) blatently ignored warnings from the DNC and broke the rules by moving their primary. Clinton agreed with everyone else at that time that their flawed primary results would not count, and they would not be seated.
Now that she is hopelessly behind, she suddenly feels that "the Florida people need to have their votes count !!". I'm sure she'd be spouting this if she'd lost the FLA primary, or if she had a lead without them.
Hillary is a selfish, arrogant , rule-breaking politician who cares ONLY for her personal career ( not any of you Florida voters) at the expense of the Democratic party.

Can you people not see she is blatently trying to hurt Obama's chances in the general election, so she can run again in 2012 ?
She only cares about herself, not the Party, not YOU.

Seun Craig   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

I don't understand how in a country like this with all the emphasis on fairness and following the rules can this be taken to court. There is clearly rules set upfront that Florida and Michigan knew about and still decided to make decisions based on.

Now it's time to pay for the decisions made and they instead are trying to change the rules. This is essentially a moot argument as they made a decision by moving their primaries up to not be seated.

Personally, the idea that this is comparable to the civil rights era where these people were not allowed to vote is wrong and drags the issues and the fights they endured into the mud. There is a marked difference between not being given a voice and deciding to make a decision even though you were told how it affected you.

I hope in the end that this goes away, because it will tear the DNC up.

GINA, OHIO   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

ROLAND YOU ARE AN AWESOME COMMENTOR!!!

HH   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Its time to put the Clinton campaign to bed. After next Tuesday under the 2025 rules Obama will be around 5 delagates short of the nomination. Even under her rules he will only need a handful more of sueprdelagates. Do the Clinton supporters really think they are going to take this away from him. In the Democratic party we elect by delagates not by states,electoral vote,popular vote or any other silly answer you guys come up with. If we elected on popular vote Al Gore would of been the president. These rules have been around forever and did not just happen overnight or when Queen Hillary entered the race. If the rules were reversed you would of seen Obama gone along time ago. But now the Clintons are complaining about Obama how its his campaign, and supporters fault because they failied. When they enetered the race all I heard is its the superdelagates and the delagates that would hand her the nomination, now that she is behind in everything she is grasping at anything and throwing bogus claims out at everyone. I wish everyone tho would save your fire against Hillary and start yelling at superdelagates to end this. There names are posted on the interenet they are not secret.

Hillary has also ruined any chance at being VP. After what Geraldine said and Hillary said about RFK. We all know her only hope is something horrible to happen to Obama. If we all learned 1 thing from the campaign we all got to see the true side of Clintons, and what they believe and stand for.

Cris (Atlanta)   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

I am a white woman in her 50s–part of the demographic that, theoretically, places me in Hillary's column of "supporters." Unlike Hillary, the accomplishments to which I can personally point as having been achieved by me, are actually accomplishments that I achieved in my own name and through my own struggles. The accomplishments themselves may not be many, but they did not come to me by way of any man.

Hillary Clinton has run a disgraceful, dishonorable, hateful, and ultimately disasterous campaign. Heaven forbid that the American people give her to opportunity to do to the country what she's done to her own campaign.

If Hillary and Bill Clinton are expecting to manipulate my natural sympathies from one woman to another, they are sadly mistaken. I have no sympathy for any woman who would say or do anything for the sake of personal ambition or who would allow herself to be so publicly humiliated by a man because that man provides her with the wherewithal to achieve her goals.

Time for you to go home, Hillary. You are no sister of mine and no role model for any woman seeking to achieve high office.

No McSame   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

As we tell our kids"rules are rules" plain and simple. Hillary is killing our chances of winning the election. It's time to move on. Super Delegates take charge and shut it down.
Hillary for the thousandth time signed the paper with the rules on it and agreed with it and now she wants to cry foul when she needs them.
Bill come and get your wife and take her home. We have had enough of her for a life time. It am just glad that she is yours and not mine.
Obama08
NAVY Vet. for Obama

nj voter   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Clinton is trying to get Obama to loose by splitting the party. If Obama looses I will blame her. I will now never vote for Clinton. This is coming from a person who was torn between the two in the beginning.

lori in california   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

we should of known something was up when she showed up in florida to campaign when the other candidates all agreed to not campaign there. the day before their primary there she was…

it's too bad clinton won't relent and save her reputation. when the primary season started, i was voting for her, but as time moved along, and listening to what obama had to say, i switched my vote to him.

she continues to prove me right…along with many others, i am sure…

Jonathan Brou   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Clinton will do whatever it takes to win. Even if that means lying to the nation. It reminds me of Nixon.

MELMARIE   May 28th, 2008 12:16 pm ET

How dare these people try to compare the rights of african americans or Bush vs. Gore to this situation!!! These states are not being punished for the color of their skin and I don't see anyone stealing 10,000 votes and giving it to the other party… They broke the rules!!! Nobody even cared about these two states until Hillary lost 11 straight contests.

GINA, OHIO   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

RULES ARE RULES!

Venus   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Ha,ha,haaaaaaaaaaaaa!

This is GREAT! Ha,ha,ha! I guess every one knows what this ruling means?

"You cannot violate the rules of the process and then expect to get forgiven for it," as per Howard Dean!

I can't wait for Hillary supporters to jump on this blog…he,he,he,he!

I am warming up to hearing Hillary's last speech next week and the look on her face!!!!!!!!!

President Obama 08/12

lee   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Hillary tried to use any thing possible to be the nominee. She, as wife of Bill Clinton, feels that she owns the presidency before clinching the nomination. As Russia's Czar, she thinks the Clinton brand is the almighty political brand.

