May 30, 2008
Posted: May 30th, 2008 01:00 PM ET

From
Clinton's campaign is making it's Florida and Michigan case.
Clinton's campaign is making it's Florida and Michigan case.

(CNN) - A day before the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is set to determine how to seat the delegations of Florida and Michigan, the Clinton campaign's chief lawyer said the committee is compelled to seat both delegations fully and not award Barack Obama any delegates from Michigan.

In a letter addressed to the co-chairs of the RBC, Clinton lawyer Lyn Utrecht said both states have already been sufficiently punished because of lack of campaign activity.

"It is a bedrock principle of our Party that every vote must be counted, and thereby every elected delegate should be seated," Utrecht wrote. "The States have already been punished because no campaign activity was conducted in Florida or Michigan. There is no requirement or need to punish their duly elected delegates who represent the 2.3 million voters in Michigan and Florida who participated in the nominating process."

Utrecht also made clear the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates, since the Illinois senator took his name off the ballot there.

"Neither the DNC Rules nor the Michigan Delegate Selection Plan allow arbitrary reallocation of Uncommitted delegates to a candidate or arbitrary reallocation of delegates from one candidate to another," he wrote.

The Clinton campaign also said Friday that former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard and Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner will make the case for the campaign at the hearing Saturday.

Read full letter

Filed under: Hillary Clinton


Jumping Cholla   May 30th, 2008 2:20 pm ET

All this wailing and gnashing of teeth is just for show. The result is a forgone conclusion...Obama wins. The facesaving device will be Hillary exclaiming (with wide-eyed enthusiasm and exaggerated head nodding) that she was able to accomplish her goal - she got the delegations from FL and MI seated at the Convention. Isn't she grand.

Erin   May 30th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

"Utrecht also made clear the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates, since the Illinois senator took his name off the ballot there."

Are you serious? That's an all-time low for Hillary this campaign! While I've consistently said I will vote for whoever gets nominated by the DNC, Hillary is losing me. I cannot believe these die-hard Hillary supporters are still falling for these low-brow tactics.

proud army and navy mom   May 30th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

Nobody cares what hillary is willing to accept. DNC do the right thing because if you bend to this idiocy you will have a lot more than hillary to worry about.

Michigan, if i was you all, i would petition for all or none. i will be darn if hillary receives one single delegate, than to receive them all illegally.
get your marching shoes ready. it's about to be ON!

jonny   May 30th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

She has no case. All her arguments are lies.

David from Bremen,Germany   May 30th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

CNN: WHEN ARE GOING TO UPDATE THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES OBAMA NOW HAS ?! THE NUMBER 1981 HAS AT LEAST GROWN UP TO 1984 !!! against 1782 FOR CLINTON !!

HILLARY CAN STAND THE HEAT SO SHE DOESN'T GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN EVEN WHEN HER CLOTHES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE.
BTW: GOOD PLAYERS KNOW HOW TO WIN BUT ALSO ACCEPT FAIRLY IF THEY HAVE LOST THE GAME. IN FACT THE WISDOM LAYS IN KNOWING THE RULES OF THE GAME. STRONG PLAYERS LEARN FIRST HOW TO LOSE AND ACCEPTING THAT THEY LOST.

Kaylee   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

It is a question of FAIRNESS...
How not giving even one vote to Obama is reflective of MI people's will or FAIR?

DNC should try their hardest to be FAIR. And, yes it is easy. Use commonsense to be FAIR. Everybody knows in their guts what is FAIR and what isn't.

BE FAIR...

Northern Canadian   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

When will it stop ?????? I guess they enjoy in their circus for other purposes....Hillary is SELFISH and CHILDISH....GROW UP....

I am glad that we found the ONE...Hey, OBAMA..I know you are strong and positive..ande also very intelligent. Hurrah!! Look forward to general election after June 3rd.. Good Bye, Hillary and her hillbillies and rednecks..

Jay Jones   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Waaait a minute...they've been punished enough already by lack of campaigning in their states?? That sounds like a reward to me, not a punishment.

One thing that never seems to get mentioned is that the pledge signed by all the candidates included a pledge not to "campaign or participate." This would seem to include keeping your name on the ballot. So Sen. Clinton's argument that "we had a choice whether to participate in MI, and Sen. Obama chose not to" doesn't make sense to me. If a pledge was made not to participate, then there is no choice anymore, and she should have removed her name from the ballot.

Sandy from Ohio   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

With what Clinton has pulled through this hole primary season if the DNC gives in to Hillary and Lets her cheat just like Bush in 2000 I will find another country to live in because this is not living in a fair country built on the premise that rules are rules. Why do the politician feel they are above the law Please show are children that even the adults have to follow the rules Please let that cry baby go cry some where else I'm sure the republicans would be glad to have her she is as crocked as they are

CT voter   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

So Obama won't get ANY delegate's from Michigan because he followed the rule's??? This is downright dirty...unbelievable...what a disgrace the Clinton name has become....

no edge is enuff   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Is there no end to what the media and the DNC will do to install Obama as the nominee, against the will of the people?

Stop handicapping Clinton. Stop adoring the puppet Obama. She has done good work for Americans...Obama has done nothing. Give us fair unbiased reporting...not blacks yelling that Obama is entitled.

Stop bashing Clinton.

She has every right to run and to take it to the convention...just like every other WHITE MALE candidate has had up to now.

Why advantage Obama by knocking Hillary out of the race. Haven't you sabotaged her, attacked her, denigrated her, and swiftboated her enough to give Obama the edge?

Laidetea   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

If the DNC decides not to reward anything to neither candidate and continue with the rules set forward, than its nothing HRC, Lyn Ultrecht, Bill Clinton, or the Federal Supreme Court can do. It's their ruling and their decision. Lyn Ultrecht can not tell the DNC what to do or do this or that. She doesn't make the rules. The DNC makes the rules.

Dmitriy   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Go Hillary.

Gloria   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

In this case I suggest you get ZERO delegates from Mich, hon!

HRC, you are so disgusting and DISHONEST! Shame on you!

4 more days and you will be history.. Can't wait to see that!

Ralph   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Venus May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

I wonder how much her total $-bill will be with all these people who work for her?

Next week – Hillary will be out of the news!

==============

Dream on....run as an Independent Hillary...if they GIVE the nomination to Obama!!

MC, Pa   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Where is the sense of fairness for those Clinton supporters? Will it make you feel better by punishing the one who follow the fules and play by the rules and award the one who cheats? How would you want to teach your children about following rules? I am so sick, sick of the "win by all means" Clinton tactics.

ken   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

All the Uncommitted are caste their vote for Obama .... Ask them.... Eventhough I don't support Obama...... They are going to vote for Obama ..

Go McCain....lol

Johnny Birchfield   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

The Democrats are done. Stick a fork in us and give us the award for shooting yourself in the foot. Democrats are DELUSIONAL if they think Obama is going to win the national election. Obama is a strawman and each day more and more dirt comes out on him.
As a Democrat I am also fed up with all the election hanky panky. I'm fed up with Pelosi, Dean, Reid and all the others who took impeachment off the table and didn't accomplish anything over the past couple of years in congress other than to give us more of the same.
Not only are the Democrats not going to win the Presidential election, they are also going to loose their majority in Congress. Yep, you saw it here first from one of the best political analyists not in the business. John Q. Public. News you really can trust.
Fear not...Jack Cafferty will be leading the charge of "Blame Hillary!!!" Obamanites when the Dems suffer a miserable loss in November.

buckeye in GA   May 30th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Stop the Spin:

Obamabots don't want the votes counted in FL and MI. End of story PERIOD!
======================================================

I'm sorry, but that's just not true. I am an Obama supporter, and I, like Sen. Obama, *do* want the delegates seated. But the method that Sen. Clinton is propsing is unfair. I say, seat both states 50/50, or at least give the uncommitted MI votes to Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton can have FL and her MI votes. Either way, though, she can't overtake his lead.

By the way, I find the term "Obamabot" offensive. I am not a robot and I am not "blinded" by anything Sen. Obama says. I am making an intelligent choice to support him.