Helen   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

I was initially Clinton supporter. It is clear to me now that Hillary Clinton does not intend to live by the rules that she agreed to - that is the key point here - she agreed to the rules…until things started to go in a direction she did not expect. What would compel anyone to vote for someone who clearly has no regard for rules, honesty, and straight talk. and want to invoke some "new math" rules in order to get her way. She and her husband like to twist words, facts, and numbers to their advantage. If Obama were doing the same - he would have been lambasted by all of the pundits and cable news programs. Grow up Hillary. You didn't think Obama stood a chance so you didn't put your full effort into the fight at the beginning. Now when you realize your mistake you want to change the rules of the game. Well guess what? The "game" is almost up for you.

mommagirl   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

If neither candidate campaigned in Florida and they were both on the ballot, what's the big deal about seating the delegates. They both received votes. Seems to me like they were on an even playing field. So Obama's huge opposition to it would be what… ????

Somewhere along the way, somebody ought to get someone with half a brain to redesign the democratic voting process. It's ridiculous that every state is different, it ridiculous that there are caucus states where not everyone gets the same opportunity to vote on a secret ballot.

Democratic old guard should be a little more discreet if they're going to support the black baby boy from Kansas—I mean the bi-racial boy. There's not much history in saying it that way, is there? Democrats and blacks would lose their big historical moment.

GINA, OHIO   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

OBAMA WILL WIN HE ALREADY BEAT YOU HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

boered1   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Why is THIS not the headline on the Ticker? This am you had a negative story about Obama carried over from yesterday and it was only replaced by another one that is negative about Obama BOTH STORIES WERE ARE CLOSED FOR COMMENTS.

Guess the Clinton News Network is still ahrd at work, but tout Hillaryall you want she has LOST and Barack will be the next POTUS,

marika from texas   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

We all have to follow rules and all the laws, so that is for Florida and Michigan also. Thank You.

tailei   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Good! I can't believe the audacity that you break the rules which was clearly know from the beginning, then complain when the ramifications aren't to your liking.

Rebecca   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Hillary has not competed with anyone for the last 3 weeks. Why do you think her poll numbers are up? McCain and Obama have been at each others throats while Hillary is out there playing victim and not being attacked by anyone. Of course her poll numbers will appear good, but the fact is that they are not realistic because she isn't having to fight with anyone except herself.

bob in L.A.   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

DNC- Floridians did their job and came out and voted. Do yours- count them!

Pete   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Let's look at HRC as she really is: A self-serving politician that cares about herself and no one else. This shows why she should not be the next president. We already had 8 years of that kind of disgrace. We need change!

bill in nyc   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

thank you roland…it's nice to hear a voice of reason for once…

all you clinton supporters should get real, and listen to roland…your arguments have consistently lacked honesty, integrity, and any sense of reason (they don't count when you're ahead, but they count when you're behind?!)…instead of moving backward b/c you didn't get it your way, let's rally behind obama and move this country forward…

Bill in Rochester   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Hillary was ranting several years ago about a cover-up when Bill was running for President. Now it appears that Bill is returning the favor. I wonder if it will play as well. We have great access to the polls thruogh the internet and can see her mis-speaks. Hillary seems to have a hard time controlling Bill during these primary races. Will she have any control over him if she becomes President? She claims to have the majority of popular vote by including Florida and Michigan but what type of fuzzy math does she use to calculate the popular vote from the 13 caucus states? If Obama becomes the nominee, then the only way he will lose is because the pseudo democrats who support Hillary sold him and the democratic party down the river. That also applies to the reverse scenario.

bakari usseni   May 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW DIRTY POLITICIAN THE CLINTON ARE. THEY WANT THE RULE TO CHANGE TO SUIT THERE NEED. HOW CAN WE LET PEOPLE LIKE THIS RUN THIS COUNTRY, NO WONDER SHE IS WHERE SHE IS AND ALOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE TROUGH HER INCLULDING TH SUPER DELEGATES.

khalid semper   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

The DNCs decision to not seat Florida delegates is incomparable to what African Americans suffered through in the early to mid 20th century. Choosing to ignore party rules for your own desires, whatever they may be is in every way dissimilar to being born of a race that was disenfranchised for simply being the "wrong" color. It is utterly offensive and intellectually dishonest for anyone to attmept to draw comparisons. i dont think there is a person of color or a person of any intelligence who can claim to see a connection between the two.

Tiffany   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

"Judge Richard Lazarra sided with the party, saying political parties have the right to make their own rules."

This is correct. And its lifelong, activist members like me have the right to be angry at a party who disenfranchises voters for mistakes made by the PARTY POLITICIANS, who takes them for granted and who puts the desires of first-time voters above party loyalists - and we have the right to re-register as an Independents and to vote our conscience in the Fall by writing in our choice for President.

Spectacles   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

Realclear politics has Obama up 9 and 5 points over McCain in Ohio and PA.
In fact he leads McCain in many states.
She is wrong, her speech is wrong and I hope Obama addresses this in Montanta because she will lose to McCain. Honesty will beat McCain.

Kathryn Irby - Metairie, LA   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

It certainly isn't fair that Hillary Clinton campaigned in Florida, and won! She isn't about to win this election anyway!

Hazel   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

How much longer is it going to take for Hillary to finally comprehend that she cannot and will not win. I know that this will be her biggest political blow as she and Bill must have already called in their interior design team from early last year to make minor changes to the White House, but this is one house where the door remains tightly closed. Suck it up Hillary and concede for the Democratic parties sake.