Del   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

who does this woman think she is ? ? why does she think everyone has to bow down to her no matter what she does? are these people that scard of her and billy? have they all been bought, bribed or blackmailed by the clintons. there is no one on this so called committy that has not said or thought the same thing the peacher said, he is right and everyone knows it. please someone send her home , , where ever that is she seems to be "from" every state she's been in. no one wants the clintons and surely not our Country. I'm not an Obama fan either and not at all happy with McCain.
Obama would do better with roseie O'donald or rose ann barr for Vp then hillary.

CPL   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Florida and Michigan should have their delegates halved as per the DNC rules. But if they follow the DNC rules, IOWA, NH, and SC should do the same. The waiver that was granted to those three states was as "against the rules" as Fl. & Mi. moving their dates up. Half delegates, and no supers for all 5

KateLynn   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Samantha Powers was right. Hillary is a monster!

RB TX   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

We agree 100%. No one told Obama to take his name off the ballot in Michigan. All delegates Hillary won in Michigan should be seated and none for Obama.
Obama is a believer in Black Liberation Theology and supports anti American comments against the so called oppressors(White America).
Stop playing the blame game.

Go Hillary, Go Hillary

Kingsley Okere   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Take it or leave it, Hillary is out to play a spoiler game. She has an accord with Bush family and has not hidden it. Her next act will be to drag the issue to the court of law. However the Democratic Party has given in too much to her. I will hold them responsible for any division in the party arising from the meeting tomorrow because it is uncalled for in the first place. An organization that worths her salt should make a rule and stand by it. Reconsidering the rule that has already been agreed to by all the contestants before is unfair. What happens to John Edwards votes? Democratic party leaders should rise up and stop this nonsense now.

Paul   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Take it all the way to the convention Hillary, or run Independent!!

Yes you will!!

Paul   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Hillary is a Republican. Bill was, too. Who has been better at building a Republican majority?

Emma, San Jose, CA   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

The hole she is digging for herself is getting deeper and deeper.

Gemmeg   May 30th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

The worst is about to come. Nobodody can mess with the clintons. I feel sorry for Obama.

Terrence (Winston Salem, NC)   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

"…the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates…"

-------------------------------–

Clinton's argument is that she wants EVERY VOICE to be heard/counted. Do she really think that 0 (zero) people in Michigan would not vote for Obama? WOW.

How is that solution a fair reflection of the people's voice?

ken   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

lol..............It is getting better for McCain. I love McCain.... You are on the way to WH.....

Go McCain...

D'Anne   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

If the Clinton campaign and its supporters cannot recognize right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, they are so much more far gone than any Obama supporter. I have never seen so much hypocrisy in my life. I had nothing against Hillary Clinton, but she has lost so much of my respect...and bloggers want to say Obama has a history of "dirty politics..." PLEASE, can we get real.

Josie Everett   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

This is enough! She would be a tyrant if allowed to be President. I lost respect for her a long time ago-now she scares me. EGO-MANIAC.

Nick   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

THERE DELGATES WERENT GOING TO BE SEATED IF THEY WENT EARLY AND THEY DID IT ANYWAY, WHY IS THIS EVEN AN ISSUE.

HILLARY CLINTON IN 08-DESTROYING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOW AND FOR THE FORSEABLE FUTURE.

PT WI   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

What about the 48 states who played fair, didnt break the rules..!!
I would be OUTRAGED if Clinton manages to squirm her way through a closed crack!

YOU BROKE THE RULES!!!! DEAL WITH IT!!!!

AND dont blame obama!! Clinton signed the same statement.. Cant you see that she's manipulating the whole system to suit herself?
She doesnt care about you, she ONLY CARES ABOUT YOUR VOTES!

IF SHE CARED ABOUT YOU, SHE WOULD WANT TO INCLUDE VOTES FROM THE CAUCUS STATES... BUT THEY DONT COUNT IN HER POPULAR VOTE ARGUMENT! OH AND NEITHER DID THE "SMALL STATES" UNTIL SHE FOUND HERSELF LOSING..

WAKE UP!

steveda - poconos   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

WOW ... the nerve of this woman to try and steal the election in broad daylight! Democratic party we are all watching.... you better do the right thing here and not allow these illicit primaries to have any soignificant sway in the nomination process. Counting the votes might seem to some fair, but you have to consider the number of people that didn't vote because they knew it wouldn't count. In addition,. since there was no campaigning, the voters were not overly well informed about the candidates – specifically the newcomer Senator Obama who was not a household name in January.

Seat the delegations at 50% – as their penalty for moving the election, and then split the delegates in some fair manner, perhaps giving Hillary a slight edge, but certainly not the 100% she is seeking.

OHIO   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

Hillary you better pray you get the nomination. Because if you do not your political career is through. You will not even get a job as dog catcher.

Objective Mike from Illinois   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

By the way....

"Fifty percent (50%) of New York Democrats say it's time for Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race for the White House. Just 43% believe she should keep going."

This is in her own freaking backyard! People are fed up with this woman.

Paul   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

Obama is neither a Pauper Prince or Lady Diana for the common people. He is the Pied Pieper of Hamilin and will lead this nation into doomsday!

I will never vote for him!

carolflowery   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

McCain/Jendyl 08

waschulze   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

Pure lunacy and the height of hypocrisy. How, in God's name, does this make any sense to anyone? Essentially their point is "The rules don't count, because..."

Breaking rules without any ramifications? What about laws? Same apply there?

Apply this generally and what do you get?

+ I get 15 points for a touchdown because that's better than 6;
+ I get to force myself into the front of the line because I don't want to wait;
+ I get to run the red light because I need to be someplace sooner;
+ I get to cheat on my taxes because the government doesn't represent my needs;
+ I get to commit adultery because I like that way that other person looks better;
+ I get to torture prisoners because the Geneva convention is too lenient;

AND

+ I get the delegates because it's the only way I even get close to winning.

Our society is based on rules, regulations, and laws. It's the basis for order and (something close to predictability). And on top of this, you say YES to the rules to begin with, then NO when it doesn’t suit you? Guess this is pretty much how you expect to run our country? No thanks! We’ve already had 7.5 years of an Administration that doesn’t play by the rules. We can’t afford another 4.

Give us a break.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah   May 30th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

WHY SHE HAS LOST AND CAN NOT BE PRESIDENT IN MY BOOK!

Bush, McCain, GOP and CLINTON voted to send 4100 troops to there death and for what? That is the real story here!

1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush/McCain's invasions of Iraq?

2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

3. Are we paying more for gas now or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

5. Is the White Houses creditability better now or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

6. Is the budget deficit higher now or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

7. Is the Middle East more peaceful now or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

8. Do we have more American Solders dead or before Bush/McCain's invasion of Iraq?

This WAR has cost us so much; it is unbelievable that damage that Bush administration has done to this nation. The saddest thing about this WAR most of the American cannot comprehend what has happen during the last seven years of this administration. Further, McCain wants to go down the same road as well disgruntled Hillary supporters! Go figure the blood of these solders are on your hands!

draka   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

I think the RBC hearings should not be open to the public. This will further deepen the divisions within the party, thanks to the media who will have a field day, come Saturday.
Also, the Clintonistas should come to terms with reality. How can one not award delegates to Obama and see that Clinton gets all her delegates in Michigan? It defies all accepted norms of decent behavior. The sooner this ends, the better for the democrats in Fall.

kv   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

what about my mother who lives in michigan and wanted to vote for barrack obama? what about her vote, huh hillary? what about my disenfranchised 75 year old white mother? i supported your husband and even supported you in the beginning but now you literally make me ill.

CONNIE   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

This is as far as my contributions go. I'm not sending in money to be spent on lawyers.

Ross in Indiana   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

There is one simple question. Did the Clinton campaign sign on to play by the rules originally laid out? If so show them their signiature and send them home.

Terri   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Crazy People who support Hillay should be shame.

Any SD that comes out for Hillary at this point or after June 3rd should lose thier position.

OBAMA should get no delegates AT ALL?????????? and some people actually agree with these.

OH by the way I agree with Rev. Pfleger keep telling the truth it will set us all free.

Kaylee   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

DNC be FAIR

and every body knows what FAIR is despite what they advocate...even this shameless lawys who is paid to be UNFAIR (by definition)

BE FAIR

beyond belief   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Can this get any worse? What a loathsome woman....She didn't give a hoot about either of those states until she began losing. This is sick that the subject is even up for discussion......but, up is down and left is right in this crazy immoral country we call the U.S......She will get her way – kicking, clawing and crying all the way to the convention. The CNN pro-Clinton crowd will continue to trash Obama through pastors he doesn't know, stretched stories and blatant lies drummed up by the Clinton Campaign. I'm so sick of this – just give her the election already and end our suffering. She will cheat her way past McCain also. What a witch.

What?   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

There should be Fight Club style arenas set up for the Obama supporters and The Clinton supporters to duke it out. This whole, 'insult each other from the comfort of your keyboards' thing is ridiculous.

Joe   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

I guess the one thing this lawyer has a hard time doing is saying why it was that Senator Clinton supported the DNC's position to not seat the Florida and Michigan delegated until after the South Carolina primary? Doesn't this sound vaguely familiar ... "I was for it before I was against it"?

Truth is Hillary Clinton never saw Barack Obama's campaign taking off. Once it did, she was like a deer caught in the headlights and she has done everything possible to secure a nomination that she thought was due to her simply as a result of her last name.

I don't buy it. As much as I hate to say it, but if the DNC is stupid enough to move the goal post in the final minutes of the game, then a lot of new voters particularly will "smell a rat" and stay at home and never trust the Democratic party again. Sadly, I'm not sure that Hillary Clinton cares about that. At times, her actions seem to say if she can't win the presidency, she'd just as soon not see a Democrat elected.

Do the right thing. Play by the rules. Rules that even the Clinton campaign agreed to.

NoMcSame   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

She moved to NY, set up shop and told them that she will run for Senator.
She won and now she thinks that she is intitled to be president and wants Obama to move aside to let her in. Well the buck stops here Billary. Obama will be our next president so you can go run for some other party but it will not be on the democratic.Obama08

Go Obama   May 30th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Too late now for it to matter.

We all know who won. We know Clinton is the better choice.

The media and blacks and the young created a propaganda machine to carry the Obama celebrity bandwagon this far.

The DNC feels stuck with their Obama choice and is doing everything possible to screw Clinton out of the nomination.

No white male was ever asked to quit prior to the convention where the nominee is selected. Those white men were far behind in delegates and they were exercising their right.

Why is it different for HRC?

She has the same rights... and is in a much tighter race.

Raz   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

If I had a little respect to Clintons, they lost it. That's SICK.

Raz

Mike Jones   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

In my favorite Yoda voice. "desperate, you are"

Dal CA Republican   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

I see a problem. There are rules and rules are either adhered to or not. If we do not adhere to the rules we become a 3rd world democracy.
The rule in this case was if you move forward the primary the results will not count.
All the candidates signed off on that rule. Now as Hillary is not winning she wants all those votes counted and given to her. At the beginning of the race she was the favorite candidate to win the election. out of blue this charismatic black dude comes in and is leading in all counts. Hillary and her ex president Bill has been playing the race card at every step to get the votes. They have succeeded in some States and not in others.
In my opinion the DNC should follow their rules to resolve this problem created by the candidate who does not want to follow rules and regulations. If she is not doing that at the election time, will she not change the rules if and when she is in power.

bill from pa   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

Leave it to the dumbocrats to jeopardize a sure win in November. And you want us to trust you running the country. What a joke

Belle   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

By the way YOU IDIOTS...Clinton did NOT break the rules by leaving her name on the ballot in MI. NOR did Obama by taking HIS name off. THOSE ARE THE RULES

Ralph   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

Obama is the one that is known for cheating his way to winning!!!!

Go Hillary and Utrecht.

Take it all the way to the convention!!

CLINTON SUPPORTER   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

We wouldn't be where we are today if the news media hadn't withheld Rev. Wright's controversial (and sick) remarks. It was on the internet MONTHS before the media reported it. I bet there are many who voted for Obama who wish they knew then what they know now.

GO HILLARY, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cynthia   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

We all know that Senator Clinton would not be fighting for MI & FL if she did not need the votes. Why did she not do this in the beginning when they were first told that they would not be included? Why did she sign the agreement along with the other candidates? When Senator Obama won Iowa which if I remember correctly started the eleven in a row , that is when she started her barrage of things that did not matter – small states, small wins, caucases, the list goes on and on. Both campaigns should accept whatever the DNC ruling is and move on. For those saying that the won't vote if Senator Obama is the nominee – I hope that you will change your mind. Otherwise, you help to put the country in more peril. The war in Iraq needs to end before more people lose loved ones, more men and women come home with post traumatic stress syndrome, commit suicide, and your great, great, great, great grandchildren have to pay for a war that they will know nothing about .

mark   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

There are two problems with Clinton's lawyers' arguments:

First, they are completely disingenuous. Sen. Clinton agreed to the rules. Now that the rules have not worked to her favor, she has become a champion of "disenfranchised voters". She should be ashamed.

Secondly, even if the argument were successfully argued, Sen. Clinton would not win the nomination thereby.

At this point in the campaign, Sen. Clinton serves only pride and ambition. There is little honor left in the effort.

Fitzgerald   May 30th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

So she thinks she should be rewarded for cheating and he should be punished for following the rules.

austbill   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

People can gripe and complain all thery want, their is no better candidate running for president than Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Go Hillary Rodham Clinton!!!!

Phong Nguyen   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

The RBC and DNC should atone for their mistake by re-confirming the voting results of Michigan and Florida; otherwise, they should get ready to pay for their mistake in November!!!

Mel   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

This lady is going to be crazy if super delegates don't come and pack her baggage's and send her to her home early. For the sake of her safety it should be done soon.

Todd   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

You do not adjust the rules in mid-game.

Hillary is acting like a spoiled child. She is basically saying if I don't get my way, I'm going to stomp my feet and hold my breath until I turn blue.

So treat her like a child, either ignore her or put her over your knee and spank her bottom.

Pete   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Good for them. It is time we had a fighter in the party. With approval ratings lowere than President Bush I don't see how Nancy Pelosi has any right to intervene. Afterall, we have seen her leadership in Congress. HIghest gas prices, a continuing war in Iraq, Spending out-of-control,and the inability to reign in a lame duck President. So, as far as I am concerned Pelosi can take her judgements elsewhere.
The Democratic party is on the verge of making yet another historical mistake. Just like the party refused to push the fight for Al Gore, they in turn are doing the same thing to Hillary Clinton. If it were not for the party "elders" and the likes of Howard Dean, we would not be in this mess to begin with. Obama is right...we need change. It needsz to be sweeping change.How many of his suppporters are willing to sweep in change in their congressional districts. It is time the government to "work" again. That is why I will vote for Hillary Clinton in the fall. I urge her supporters to write her name on the ballot and send a messasge to the democratic party. A message that says we want FAIR leadership and a modernized party. But that is unlikely to happen so I should prepare myself to sit at home and watch John McCain's inauguration.

JJ   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Wow. I truly believe Hillary will take this thing to court if she doesn't get her way on Saturday.

Jeb   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Fun watching the dems run against each other.

They don't know who to cheat.

May the best cheater win!!

Belle   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

How can ANY Obama supporters possibly call Clinton a cheater AFTER the way Obama won the State Senate Race in IL?

He is disgusting. So go by the RULES. Obama took his name off the Ballot. He gets NO VOTES according to the rules.

Screw the DNC "rules committee"....take it to the Convention FLOOR and have BOTH states appeal to the Convention Committee to be seated fully.

THOSE ARE THE RULES!!!

After the latest Rev. from Trinity, and how Obama won the State Senate you can FORGET about a vote for Obama.

Hillary or McCain

fafa   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Good point, BIFF

Mary K   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

The Clintons have no ethics or morals whatsoever–who would vote for these people anymore?

Clinton signed a pledge supporting this panalty–what is her singature worth?

USAF Ret   May 30th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

When I was on active duty we would have put this letter in file 13–the garbage can.

Mikey   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Obama is the only hope for the Democratic party. Outside of the die-hard Clinton faithful, very few people would cast a vote for President of the United States for a candidate with the distorted view of fairness evidenced evidenced by the letter attached to your article.

It's pretty clear now, that it is either Obama or McCain. Obama has won fair and square in accordance with the rules set forth at the beginning of this campaign. Allow Hillary to steal it and we lose not only the Presidency, but many down-ballot races.

Fortunately, the DNC knows this and will not commit mutual Democratic Party suicide. It will be over after tomorrow. Hillary can take it to the Convention, but will lose there as well, at the probable cost of her Senate seat and both her and Bill's legacy.