"The Great Elephant Is Wounded"-Kareem From Hampton, Va   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

The judge must be an Obama Supporter! LOL LOL This is just as unsurprising as the McClellan report! So…hmm what is Hillary gonna do now! Maybe JUST maybe she will count the votes from the Jedi Counsel!! Cause at this point as a Senator the only thing she can do to help her chances now is to marry a Dark Lord of the Sith!! That might help her…

Yeah I know its ridiculous but so was this lawsuit!

Rose - Baltimore, MD   May 28th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

Good thing they threw the case out. Rules are rules. Everyone knows that including the Clintons with all their evil speeches and actions, plus their supporters. They are only playing politics which will not help them. It's over, whether MI and FL is counted or not. This Dem Primary is over.

Christi-CA   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

Morally and politically bankrupt. How sad that the Clinton legacy will forever be a huge scar on the democrats. I used to really love the Clinton family boy how things can change in a few months. Please Hill bow out on June 4th. Do you care about our nation? You lost, I voted for you in the primary but I would never vote for you now.

bill from pa   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

These are the same people that burned their bras in the 70's for the ERA. For god's sake I hope they keep them on this time around.

jeremy   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

one more nail in HRC's campaign coffin. how many does it take, before she just lets go?

Kathy   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

The Clinton campaign doesn't have to rachet up any talk about how sexist this campaign has been. We are the Women and there are millions of us—-and we already noticed. In November, we will let Barack Obama notice as well.

We will not accept a sexist pig as a Presidential candidate. We are just one of many voting blocks that have a problem with this jerk, and you and Barack McGovern will all find that out in November.

kelley   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

WHY IS THIS EVEN AN ISSUE??????????? THEY BROKE THE RULES AND NOW THEY HAVE TO PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF THEY SEAT THESE DELEGATES, ITS SENDS THE MESSAGE STATES CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT IN FUTURE PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS???????????? IS THE WHOLE WORLD DELUSIONAL?????????

Pat-Iowa   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

You can bet the farm that if Obama was behind, these delegates would be seated.

More crooked moves to control the outcome of the elections.

Sad.

They just lost my whole family of lifelong democrats.

If you want real progress in this country, join us and vote for McCain!!

Charlotte   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

MArtin, forget YOU as any kind of credible "commentator." You are clearly so biased that there is nothing in your tirade that is likely to get you taken seriously - by your supporters or those who find your motivations and prattle to be rather questionable. Quit trying to end the process before it's over, keep your myopic opinions to yourself and let the primary go on unmolested by so-called "media" types who would like to abort it just because your chosen deity has not landed the nomination as quickly as the GOP's. The only reason the GOP process ended so quickly is they had a broad field of unbelievably unqualified and uninspiring candidates. The Dems have two very strong contenders. In fact at one time they had about five very strong contenders. Let those who remain continue to contend until a final decision is made.

Mighty   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

We can talk all we can but what people are failing to see is that, all along it's been about them, the Clintons. They are still in denial about losing to someone they thought wouldn't make it past super tuesday. And Bill scares me now, I used to have respect for him.

jsandr   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

I do not believe anyone should force Hillary to leave. I do see where everyone is handling her with kid gloves now. I believe they are doing this to keep the party together, however what people really need to realize and see is that Clinton is not in this for woman, white voters , or America. She is behaving very foolishly and destroying the party from the inside out. I do believe that the Clintons and the Bushes had a plan of years of domination in place. Remember how Bill Clinton sat in office after his time was up, while they sorted out the whole vote mess in FL. Who was he running around the country with after he left office. The Bush father and son. Hillary was supposed to be a sure win, however they did not count on Obama. So to keep the same system in place the only alternative they have is to divide and concor. Hillary is most certinly doing this. Man against woman, black against white, and Old against young. I do believe that many of the super delegates are in on this as well. Why else would they allow the party to be split like this.

Lynnette   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

We cannot have this woman as president. She is a total disgrace.

Bob, Lyons Oregon,   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

I agree with Roland. Thank god for smart people.

Brett   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

The Democratic Party just lost my vote in November. A shame…at least the Republicans care about their voters.

BOB Orlando   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

Look, the media sells the rule and you play the role. In a real democratic society all votes are counted no matter what. Millions of people are going to be divided because the rich far left wing are pushing for an overnight makeshift president. I see the trains going off the tracks and soon if you know what I mean . We should be call if not Hillary GOP then we write it in on the ballot of vote Mc Cain.

Jim from CA   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

I agree completely with Roland Martin. And why is there no uproar on behalf of those people who stayed at home that day, expecting the election to not count? Is not counting the votes of those that cluelessly went (or maybe they were savvy enough to know the votes might be counted after all), does this not disenfranchise the voters who stayed home in far worse a fashion? How is counting an election where the results do not represent the will of the people, but only an uneven segment of it, democracy?

Tim - WA   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

You know, I'm seriously getting sick and tired of people calling voters Obamamaniacs or Obamites or Clinonites or any of the million different titles we voters get. In the day and age we are in, why is it so difficult to choose a candidate? I support Obama, but I don't have any harsh feelings towards Hillary Clinton supporters or McCain supporters. Everyone has the right to choose who they want as president, thats one of the cornerstones of our country. I see on this website so much hate spewed on all sides and it honestly makes me sick.

My honest opinion, count them. All of them. Clinton may have flip flopped on what she wanted done in those states, but you know what. Freedom of choice is something that comes to mind. Ever made on decision, seen things in a different light, perhaps that would go your way, and changed your mind? I bet you have, and if you say you haven't, well you better ask for forgiveness from that lie. Everyone calls out that Clinton is only doing so so that she can steal the nomination. She wants to be President for crying out loud, and is doing everything she can to do it. Her efforts in my opinion are futile, but to do otherwise would show her supporters that she just doesn't care or that she has given up.