This sad situation did not have to be. HRC gets 100% of the blame.

al snyder   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Isn't she in debt up to her ears? Who are the suckers paying for this? The economy is said to be bad, but that doesn't stop people from throwing away their money to support a multi-million dollar liar. You know the saying, there is a sucker born every minute?

john williams san diego, ca.   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

a typical clintonista lawyer. Obama follows party rules, takes his name off the ballot and lyn utrecht says that he should receive no delegates...sounds fair for hillary but not America...WE REJECT YOU HILLARY...GO AWAY..GO AWAY..

Carl   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

I hope they don't remember how she signed a pledge saying they wouldn't count and declared on TV that she knew the votes would not count. OOPS!!

But it wouldn't be politics unless there were "mistakes" and "lies" oh I mean misspeaks. cough cough Bosnia cough cough

D'Anne   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

WHose really been drinking the "kool-aid...?'

If the Clinton campaign and its supporters cannot recognize right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, they are so much more far gone than any Obama supporter. I have never seen so much hypocrisy in my life. I have nothing against Hillary Clinton, but she has lost so much of my respect...and bloggers want to say Obama has a history of "dirty politics..." PLEASE, can we get real.

Connie   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Clinton said, it took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush. Bill Clinton got in and defiled the white house. Bush Jr. stole the election in 2000. Now Clinton is trying to steal the election and follow Bill pattern.

Do we see a pattern in these two families?

Chuck   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

If Hillary is not willing to give Obama the 40% uncommitted votes in Michigan because his name was not on the ballot then she should at least agree to have those 40% uncommitted votes deducted from the 60% votes she received. The 40% uncommitted did not vote for her after all and in many cases were voting against her. That would give her 20% and not the 60% she received or the 100% she is requesting.

Jodi   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

I am sick of hearing how if Obama is the Nominee he ill loose so the democrats should give the Nomination to Clinton because she can win. NO she can't and here is why;
1. The DNC say that the person who gets the most delegates is the nominee – as far as I can see Obama is the person.
2. If the DNc were to go against that rule and award Clinton the Nomination most of Obama's supporters would feel robbed and pissed enough to;
1. Not vote
2. Vote for McCain
3. Vote Independent.
In essence neither can win without the others supporters. All Clinton supporters are trying to hijack this process by saying we will make sure Obama looses if you do not go against the rules and give Hillary the nomination. Well if Obama is to Loose let him loose and he will loose not because he is not electable or not because he is incapable of doing the job. It will be because a lot of you spiteful, and hateful people will sell your future and your children's future just to prove a point and for nothing else. I am a registered independent and I was not going to vote for Obama, but after I saw the behavior of all the Clintonites I understood what Obama had to overcome from the beginning and I thought if he had to come from NO connections in big politics, no political machine and he is able to overcome, then he will do great things for this country.

we want Clinton   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Who cares about these votes at this late date?

We all know, they want Clinton.

We all know Obama lawyered up to block a revote.

We all know Obama is being installed as the democratic nominee by the DNC.

We all know that the best candidate is HRC- and she has been attacked by her party and the media..... just for running.

We all know the media is afraid to counter the likes of Roland Martin always spewing pro- Obama and anti-Hillary comments.

We want Clinton.

Proud1of 26% in WV   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Any lawyer can make a case.That don't mean that it does any good.If the DNC is affected by these extortion attempts of the Clinton campaign then they can kiss the general election good-bye.Obama has more than just the African American vote.It would be like 1968 on steroids.How fair is a primary with 350,000 to 0.And 0 delegates?

AK   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

It is amazing that whenever a situation doesn suit Obama, all the Obama supporters do is trash Hillary and tell her to go away. Thye have been saying go away Hillary since Feb however she has won the majority of contests since then, is neck and nekc with Obama in the popular vote category and of course the fact that she overtakes hime and beats him if MI and FLA are seated scares the Obama fans, Grow up, this is politics not a fairy tale!

Delores   May 30th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Lord help her! Yes, it's good NOT being a quitter. However, there comes a time reality HAS to kick in.

Hillary: "It's O-V-E-R!!!!"

Please get off the stage. The curtains have closed...The music has stopped...The audience has departed. With grace and dignity, leave the area. No MORE DRAMA.

"Poooooof! Be Gone!"

saddened   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

This is the lowest day in the Hillary Clinton Campaign. She has sunk to the lowest level. She is telling our children that when they break the rules, it is okay once somebody they like benefits. I hope that the DNC is not intimidated or they will lose. If they succumb to Hillary, I will be the first to vote for McCain
What a disgrace!!!

fafa   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

I have a gut feeling this will end up badly. Roland Martin may be right afteral. Imagine Clinton getting the nomination and asking Barack to be his VP. hahahahahaha

BTW forget Ferraro. Just a very bitter person.

Tyrone Brown   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

The DNC decision tomorrow must acknowledge and respect the fact that 48 other states waited their turn and played by the rules.

D'Anne   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Talking about whose really been drinking the "kool-aid...'

If the Clinton campaign and its supporters cannot recognize right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, they are so much more far gone than any Obama supporter. I have never seen so much hypocrisy in my life. I have nothing against Hillary Clinton, but she has lost so much of my respect...and bloggers want to say Obama has a history of "dirty politics..." PLEASE, can we get real.

John   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Hillary should go all the way, go independent, since many of her 'friends" have jumped ship, and obama H. fans are so righteous. Hillary Clinton should dropped the donkey party and run for the election, if not elected, forget about be a senator for the donkey party. Since this election have shown the world that certain people are racist, and many so called educated people want man to get the job, regardless of how inexperience and unclear and questionable back ground this man has.

Jennifer W.   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Hillary- the more you do this, the more you tear apart the party. You have cried Foul, Sexism, Reverse Racism (see Gerarldine's latest gaff below) and now you actually want Michigan to award NO delegates to Obama? And you claim this is all in the spirit of treating voters "fairly"?! Do NOT turn this into another Florida 2000- although you are fast on your way to doing just that. You might as well start campaigning for Mccain, since thats essentially the effect all your actions are having.

Ian, Laurel, MD   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

I just can't figure out how CNN can constantly bring up Clinton's fight for the "civil rights" of Michigan and Florida without really pointing out how Clinton can be quoted as against them counting.

I mean, seriously, she doesn't even acknowledge it. The supporters don't even seem to realize that she said these things.

CNN really needs to make this part of the story.

Amy   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

She signed a paper saying she agreed to the DNC ruled re. MI and FL way back. She even verbally stated that she agreed their delegates shouldn't be seated.

I don't see a problem. She agreed to the rules so make her abide by them like everyone else (except those in the Bush Admin – interesting how similar her campaign is to Bush's in 2000 and 2004).

MICHAEL JIMENEZ LYTLE, TEXAS   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Seat all the delegates! Go Hillary Go! All the way to the convention...If you are not the Nominee, you should run as an Independent...If you are not on the Democratic Ticket, I will still write your name in for President!

Schalaine Ellisor   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Why won't you go away????????????????????

OhioForHillary   May 30th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Biff – the sympathy vote is an overwhelming 92% vote from a specific demographic.

the argument is clear, the party needs to seat them as they voted or they need to not seat them at all (and concede that they are disenfranchising 2.3 million voters) and pretty much give the states to McCain. Either seat them fully, including no delegates for Obama from Michigan (remember he took his name off the ballot and at least half those voters were probably for Edwards, Richardson, et al) and Obama will still be ahead anyway or don't seat them at all... in reality that is their choice.

D'Anne   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Talking about drinking the "kool-aid...'

If the Clinton campaign and its supporters cannot recognize right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, they are so much more far gone than any Obama supporter. I have never seen so much hypocrisy in my life. I have nothing against Hillary Clinton, but she has lost so much of my respect...and bloggers want to say Obama has a history of "dirty politics..." PLEASE, can we get real.

Tim   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

40% of Michigan primary voters showed up to vote "uncommitted" on the primary day. 40% of voters there actually took time out of their busy lives to show up and make a statement that they did not support Hillary Clinton as the party's nominee. If she is given all MI and FL votes she rightfully earned and Obama is not awarded a portion of the uncomitted votes it would be a scam greater than the 2000 election mess. I agree that all votes should count, but that certainly includes those who specifically voted against Clinton. The only way for her to claim that she won the popular vote is to take both MI & FL and deny Obama anything in MI.

Mary   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Several prominent civil rights attorneys have stated that Democrats must fully seat the FL and MI delegation or face criminal proceedings. They also listed case law before the Supreme Court to back up their opinion.
Count all the votes. Seat the delegates as the popular votes indicates.

Senator Orlen Spector stated he might set up congressional hearings on this.

Ted from Florida   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

As a Floridian its not about Obama or Clinton its about every vote should count the last I look Florida was in the United States .I sick of Obama supporters they broke the rules .Well the voters of Florida didn't break no rules we went and voted on our primary day like everyone else .You Obama supporter seem to forget that several prominent DEMS raised the money for Florida and Michigan to have a revote and Obama wouldn't sign off on it .If you Obama voters think he can win the general election without Florida you are all on crack !!!

Beverly, NYC   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Gloria Steinem must be so proud!!! Didn't a judge already boot this out of court? They can write all the letters they wish until someone take the oath of office in January 2009. It won't change the fact that Hillary LOST. Her johnny come lately outrage to have every vote count is just pathetic. Where was the outrage Hillary when you signed a pledge not to campaign in those states or count their votes. OH yes I remenber you were the winner then. The Republicans have already punished both states and reduced their delegates by half, don't hear anyone screaming its unfair. Never thought I would see the day when republicans appears more rational. June 4th can't come too soon. Independence day from queen Hillary and her court.

goofus   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Hillary Clinton/Jim McGreevy '08 !

Chris   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Biff..your ignorance amazes me. If you think that her gender does not affect her then I'd say you are very uneducated. Someone's gender can affect them just as much as their race. You cannot say that Clinton has been receiving a "sympathy" vote and Obama has not. You do not have numbers to prove that either of them have received a "sympathy vote," therefore, your point is not valid.

Jay   May 30th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

This whole issue is not only potentially ruinous, but overtly pathetic. Chasing one's tail at the cost of destroying the overall message that I think the majority of (well, as of last count, 71%) Americans would like to see fulfilled in November is an inherent travesty. Perhaps folks should just accept the fact that Obama is flat-out smarter than Hillary. Hillary is no fool by any means, obviously, but Obama is just that bright. Either way, it'll be nice to have a President back in charge who possesses a functional IQ.

Unhinged HRC folks – please explain this to me. One of the fundamental arguments being made on her behalf is that Obama is not as 'electable,' and that's partially because he is too inexperienced to run a 'tough' campaign when it's necessary. That's been the battle cry for weeks now.

So, please reconcile this so-called 'fact' with the latest punch line of "Obama fights dirty" in regards to the signature challenges from 12 years ago. Not only is what he did then within the rules, exactly as he is now, but that's some pretty tough, old-school-style Chicago politics there. Not to mention, where did he or his aids run afoul of the law and pre-agreed-upon rules in moving this strategy forward?

Seems that like HRC herself, who agreed to the MI/FL rules and now suddenly (when she's about to lose) doesn't, her supporters can't have it both ways.

Regardless of how this plays out, the overriding desire remains – get someone in the White House who will execute a complete 180 on every single disastrous policy that's been enacted since 2000. Hopefully all Americans can focus on that soon.

Ed from Milwaukee(WI-Swing state)   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Why is this news? The rest of the country is ready for the general election so we can see the debates of McCain and Obama. Who cares about HRC at this point and her bizarre math and ridiculous claims? I only hope she doesn’t start crying after this weekend when she doesn’t get what she wants. Or maybe she will try to find her voice again like in New Hampshire!

EJ   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

One would never know that Senator Clinton as well as all the candidates who were involved at the time the penalty was stated months ago had all agreed on the sanctions. Now because Sen. Clinton has no other way to even think about getting the nomination her lawyer lies and presents an entire new story and spin. LET'S NOT PUT IT PAST THE CLINTONS TO BE WIILING TO DESTROY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IF SHE DOESN'T GET THE NOMINATION. WHO WOULD WANT A VP OR ANY OTHER POSITION FILLED WITH A TEAM MEMBER LIKE HER.

marylee wagerman atlanta,ga   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

CNN WE HAVE A NOMINEE

STOP COVERING BILLARY

Independent   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Clinton is the best of the three current choices.

McCain is a poor choice and Obama is even worse.

We need a third option.

The Democrats have swayed too far left- and they have damaged their best candidate just to install their puppet, Obama.

I want Hillary to run as an independent.

ACH   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

And here she goes to, lie, cheat and steal her way in. If they give her the Democratic Nomination beacsue that's just what they will be doing. I am done with believing anything the government has to say. As for her people not voting if she does not win. Who's to say Obama's people wont vote or is it that our votes don't count anyway.

enoch needles   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Rules are for little people!!

christina   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Booooooooooooooo-Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-Hoooooooooooooooooooooooo

GET OVER IT!

Obama '08

Hugh   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

It's amazing how what appears to be an intelligent person can be so stupid.

Ohio   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

It is all a farce – it does not matter – the media has corinated Obama – the college KIDS have corinated Obama – the black community has corinated OBAMA – the DNC have corinated Obama – we are splt even – this election has caused racist tensions – I really do not think either campaign camp is to blame – they truly have no racism in them – but I cannot say the sam about the cable media – pundits and us americans out here – I hope they are all right about this corination – because as I read and look Obama is no different than Clinton in policy – only difference is he is a male and she is a female – I have decided after this election to become an independent at the age of 48 – I do not like either party and whether it is Obama or Clinton I do not think much will change in washington – it truly is a sad state of affaris for America

Bruce   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

What a crock. Voters in both states were told the election did not count. So unless you want to count all the people who stayed home because of that, you can't count any of the votes. The primaries in those states bore no resemblance to free and fair elections. It looks like Clinton is saying she won't accept losing and will have to be pushed out.

Ron, LV   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

It seems that the only thing that is fair is what Clinton people say is fair. I was for seating half of them based on the vote, but with this latest stuff, I say don't seat any of them. The Clinton people are going to say they were cheated no matter what. Just delay the fight and let all the super delegates decide first. The it may not make any difference who gets seated in what proportion. Why have rules if no one is going to follow them? There were no complaints in when this was first decided, so go back to that time and stay with the decision.

Marc PDX   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Hillary may be underhanded in this attempt (Barak did the same kind of thing in his first election in Chicago, by the way) but she has a valid point: she is more electable in a general election than Barak. Barak did it to himself. He should have left his church when he first entered national politics. Not realizing this would become a problem in a presidential race is a huge case of inexperience and poor judgement. I used to think he was a refreshing candidate with a good outlook. But after the steady stream of anti-white racism coming from his church (including yesterday from Rev. Pfleger) I really no longer know what to think of him. I don't think he's a racist... but I'm no longer certain about that either. I can't for the life of me understand why he stayed there. If I had been in a church that preached anti-non-white sermons I would have been apalled and never gone back. I absolutely could not sit through that! I don't understand how Barak Obama could.

AaronC   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Viagra boy Dole is just mad that Scotty outsmarted them. It's inconvenient for him to remind people of Republican misdeeds close to an election. As far as Dole's fake "chivalry", that's DOA in the Bush administration anyway, because there is no honor among thieves. What does Scotty have to be grateful about from the Bush administration anyway, except perhaps that he now has the opportunity to publically expose their frauds and felonies? As to Scotty's character, Bush is the guy who hired him, so really that redounds to more bad judgment calls on their part. In any event, bittermouth Bob is just flapping his gums about style because he can't say anything of substance to refute the charges being made.

mjc   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

the reason carville was on hannity (and colmes is a decent guy if you mean the TV show). . is because MSNBC, CNN WILL NOT EVER HAVE CLINTON SUPPORTERS ON.

MSNBC is the OBAMA LOVE FEST network and its SICK.

these people are not journalists and should be ASHAMED of themselves. like little schoolgirls with a mentally unstable crush.

obama makes me sick.

Jerry   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Hillary lawyers go and take hike, you must be crazy go home Hillary it over with u done, we dont need any more negative campaign coming from you

Jim, Illinois   May 30th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

Just a bunch of despicable cheaters. I do not trust the Clinton's because it's all about them.

Extinct   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

Please look outside the box Hillary Clinton and Senator Dole. All of these recent McClellan/Michigan/Florida articles are opportunities that have been created within the Republican Party and Clinton Camp to discredit Senator Obama. The force and strength that Obama holds, sways and maintains, clearly overshadows not only Hillary but also McCain. Obama has become an icon and impetus in U.S. politics.