Would Clinton make a good president? I can't say for certain, but I know she'd be a whole lot better than Bush has been and McCain for that matter.

Obama '08

Cindi South Carolina   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

I think the Florda and Michigan voters should be looking at their party chairs for signing their rights to an early election when Gov Granhom and Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida was component enough to sign this law. How you ask others to forgive you for a dumb mistake that your party leader done. Also Hillary should be ashame of herself. How can you be a President or Vice President stirring up all this mess. You will be a messy Presiden and will not lead the people to victory.

People you need to look at the Clinton's, there is something wrong with the campaign. Bill is out in left field and as they say stupid does as stupid do.

On big point is that I don't like all this racial stuff comparing slavery, Jim Crow and etc with this election campaign. If I didn't know any better I would say Hillary is trying to get the white voters to not vote for Obama a black man in Noverment. Call it like you see it the Clinton's have become racist..

Hardy Takhar   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

I am a bit disappointed in the Obama Camp for not countering the Hillary rampage about disenfranchising Florida and Michigan. It is clear to all the both Clinton ,Obama and the DNC agreed to penalising these States. Now simply because the numbers are not in her favor and has taken a grasping at straws approach in distancing herself from the decisions both she and her camp agreed with. She has attempted to put the blame squarely on Obama. Clintons interests are clearly not in the interest of DNC or the peoples of Florida or Michigan or any other State for that matter but are driven by personal greed for power at any cost . She will step on anybodys neck to get to the next rung on the ladder to the Whitehouse. I am disgusted with he family.

Rebecca   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

A great point was made yesterday. Obama has not been going after Hillary, or even trying to compete with her for the last 3 weeks. Therefore her poll numbers are rising and is not a true reflection of the real picture. If Obama were still going after Hillary like she continues to go after Obama the poll numbers would be much more realistic. But Obama quit fighting Hillary over 3 weeks ago and is even complimenting her. He is trying to give Hillary some dignity and respect which is showing up in the latest polls. All this and Hillary is taking those exact polls and exploiting them against Obama, the one who has helped her raise her poll numbers. How much sense does that make!

oil rules   May 28th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

The irony is too sweet. The dems, still crying over the 'theft' of Al's Presidency, disenfranchise all their voters in Florida. The hypocrisy is utterly fantastic. Wake up and see which party will count you and which won't. McCain is practically a liberal anyway, so your vote for him is almost like voting for Hillary or Nobama. The liberals are just so fair and caring, aren't they???

Dave   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Roland-

You may have a point, but as a moderate democrat, your diction denotes and connotes bitterness that will not help bring democrats together. Either candidate is a tough sell in Texas, but there are a greater number of moderates down here than you make think, and if we keep hearing "negative" feelings through rhetoric, with some valid points, the ship will sink in November…and I don't want to be on board if McCain is the captain of the ship.

paul   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

HA!

DARRELL   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

HOW DOES THE DNC GET THE BLAME FOR THIS?WHY HAS NO ONE QUESTIONED OR FOR THAT MATTER PUT BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS ON STATE GOVERMENT! THEY KNEW??? SOME PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS?

Barack the Vote in RI   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Well said Roland…..well said. Let's hope the superdelegates take note of this and end this nonsense so we can all finally rally behind Obama to get ready for the fight in November.

Richard, FL   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Roland Martin is telling it like it is. Hillary agreed that Michigan and Florida would not count and then she completely contradicted herself and claimed victories.

Hillary now claims that she won Michigan:
Clinton 328,309
Obama 0
Edwards 0

If true, this was the greatest election victory in the history of the free world! Why isn't she proclaiming the enormity of the victory? Why aren't her supporters screaming incessantly about this absolutely monumental victory? The answer is simple: no matter how rabid a person may be, there is always deep down inside an acknowledgment of honesty and truth.

As a Florida voter, I have lost my say in the primary elections. This was due to a combination of a Republican state administration that set the election date and Democratic leaders like Bill Nelson who did not choose to make a big issue to prevent it. In spite of that, I feel that it was necessary to try to bring a halt to the endless extension of presidential campaigns and the insane amount of money being spent. This year's mess will serve as a lesson for the future for Democrats. Republicans have yet to see the writing on the wall.

Kim   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Thank God that the Judge in this case has morals and values however will we find the same in the supreme court?

Who did Bill place on the supreme court?

LA   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Clinton's path to the nomination is about as clear as mud and about as palatable. But never mind that–she IS a Clinton and just what is the definition of IS?

Monica, Kingsland   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Will this drama ever end. When will someone stand up and demand Senator Clinton load up the truck and go home. No one is gonna change rules and regulations for her or no one else. A lady she never be asked to leave; she should know when to exit.

Brian   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Good. Florida broke pary rules. They cannot and should not be seated. Very plain, very simple.

BettiH, Indianapolis, IN.   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Good, they should have thrown it out. They should have followed the rules.

Elmer Cason   May 28th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

They knew the rules going in, they signed the pledged, and the both states purposely broke the rules. None of them should count period! And their comparing of this to slavery and civil rights is BS! This nothing to do with either of them!

No disrespect to the people of MI and FL, but some of you KNEW what was going to happen and the consequences of those actions but did NOTHING to stop it. You were so caught up in being first or close to first, etc. etc…..in attempt to one up IA and NH. Now some of you want to cry about being "disenfranchised" because your vote "doesn't" count. Spare me! See, that's the main problem with people in this country today….no sense of responsibility for actions taken, coupled with the belief that you're entitled to do what you want without suffering any repercussions.

skylark   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

I have an idea. All candidates should have to have a psychiatric exam as part of the vetting process. That way we are sure to get the sanest candidate.