The only way that the Clinton Camp and Republican Party can have a "fair" presidential campaign based on tradition, old school rules and politics, is to get Obama out of the picture. Physical elimination of Obama would cause a meltdown in the U.S., remembering what happened in the case of Rodney King, multiplied countrywide. The only remaining option is to change Obama’s public perception by somehow attaching whistleblowers and party unfavorables to his professional image and counting illegally attained votes.

Dave   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

there is no freaking case. the rules were broken and there has to be consequences.

boered1   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

There is no requirement or need to punish their duly elected delegates who represent the 2.3 million voters in Michigan and Florida who participated in the nominating process."

Moronic Clintonista the REQUIREMENT is the RULE Clinton agreed to. All any JUDGE will have to do in this case would be to open the rules, see her signature and thorough and all the other Clintonistas out the door and vote to seat the delegates at the convention (no more than half) and give them NO vote on the candidate but allow them to vote on the platform. fair and by the rules.

Also you moronic Clintonista what about the 3.7 MILLION voters in FL and Mi who followed the rules and did not vote don't they deserve representation?

moronic clintonistas

Gary   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

Here is an option to consider. The purpose at this point is to be fair to everyone- the candidates, Democrats in Fla/Mi, the states and Democrats in all of the other 48 compliant states.

Since Florida had both candidates on the ballot and they didnt hold a revote -so there will be still disenfranchised Democrats who didnt vote because they were told their vote wouldnt count. You must penalize the states for the rule violation of moving up their dates. Resolution- give Clinton 1/2 the delegates since she had 50% of the vote, give Obama the other 1/2. He had 33 % of the vote and the rest of the delegates would have been primarily, if not all, John Edwards' delegates and his support has since gone to Obama. I would then allow each of the Fla delegates to cast 1/2 a vote each at the convention. I would also penalize the superdelegates from Florida- by NOT allowing them a delegate vote. They can attend but not vote. These were the yahoos who caused all the problems.

As for Michigan. It is a major cluster *&*#. Since the math should be done by now and Obama leading the presumptive nominee numbers of delegates- I would give Clinton 55 % of the Mi delegates , as per her vote count in Mi, Obama 45 % of the Mi delegates and the Mi delegates would be entitled to 1/2 a vote each. NO Michigan superdelgates allowed to vote but can attend..

Chi4Obama   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

SOS to all Uncommitted Superdelegates:

STOP THE MADNESS..PLEASE!!!

BIFF, BIFFINGTON...   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

Christopher,

it is true that Obama won his first contest utilizing the RULES...

UM... DUHH...

"THAT" IS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO "NOW"...

Hillary is trying to CHANGE the rules..
THAT is the difference

(please try to keep upP

Suzanne   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

I think for the good of the party and our chances of winning the general election the DNC should give this horrible woman exactly what she wants. Then she has no basis for an appeal and cannot continue to undermine and highjack the election. Obama still has enough of a delegate lead if all of the superdelagates come out for him after the last election next Tuesday. The party can figure out another way to hold Michigan, Florida and the Clintons responsible for their inability to play by the rules after we have our nominee. This is too important for the good of our country to walk into this trap. Call her bluff.

Vee Robillard   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

On one hand, I'd love to see Hillary steal this thing from Obama, then summarily fall flat on her face come November. But knowing the Clinton's they'd find a way to blame others for the loss anyway.

Jared from Nashville   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

I definitely agree that votes from Michigan and Florida should count. However, how is it any way fair that Clinton receive all of the delegates for the state. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. Why was the Clinton campaign not so vocal about these votes a few months ago.

How could you demand that no delegates be awarded Obama after it was AGREED these delegates would not count so he took his name off the ballot. So who is really the group that is trying to "disenfrachise" voters. The Clinton's really had a good legacy up until these primaries (even with Monica Lewinsky and NAFTA). I had a great deal of respect for them and now it has quickly diminished. I thought being a sore loser was over with in elementary school. The only suggestion I have is that the Clinton's add another political party since the Democrats rules they once agreed on are no longer applicable to them.

enomisa   May 30th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

This good woman needs to fight to the convention.

if she continues to be screwed by her party, sabotaged by the DNC, and unfairly treated by the pro-Obama biased media, she needs to run as an independent.

The time for a third choice has come.

andy   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

Hilary Clinton s position with regards to the Michigan delegates is very similar to that of a Communist Country where there is only one name on the ballot ......This is scary !!!

for realsies   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

Also, can we just kick Fl out of the US? Or maybe keep them, but downgrade them to puerto rico status? For real....stop screwing up elections Florida.

Nick   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

Blind ambition is a scary thing.

Dems Unite!!!   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

Let's see, you as part of the govt expect us (the citizens) to follow and abide by the rules, so we as the people who elected you expect you to do the same. FOLLOW AND ABIDE BY THE RULES, nothing more nothing less!

Obama '08 + '12

Philly Kid   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

OK FINE
If it's war she wants, war she'll get.

Lisa (SWPA)   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

CNN
Do you think we can stop with all the Hillary nonsense??
All this "press" regarding her attempts to sabotage the nominating process with her slimy lawyers is sickening.

You are adding fuel to the fire.

When there is civil unrest in this country resulting from the media's antagonistic approach to this situation, you will have to step up and take some responsibility .

Or maybe you will just savor the hype of the protesting and violence that may ensue.

Doug, SD   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

With people like Hillary Clinton in America trying to steal an election, how in God;s name can we say anything to any Third World Country about their election

Shame on your Hillary and your tasteless supporters

Matt in Cleveland   May 30th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

If that is true christopher...a liberal gay man voting for mccain...then you sir are an idiot

Emma, San Jose, CA   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Hillary is paying him for a losing cause. And in the process she is trying to make us all be losers. For those who have remarked that Hillary does
not care about the American people, I have come to agree with you. It is becoming increasingly clear that she is not very presidential.

Marie-Lynn   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

How she gone paid her lawyer she is in debt for 20 millions and more. She spend all her money in Puerto Rico, an Imperialist island where nobody will be able to vote in november for the presidency, What do you think the donnors for how she manage your money? Do you really want to continue with her?????????????Do you really see her as 'presidenta'

mj - florida   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

I don't understand how Clinton can feel good about doing all of this. I have seen her speak in person, I admired HRC, I have lost respect for her.

BIFF, BIFFINGTON...   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Will any Clinton supporter concede that her Florida/Michigan argument is one of political convenience?

Any one of you with honor enough to admit this????

(crickets chirping)

Objective Mike from Illinois   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

LETTER TO CLINTON SUPPORTERS,

I SIMPLY CANNOT BELIEVE THIS ANYMORE. I'M GETTING DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THIS.

CLINTON SUPPORTERS, please put aside your misgivings against Obama for one second and just answer this ONE QUESTION please:

***Essentially, we should reward the person who broke the rules and punish the person who followed them??

If you say yes, then at least you are upfront with your madness and I can respect that. If you say no, then why are you supporting Clinton???

vic nashville,Tn   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Count all votes
Hillary 08

Jennifer   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Why can't the Democratic Party have a winner take all in each state like the Republican Party. This would have been determined months ago. Howard Dean is a joke and I can't believe he is at the top of the party. I have already backed a candidat e that is a democrat, but with all the name calling going on I don't know if I will vote democrat in theGeneral Election or not. I think both democrat's have good and bad ideas and at time both have misspoken. But one thing is for sure after the election (because I want to make sure my vote does count) I am changing to an Independent. The Democratic Party has acted like a three ring circus and they will have to make alot of changes before I can honestly think about being a democrat again.

follow your rules, DNC   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

I will only vote for HRC.

The DNC knows she has the right under party rules to take it to the convention.

Male candidates who were behind by 800 delegates have done exactly that.

No one called on them to quit. Of course they were all white males running against other white males.

Now the rules to install the black candidate, requires that we unfairly attack, damage and swiftboat the stronger, better, female?

karen   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

I am republican and white and I am very ashame of the Clintons and her compaigne behavior!!!nuff said.

I am going for OBAMA all the way......

Obama more suited to represent USA.

ASam   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

What exactly does Senator Clinton want? A rule breaking is a rule breaking? Don't give into her – the democratic party is bigger than one single presidential ticket contestant.