Uh, that would be Obama.

Allyn J. Chevalier - Lynnwood, WA   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

How about this. Florida: Hillary gets her 50%, and Obama gets his 33% PLUS the %'s, delegates, and vote count of all other former candidates who have since moved over to Obama (i.e. ). Same thing in Michigan. That way, we don't have to hear about the poor voters in both states, the delegate vote doesn't really changed, and Hillary can't continue to make the STUPID argument about the VOTES.

Villary   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

I think its high time we democrats decides what we want and stop this games. OBAMA 08

Banko   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Take that Hillary. She is always changing the rules in the middle of the game. Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. The inevitable candidate has become the inevitable loser.

L.A. Atlanta, GA   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

What is it that people can't understand about PLAYING BY THE RULES? You wanna talk about fair DiMaio? How about all the voters and the delegates that obeyed the rules with no problem. Clinton supporters want to talk about people being fair to her and treating her with respect and what not. How about the people that respected the rules, respected the game and did what they were supposed to do WHEN they were supposed to do it. Florida and Michigan, this is what happens when you think you can do whatever you want. Sure, political parties in each state probably should have the right to schedule their own primaries, but the fact of the matter is they don't. It's done for you. Deal with it or suffer the consequences.

In all honesty, this was probably Hillary Clinton's plan all along. Sign off saying they shouldn't be included and then turn around and fight for the states to be included to get more support.

I don't want someone like that running my country. It's wrong and you know it, Clinton. Stop trying to be sneaky.

Jonathan Sabella   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Apparently Roland Martin comments on articles by copy pasting his articles.

Grog in Ohio   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

What part of "you violated the rules" does Florida (or Michigan) not get? This is really quite simple. Kindergarteners could tell you that you get penalized when you violate the rules. End of discussion.

237 days till the end of the Bush administration.

Batman   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Will this split the party?
Ask HRC.
It seems to be her goal that if shes not going to will niether will BO. Many of the uneducated HRC supporters have been brainwashed to vote for George Bush for the third time.

Franck, WPG, Canada   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Hey Martin,

This goes to confirm what Obama likes to say. People who will do and say anything to get a vote. The Clintons are definately desperate and the sooner they accept the reality the better for ecerybody.

And now they want to play the "victim" card!! What sexism are they talking about by the way? And when did that start?? Gees!

Casey   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

I encourage all those who will either write in Hillary or Vote for John McBush in the general to go ahead, why bother telling us how bitter you are. You will only be happy if the other candidate is cheated out of what he worked hard for and competed to achieve without complaining about anything even when he had so many disadvantages from the on set. So, whatever you like, write in Hillary, Vote MaCian, stay hom. The truth is that , Obama is the DNC Nominee. He earned it and the world sees that but for only those who believe in half truth and playing to the gallary . Obama beat the front funner of the DNC, along with Her Husband. That in itself is a strong acheievement and and He will beat the that clone of BUSH come Nov.

Alex   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Well this female is still voting for Obama.

Its time to bow out Hillary.

Alexis   May 28th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

" "You cannot violate the rules of the process and then expect to get forgiven for it," he said."

What part of this does everyone else not understand? You don't get to break the rules, then whine about it. Pathetic.

is it necessary   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

they did what? if they are seated will they go back to their earlier voting dates or will they keep the new dates?

fred2..since another stole my name   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Howard Dean is an Idiot and the DNC will lose BIG time in November.
He has pushed that idiot Obama and Obama is a loser just like Dean!!

Go Hillary…take it all the way to the Convention or run Independent…either way Obama loses!!!

Rich   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Hiilary 08 !!!!!!!!

Terry   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Wow the court system got one right for once. I still say the best option for Hillary is to start her own party so she doesn't have to worry about rules. Maybe the Clintocratic party. She could make, break and ignor the rules as she pleases then! Apparently she wants rules for others but not for her?

Mike   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Good News
Btw i like turtles

Hayward   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Ok no biggie. Hakuna matada. No worries what so ever. Because if that is the final decision it will not be the final say so. The people will get that and the joke will be on the DNC and the democratic party. Because if those votes are not counted and those delegates are not seated then Barack will lose royally because the voters will strike back with a vengeance!! And that my friend you can take to the bank…

Sharon R.   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

I am so glad the courts through the lawsuit out. Rules are rules. Hillary and Barack agreed to the rules. Now, Ms Big Mouth Hillary is telling people Obama cannot win against John McCain.

The superdelegates need to shut her down! She is making the democratic party look so terrible. They, the superdelegates must be very wimpy. If Obama was acting like her and Slick Willie he would be shut down and thrown out of the race long ago. Stop the double standards, and shut this woman down. I have lost all respect for both her and Bill. They don't care about their party just themselves.

I am so sick of the both of them. I am sure many other people are too.!

Patricia   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Thanks for the cut-n-paste. It does clarify the process.

Clinton claims she is the more electable. Polls show she scores higher against McCain than Obama does. But, that is not the point. He scores higher than McCain as well meaning they are both electable. The fact that she uses the word "more" electable, rather than "most" electable says that she recognizes also that he is electable and could win in the fall.

People still have a choice- for about 6 more days!

Nobama   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Obama would be fighting for Michigan and Florida tooth and nail if the roles were reversed. In fact, it would be viewed as a HUGE civil rights issue. With Florida, the Republican governing state officials made the decision to move up the primary date. The Democrats had no say in this decision. Michigan is another story, but the Obama camp dragged their feet in agreeing to a revote (which would have been privately funded) and ran out the clock.