DO NOT OVERRIDE THE RULE TO FAVOR HER. SEND HER PACKING ALREADY.

Be Honest   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Hay CNN why do you not report all the SD in the news the last few days ?
Here is todays

AUSTIN, Texas — Barack Obama picked up two Texas superdelegates, bringing him within 42 delegates of locking up the Democratic presidential nomination.Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie and his wife, Democratic National Committee member Betty Richie, endorsed Barack Obama for president .

MANDY, California   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Candidates were not suppose to PARTICIPATE in the Michigan primary which is why the other major candidates pulled their names from the ballot. Hillary was suppose to as well but changed her mind at the last minute saying that since it wouldn't count it wouldn't matter if her name stayed on the ballot. Florida law wouldn't allow them to pull their names from those ballots or we would have the same issues in Florida as Michigan.

Therefore, either split the delgates or allow none of them the ability to vote.

As far as popular vote goes, since Hillary wasn't suppose to partiicpate in the Michigan primary, all those votes should be disallowed.

Debby   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

I don't see what the big deal is rules were broken in other states by having their primaries early and the votes were counted. When they both signed that paper they didn't realize over 2 million were going to come out to vote anyway and since Obama didn't want to have a redue primary then the voters who made the trip out that day shouldn't be penalized. This is just Obama's same old politics tricks like he used in Chicago to get the nomination.

Chuck   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

No one is now punishing Michigan and Florida you idiot Utrecht. The punishment came and went by a ruling that disallowed their delegates to be seated. The puniushment is over. What people are trying to do now is to reward Michigan and Florida by perhaps allowing at least 1/2 of their delegates to be seated. That is not punishment. That 's giving in. That's like givng your child 1/2 a piece of candy after telling them they could not have any candy for inappropriate behavior.

And face it. Hillary blew it. If she has been so concerned with all the votes counting from the beginning ( instead of agreeing to the Dem ruling not to count Michigan and Florida votes), there would have been much more time and justification to plan and conduct a new vote in both States. But because Hillary's pseudo claim that she is so concerned for these voters did not take place until after she realized she was losing this nomination process, she gave Obama the opportunity to gain an insurmountable lead and the momentum with little or no time to justify a revote in either State only for the purpose for her to try and catch up. Her intent as well as your comments and intent Utrecht are a sham to the point of being sickening.

Dylan   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

They will not allow Obama ANY delegates from Michigan.

NOW WHO'S DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS??

JERRY   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

HELLO DENVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD MORNING .......ITS 5:OO AM DENVER TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... OUR PLANE ARIVES IN DENVER IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PEOPLE GOT ELECTED TO OFFICE ON JAN 29 ... THOSE VOTES AND THAT DATE WAS VALID... OH BUT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES GET PENALIZED.. IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM VERY DEMOCRATIC OR AMERICAN...(ALL LOCAL AND STATE RACES WERE VALID)....IE.. ALL SHOULD BE VALID....

Chi4Obama   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

This is utterly ridiculous. Even "if", she were to somehow win the Democratic nomination. Our party would be so divided, that McCain would have a cakewalk during the General Election. So I ask, what is Hillary accomplishing by taking it this far???

I bet Rush Limbaugh, and the GOP are just sitting back with their boxes of popcorn, and laughing at all of the "CHAOS" surrounding our party.

heartlight 3, Maui, HI   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

This is NOT an election, it is a primary. Rules for primaries are different, and are determined totally by the party. I am amazed that there are actually people who really think what Hillary wants is honorable and fair. How do you look at yourselves in the mirror? This is a contest in which the winner is the one with the most delegates. Everyone knew the rules from the beginning. If she wanted different rules, she should have entered a different contest. What kind of president would we have if the contest is won through temper tantrums and blackmail? Amazing!

vINCe   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Anyone who votes for McCain over Obama is a straight up TRAITOR!! If you want to protest Hillary not being the nominee than CHANGE PARTIES TO INDEPENDANT AND VOTE OBAMA!!! This is about the direction of the country .....NOT WHO WEARS THE PANTSUIT!!

If you vote McCain....SAY GOODBYE TO ROE V WADE...cuz McCain is most definately going to appoint conservative judges and the SC will be 100% conservative for the next 50 years!! Is Hillary really worth that?? Think about it ladies...YOUR FEMINIST VIEWS AND RESENTMENT WILL COST YOU THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT WOMEN HAVE GOTTEN IN THE 200 YEARS THE U.S. HAS BEEN ALIVE!!!

Howard   May 30th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Obama has no right to any delegates from Michigan! He took his name off the ballot!! The people he forced off the ballot in Chicago could not get any votes and neither should Obama!! The vote in Florida must be counted as voted.He took his name off the ballot in Michigan thinking he could gain a political advantage. HE IS A PLAYER!!!

Greg - Annapolis, MD   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

Absolutely pathetic! Run this lunatic out of Washington. I'm pretty sure she'd have been burned at the stake had she been around for the Salem Witch Trials. Somebody please commit her. As a taxpayer, I'd be happy that some of my hard-earned money is going to keep her restrained in a straight jacket while being heavily medicated. Go away Clintons! Your legacy is OVER!
Barack Obama will be our next President!

for realsies   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

RH, my thoughts exactly. We all just read what grounds she will use to take it to the convention.

D'Anne   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

I have been willing to give the CLinton campaign the benefit of the doubt...but if the campaign and its supporters are not able to recognize the unfairness in not rewarding Obama any delegates in Mchigan, they are so dillusional and as many have been saying have no sense of what is right. I don't care who you support, wrong is wrong, and fair is fair.

aware   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

I agree! :)

Obama could have supported a revote but he wanted it all his way. The uniter is really a divider.

reallynuts   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

I can see the democrates loosing in November. No doubt about it.

Bill   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

The Democratic Party is being manipulated by the sleaze of Clinton's campaign. Her campaign has been one dirty trick after another. When i was in elementary school (it was called that then, and was not in disarray as it is today) we were told that elections in the former Soviet Union were rigged, having the name of only one major candidate. Clinton, and her followers are trying to shove that same thing down our throats. If Americans allow this to happen we are in sad shape. The last thing America, and the Democratic Party need is to cave into this kind of corruption. This could be the end of the Democratic Party. Barack Obama offers a new direction. Clinton offers the same old, same old.

NANA   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

I THINK SEN CLINTON AND HER LAWYERS ARE ALL ON SOMETHING MAYBE A BAD ACID TRIP EITHER THAT ARE THEY THINK THE DNC AND ALL OF OBAMA'S REPRESENTIVES ARE STUPID.THIS WOMAN HAS NO SHAME AND WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING THEIR DAUGHTER THAT AS A CHILD I TAUGHT YOU TO BE HONEST BUT AS AN ADULT ITS OK TO STEAL AND CHEAT OR WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.THIS WOMAN IS SO DESPERATE TO HOLD THE TITLE OF PRESIDENT THAT SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING AND I DO MEAN ANYTHING TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS.SHE IS A SAD POOR EXCUSE FOR A WOMAN.

Liar, Liar pants on fire   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

She's a fighter, not a uniter. Conquer and Divide!

What's up CNN?   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

For an election contest that is almost evenly split, it's very, very odd that CNN's moderator chooses to post a vast majority of pro-Obama / anti-Clinton comments.

GET IT STRAIGHT   May 30th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

HRC zealots say they won't vote for Obama if he is the nominee. Why, don't know guess they like how GWB has put the state th U.S is in.

However, it doesn't surprise me that HRC will not cede anything unless it's her way!

I can tell you this. If Obama has the nomination stolen from him by the self serving HRC, Obama voters will do the same and NOT vote HRC!!!

ANGIE   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

i cant belive the dirty games this woman plays she should drop out go back to being the republican that she was and join mccain they deserve each other well if she steals this from obama im certainly not voting for mccain and it will be a cold day in-– before i ever vote for a lying spiteful decitful woman like that have had enough of that with bush for 7 years guess i will be staying home on voting day praying to GOD TO REALLY BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bri, VA   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

I'm so sick of her and her lies. If every vote is so important to her, why in February was she saying basically the exact opposite with her decision to "punish" the states for breaking party rules?????

Obama 08*

Tubby The Tuba from Texas   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

you guys suck.

Clinton=Bush=McCain   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

Bush had to steal, so like other Republicans, it looks like Clinton is trying to steal to.