Obama is just another politician and the "magic" will quickly fade when nothing is accomplished … just like my hopes when Pelosi became Speaker of the House.

Darrell   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

The Clinton campaign is also cheating tens of thousands of voters who stayed home on election day because their vote didn't count, so they were told.

Michigan and Florida will be seated, but not according to Hillary's math, which keeps getting scarier by the hour.

Michigan and Florida voters, if you don't like the results given in the outcome of this, you need to go and vote every single person in your respective states out of office during the next election. They are the ones who did this to you, no one else.

james from brooklyn   May 28th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

AND TO all my hillary supporters, that judge is not a superdelegate. justice is serve.
the DNC better not change the rule. HOWARD DEAN, we need you to tell those ppl like you did during you presidential campaign………yaaaaaaaaaaa

Emmanuel   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I support Barack Obama. I beleive that after Hillary Clinton signed a document where she agreed that Michigan and Florida votes not count, she should not put the democratic party through this mess. But I beleive that Obama can accomodate his fellow democratic rival and treat her with dignity, honour and respect.

I beleive that Obama should reach an understanding (not a compromise) and agree that delegates from Michigan and Florida carry half a delegate vote. In Florida, the results should be as is but in Michigan the split must be 50/50 including the popular votes totals. Barack Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan. This is a fair and reasonable understanding. This understanding will not change the outcome of the nomination process which Barack has won with superior management strategies, profound and relevant message with oratory.

Bitter Tommy Hussein in St. Louis   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I'd bet just about anything the U.S. Supreme Court will say the same thing.

Geraldine Coleman   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

All of the people in Michigan and Florida who did not vote should protest also. They were told that the votes would not count so therefore, they did not vote. They have just as much right to complain as those who supposedly voted. Hillary is causing all of this uproar and I have personally lost respect for her and Bill. They are pathetic spreading lies and rumors and dividing the democratic party. I hope that the people of New York wil not re-elect her as a Senator. She has really shown a devious and divisive attitude during this campaign. I believe the court case of Peter Paul Vs. Clinton. Everyone should look at it on you tube and read about her deception in this case. She is pathetic.

Lito   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

How can any average minded person not see that hillary and Obama signed and agreed that the 2 states would not count. Hillary now as an american says its ok to make rules and change the rule to work in your favor, its just not right and all the women out there i know you want to see a woman win but its just not her time and shes starting to ruin it for future woman running in future elections.

dolemite   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I wonder, where was Hillary's outrage concerning Michigan and Florida before she ended up losing 11 Primary contests in a row? Always claiming "ready to lead on day one" while her campaign seemed to have no plan for after the original "Super Tuesday"…not to mention paying Mark Penn how many millions–and he didn't even know about the Democratic party dividing state delegates proportionately, rather than a "Winner Take All" style the Republican party does for their primaries? That doesn't seem like the best judgment on day one, or day one thousand, for that matter.

ao   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Democrats deserve and will lose in Nov. western states will not make up lost EV in FL, OH, MI, PA. This party has no strategy, and i am said to report I used to believe in it. Instead of 16 years of WH now we will have none. Pathetic Party "leadership"

Paul   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I really do hope that whether or not Barack wins the general, it is the end of the Clinton era in American politics. I hope that if he wins the GE, she decides she is too old and pathetic at 68. If he loses, I hope America will not let her forget in 2012 that she was a reason (maybe not the only) he lost in 2008. She and her husband are doing no good right now. And they actually used Karl Rove's research to bolster their case in the GE. Are you serious? Is there a democrat alive that does not hate Karl Rove more than Bush himself? Could Karl Rove's research really be a ploy by the Republicans to stir up even more controvery? Well it is working…

C from the D   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Well said Roland, well said… The longer that she hangs her hat on this nonsense the harder it will be to put MI and FL in play. This situation should be over and done with and Obama should be campaigning there drumming up support, but he can't fully do so with the unfair picture hanging over his campaign that he is some how responsible for the situation in MI and Fl.

To all the Hillary supporters that will eventually flood this topic, please look at whats being said from Bush's former press secretary. Even if all of your criticisms of Obama are true, do you REALLY want Bush's influence to extend 4 more years? This man sent our children to war for political gain!?! If this doesn't upset/disgust you enough to want to vote democratic, then all I can do is pray for your souls.

Paula   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Thank you Roland!!! You are always a voice of reason.
Clinton is acting like a spoiled brat grabbing, whining, ranting and almost stamping her foot.
SHE signed off the two contested States, nobody forced her.
She reminds me of a junk yard dog who just won't let go.. the woman needs to step down.. her grace is now gone.

Jeff D, South Bend, IN   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Now, cue the Clinton Crybabies, whining about sexism, or racism, or fairness, or delegates, or electability - or whatever this weeks topic of whin-e-ness is.

JJ   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I totally agree with Roland. She isn't fighting this for the sake of the people, she's fighting for herself. Anyone who thinks she's fighting for the will of the people are fooling themselves. This is all about Hillary.

Leroy   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

I really don't want to get in to the mud slinging thing, but here it is! There can be no question why Sen Clinton support base are made up of uneducated, and older folks. She is not able to pull the rug from up under the more educated folks and then tell us that its something else.
Bottom line, this is going to get UGLY, I only hope that those Clinton supporters vote the issues at the end of the day, becuase McCain is not going to change a thing.

Roland on another topic:
Is it me or has CNN, specifically Lou Dobbs, who I am a great fan of , suddenly seems to be taking shots at Obama without cause? I can't believe how he tried to hype Obama's comment about his uncle!

???   May 28th, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Yes, rules are rules and the parties can come up with whatever rules they want. Sure they could be better, but you don't change the rules while the contest is in progress just because you aren't winning, how would you feel if your favorite team was ahead in the Superbowl in the last quarter and suddenly the other team argues that they want to overturn a ten yard penalty in the first quarter? Most people would think that was ridiculous, how is this any different?

Angela   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

This is a horrible example of the kind of mess this country is in because of party politics. No one person or organization(DNC or RNC) should have the right to make rules ( even though all parties agree)that effectively deny the rights of each person's representative vote in any election.
Again, just because the parties agree to it doesn't make it OK>
this is a slipperey slope very much away from the principles that this country was founded on. We are essentially giving the right of selection to the heads of political parties and not the people. Absurd!!!. WE have learned nothing and we deserve the wrong president!!!! Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Righttovote   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

What about the people who didn't even vote during the respective primaries of each state, thinking, perhaps, that it wouldn't matter since the delegates would not be counted? What about those people?

To award 100% of the delegates would bring anarchy. What would prevent the other 48 rule-following states not to jumpa ahead next election?

What about the AGREEMENT not to award delegates in the first place? Do any of these questions go through anyone else's minds?

Does anyone see the self-serving nature of one of the Democratic candidate's behavior? Self-serving, because it really angers and divides the Democrats, shooting themselves in the foot yet again.

I have lost any and all respect for Hillary.

I have lost any and all respect for Bill. Shameful.

They demean themselves over and over and over again.

Paul   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Good. The Clintons want to change the rules ONLY after they need them to be. They didn't ask for the rules to be changed prior to Hillary getting beat fair and square. They are only NOW asking for them to be changed. Read the rules people. You can't change them after the game has already started.

Mr Fix it (fixmaster33@yahoo.com)   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Thank you Judge.

This is a win for all those democratic candidates who chose to follow the rules of the DNC. Rulling for this suit would have created counter law suit by those democratic contenders who pulled out of the race earlier. The argument that they would have been better off had they campaigned in Florida and Michigan would have been hard to deny.
Tossing out this law suit should be a wake up call for the Clintons of what is about to happen this saturday.

Amazingly sad, she had tainted her self so bad that she may not be able to recover politically.

-Win at all cost strategy: Even if it means destroying your fellow democrat and party.
-Constant negative attacks and adds at the expense of now and soon to be the nominee.
-Suggesting, whether intensionally or subconscioulsly that you stick and hang in the race in hopes that your fellow democrat might be shot.

All the above and more leaves her no place in the democratic party or contending for the presidency of this great nation.

tidho   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

"You cannot violate the rules of the process and then expect to get forgiven for it,"

That's a pretty telling quote from Dean leading into the May 31 meeting.

Prego8998   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Get real Clintons. Stop attacking Obama. The more you criticize the media, Obama or the DNC the more it shows how power hunger both of you are and how low you can go to get what you want. You need to realize, this is the new era that people wants new idea not political insiders like you two that disgraced this country with both of your scandals in the 90s. Al Gore was the victim of your disgrace, that's how he lost his presidential bid to that idiot Bush. Both of you motivated the evangelical people to come out in record numbers to against Al Gore due to the lack of moral and family values from Bill Clinton's presidency.

Jim - Philadelphia   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

I feel that watching how Clinton is running her campaign is a good indication as to how she would run the country. American citizens have been given the shaft for the past eight years. Lies and deception have become the rule and not the exception. Hillary is the same old same old.

Those people who feel disenfranchized should look back to Hillary and ask her why she agreed to this in the first place. she had no objections until she started losing. And she is taking her husband down with her.

Bill Clinton has always had an extrememly favorable view in my mind. This has since changed.

Bush was never elected   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

If Clinton didn't like what she was signing, then she should have run as Independent, but she didn't. She needed to be on a major party ticket to get the push and the money for the GE if she was nominated. The rules are the rules, and if those rules prevented her from a win, then I guess she was in the wrong party. It's nobody's fault but her own.

KC ONYEMELIKE   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

This is exactly what I had said all along. The clintons want the rule of the game changed in between the game.They careless about our beloved party. You guys alone are not entittled to the presidency.Give Barack a chance for he is now the darling of our party.Please get over this for failure is not fatal but delayed success.

Debra   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Glad the FL courts did the right thing. FL was told that if they moved thier primary, thier vots didn't count. feel bad for those voters in FL and MI but we are a country of rules and laws. Citizens were told thiier votes didn't count, don't know when, but it must have been a few weeks if not months when they decided to change the primary date. Why didn't anyone get angry and do something then??? All of the candidates knew they didn't count, now Clinton wants the rules changed. Funny thing is, unless they end up giving her 100 % of the votes, which they won't, Obama will still win no matter where they put the goal post.

Scott M.-Kalamazoo, MI   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

The court has it exactly right. Being from Michigan my vote doesn't count either but the only ones to blame our my state Democratic leaders and no one else. The National Democratic Party gave both rogue states ample warning of what would happen but neither listened. I fully support Deans decision.

John E Lexington KY   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Mr. Martin, you're forgetting more facts, that the Florida legistlature was controlled by Republicans, that Hillary would still win both states by large margins (so Obama's offer to split the delegates was extremely disingenuous) and that Obama's union allies killed the Michigan revote in their legistlature.

I don't understand how supposedly professional commentors take the money and use their positions to flack for the candidate they prefer. There is more fair and balanced commentary on Fox, which is pathetic.

Chi4Obama   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

I do agree with the theoretical notion that ALL states should be counted. However, I also believe that EVERYONE must abide by the rules/bylaws that were put in place before this Primary began.

FACT: Florida and Michigan both broke the rules set forth by the DNC by moving up their primary dates.

The Clinton camped also acknowledged the fact that the Michigan and Florida Delegates, would not be seated, as a result of this violation. If the Clinton camp truly had a "genuine" interest in not "Disenfranchising" anyone during this process-then they would have been fighting for the Florida and Michigan votes much earlier.

The Clinton camp did not even bring up the subject of "Florida and Michigan", until it was evident that it was mathmatically improbable for Hillary to win. This is nothing more than just a last act of desperation, to steal the election from the "presumptive nominee".

Doris,Memphis, TN   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

The Democratic Nominee will win this fall even if he is from Mars!
Hillary knows this!

Obama 2008-2016

God Bless America!

Heidi   May 28th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

THANK YOU…THANK YOU…THANK YOU.

HOLD YOUR GROUND HOWARD DEAN….AND HILLARY SUPPORTERS SHOULD KNOW THIS ONLY A SAMPLE OF WHAT IS TO COME SATURDAY MAY 31ST.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF FL & MI. THIS IS ABOUT THE STATE AND THE LOCAL OFFICIALS DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT.

WELL NOW YOU MUST PAY FOR BREAKING RULES. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT HILLARY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE PEOPLE. THIS IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE THE PARTY.

CHECK THE SIGNATURES…HILLARY SIGNED IN AGREEMENT WITH NO SPECIAL CLAUSES ADDED

Crazy Broad   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

The crazier this broad Clinton gets, the nuttier her supporters get too. Whatever insane leaps of 'logic' she makes, her supporters are right there, pretending like it makes sense.

I used to wonder how anyone could support such a hypocritical, deceptive, delusional nut-job, but it's become clear through this nomination process - her supporters are just as nutty as she is.

Barbara Texas   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

It's so funny how now Billary and her team of sore loosers are trying everything possible to to take the nomination away from Obama….Get a grip ladies and gentlemen. It's time for change. Billary, it's over!!!! And another thing, what makes Billary think that she is going to win the votes if she steal the nomination away from Obama!!!! SORE LOOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

king from toronto   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

can't wait till june 4th!! soon ! very soon!! no more clintons!!

Jeremy   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

I'm all for seating a portion of their delegation but you can't seat them at full strength. Doing so sets a precedent for states to break the rules in the future and always refer back to this situation in saying "Well you didn't punish them, why should we be punished for breaking the rules?" And the states knew the ramifications of their actions before they moved their primaries up. So why are they now crying foul?

Marge Hibbing Mn   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

The just made sure McCAin is going to win….they have tried and tried and tired to cram obama down the throat of the real Democrts and they can't do it…so they are trying to get him appointed.

Every single day after McCAin wins the GE I am going to send emails, letters and call the butts who pretend to be democrats in congress and ask them why they wanted someone without an ounce of sense to be president. Is it because they thought he would be manipulated more so than the republicans did bush…

Or maybe they wanted to sign him up to become an American Idol candidate they zonked out kids would sure vote for him then.

sara   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

Thank God this court had the good sense not to allow such an injustice to occur. I just don't see how surrogates such as Harold Ickes, who voted to penalize these states can wrap his head around the thought that now they should count , as is????? Hopefully after the credentials commitee meets this weekend there can start to be some resolution, however, I anticipate, like Roland Martin they will take this to the convention.

Steve (Independent)   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

Let's see… When I sign an agreement it is binding, whether I find the end results satisfactory or not.

Frankly, while I am highly supportive of seeing the first woman elected as President of this great country, I am not at all supportive of Sen. Clinton to be that woman.

Major Michael in Lorton, Virginia   May 28th, 2008 12:07 pm ET

Florida and Michgan broke the deal; now they must face the wheel. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Hillary can't win, if even if she could win. Obama doesn't need to cut a deal……..he will be the presumptive nominee……..and if she so electable and the strongest candidate, how come she could not win the primaries? What part of "defeat" doesn't Hillary understand.

a voter in New York   May 28th, 2008 12:06 pm ET

They knew the rules and knew that they would not be seated if they didn't follow the rules. Clinton signed her name to back that rule with the DNC.

Now on May 31 she wants to challenge the very rules she pledged to uphold.

It shows her credibility and her will to do whatever it takes to win no matter if it is fair or not.

If Florida and Michigan are seated then the whole DNC is a hoax on every voter in America. Any state can vote at any time that they want and sway elections in any fashion that they deem necessary.

What if New York violated the rules and decided on giving Edwards the first vote, he would still be in there and had a sweep for the bid.
It turns out to be a money issue if this is allowed. Any political aspirant can finance and bankroll a State to vote first for them and sweep the nomination. The rules are the rules. they agreed to them and now should be held to them.

I am no fan of Obama, but am a fan of the process. Obama should stand his ground and honor his word. No seating for for those who violated party rules.

Eric Robinson   May 28th, 2008 12:06 pm ET

I reside in the state of Florida. I did not vote because I knew our votes wouldn't count. I would have voted for Obama. There were many in the state of Florida that did not vote knowing that the votes wouldn't count. How could Mrs. Clinton want the votes to count when my voice any many more would never be heard. REVOTE OR THROW IT OUT

Lawrence - Virginia Beach, VA   May 28th, 2008 12:06 pm ET

Just as it should have been thrown out.

Northern Michigan   May 28th, 2008 12:06 pm ET

If she can change the rules after agreeing to something different in the beginning, then tell me how I can do the same thing at work? I agreed to a 40 hour week but I'd rather re-negotiate to flex time with sam pay. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, my son, a first tiem voter is wondering why he has to follow the rules if a Presidential candidate doesn't have to…. I'd like to know how I explain that one to him….

Kim<