Win or Lose – WE PLAY FAIR!!

Obama!

rules are rules   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

The DNC knows the rules- Hillary has the right to take it to the convention.

All the white men running against other white men got to exercise that option. Why change the rules now for the weak black candidate, and knock out the stronger better candidate just because she is a woman.

Larz   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

It is disgusting how the Clintons are managing everything to strip delegates and the nomnation from Obama!!!They even want to break the rules to see it happen!!things like these makes me wanna..........stop believing in my country!!It's all a lie!!

Chris Jones   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

OSTRICH, take your HEAD out of the WHOLE in the ground and GET BACK TO REALITY. The CLINTON campaign doesn't want to play fair for UNITY, they want to be selfixh for personal GAIN. Why don't you try to figure out how to pay that 20+ million in the red, OH wait your going to ask OBAMA because he is out campaigning you and McCain together each month. Burning bridges are the CLINTON's game.

GOBAMA

Anonymous   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

She can play that song"Fat Bottomed Girls" at her coranation.

Adam   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

Where was the mock outrage from Hillary's supporters when she said this: "It's clear this election [Michigan is] having is not going to count for anything. I personally did not think it made any difference whether or not my name was on the ballot." ?

SDunn   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

Mauri, it's interesting that you only talk about the Hillary trashing, but you give a blind eye to the trashing of Obama by Ferraro, Faux news, and Hillary's other ignorant surrogates. You're a typical Hillary Supporter.

Blue Virginia   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

How about we make a list of democrats who should be expelled from the party for gross disloyalty: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Joe Lieberman...who else?

Terry in New York   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

Talk about trying to back in to the candadicy? Good lord what will this woman do next? How can they even think this is fair to everyone else in the country if they seat Fl and MI as if nothing happened. It's total B.S. Hillary and you'll never get my vote again.

LuLu   May 30th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

This is ridiculous! How can she seriously propose that Obama gets 0 delegates from MI but she gets hers? Why is it that the only time she's fought this hard for something is when it benefits her personally? I'm appalled at her self-centeredness and disregard for Obama supporters. This isn't acting very presidential, is it?

David from Canada   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

Portion them according to recent state polls (with a half vote each to penalize)

fred3 (seriously quit stealing my name)   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

YES!!! SHE DESERVES TO HAVE EVERY VOTE COUNTED!!! EXACTLY AS THEY WERE CAST, EVEN IN MICHIGAN!!! UNCOMMITTED VOTES SHOULD GO TO NOBODY!!!

Concerned Voter   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

How does he have the nerve to talk about DNC rules in an attempt to undermine them? The delegates should NOT BE COUNTED, and if people think it was a bad rule, then change it for next time. Bad lesson for America's youth who already challenge authority and have a "rules don't apply to me" attitude. No wonder when you consider their adult examples.

Rich   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

"…the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates…"

What was that about Zimbabwe again?

Monica   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

Where's Rob,
I like to read his posts. They are really funny. He comes on here and calls people names and then criticizes people for name calling. Really funny.

Jenny, Rio Vista, CA   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

And here we have the cause for why Hillary is going to take the fight all the way to the convention. She has Ferraro spouting off about the sexism crap to get the grannies and the racists all frenzied up and now she has her argument that she knows she is going to lose. By not getting what she wants she has her excuse to carry on.

She has been laying the groundwork for the last 6 weeks.

Thank you Hillary. I am going to remember you when Roe vs Wade is overturned and I will blame you and only you if I lose my home or job.

If you think you will EVER EVER get the presidency you are sorely mistaken. If Mccain becomes president and you try to run again in 4years I can tell you now that I have a long memory and I will personally start a campaign AGAINST YOU. Your name will be mud.

Mary Grace   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

GO HILLARY CLINTON! WE LOVE YOU! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

HILLARY ALL THE WAY!

KC Atlanta   May 30th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

What a joke the clinton's campaign has become,can't even waite till the resolution before declaring war.

Dee Okla.   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

Christopher

vote for mcsane and see what little gay right you have walk a way. Then come back and tell me how great mcsane.

I agree what go's around comes around, then what has Hill done that's coming back around on her now?

Hill is the one   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

If Obama steals the nomination because of pro-Obama and anti-Hillary media bias, corrupt policies of the DNC, democrats calling on Hillary to quit.... then we will write her name in in Nov.

She should run as an independent.

Clinton is the only one I will vote for.

MB   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

Clinton supporters come out and cry that it isn't the fault of the people of Florida and Michigan that their leaders held the election unfairly. They showed up and voted the only way they could, so they should be counted, it is the American way.

Isn't it so true then in the caucus states. Sure you would like them to have a primary, but their leaders decided on a caucus, and people came to vote the only way they could. Should THEIR votes NOT be counted?
That is what Clinton wants to do. Her "lead" in popular vote, includes Michigan and Florida (With Obama getting 0 in Michigan) and NOT counting 4 caucus states that Obama won.
Does that sound like she wants to COUNT EVERY VOTE?
It sounds to me like "Count every vote that was cast for ME"

Can we give the nomination to a person (Clinton) because of a popular vote lead that would only exist if we disregard the 600,000 people who voted in four states? Not to mention the 300,000 people who voted "uncommitted" in Michigan who don't get a voice in the election.

Time4Change   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

This is completely laughable...are these folks serious!??? This is a flat out juvenile attempt to steal the nomination from Obama.

arc   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

If Hillary Clinton already agreed to the regulations as pertaining to Florida and Michigan; why is she permitted to challenge them at this present date? Why aren’t more of Hillary’s supporters addressing the core fact that their candidate agreed to the rules? All of this while more young American soldiers continue to lose their lives in a war that Hillary Clinton voted for and supported alongside the current administration.

Mary WA   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

Hillary was involved in making the law to punish them. This is a set up. Why do you think she went to FL and told people to vote when she knew (and helped plan) the sanctions? Why was she the only one who did not take her name off the ballet in MI after she agreed the votes won't count. (It was not just Obama who took his name off). This IS VOTER SUPPRESSION. She planned it this way. The DNC has been gracious enough! Superdelegates should back Obama today.

John   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

As a lawyer Lyn Utrecht, should know that when rules and laws are broken you pay for breaking them, unless you can prove to the court that you DID NOT break them. Clinton campaign signed that neither states would count now they want them to count only THEIR way or the highway. Then I would say take the HIGHWAY and go away. If that is the way that Clinton would run the American gov't then God help the world.

Sean   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

So Lyn Utrecht and Hillary Clinton only want to change the rules that benefit her candidacy. Big surprise.

Does anyone really buy the idea that she's doing this because she wants the voter's voices to be heard? If you do, ask yourself, how is she showing concern for the voter's voices when she asks superdelegates to overturn the results of the Democratic nomination process, rendering the votes of everyone who's given Obama the lead meaningless? How is that respectful of voters? And how is she showing concern for the voter's voices when she brushes aside the results from caucus states despite the fact that every Democratic candidate knew caucuses were a part of the nominating system from the start?

This clearly isn't about Hillary Clinton trying to honor the will of the voters when she's only honoring the voters that favored her and discarding the rest. This is about Hillary trying to manipulate her way into the nomination by attempting to redesign the Democratic nomination process at the end of the race. This tactic is more of a dictatorial approach than it is Democratic, and frankly, it makes me frightened of how she would have done things if she had managed to connive her way into the White House.

I'm all for party unity, but I can't help being frightened by Hillary and her coercive methods.

Unempressed voter   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

0 votes/delegates for Obama from MI as "fair"? give me a break

and this is from a campaign whos chair told MI in the 2004 race delegates wouldn't be seated if they went early – now he says he didn't really mean it??!! give me a break

Hillary mentality – "rules are fair, so long as I win"

Chris   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

The Clinton campaign needs to bow out gracefully. As for Fl and MI delegates they broke the rules they knew they were breaking the rules yet chose to continue. If they are alowed to break the rules and get away Scott free, then I feel the goverment should suspend all the other rules and laws for our country. Why should only a select few be above the law. Are we headed for total anarchy? Hopefuly the DNC has better sense than to let outlaws win. Maybe if the people want their votes counted they should look at electing people who can read and follow the rules.

Mimi De La Cruz for OBAMA   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

HILLARY CONDUCTED A NASTY REPUBLICAN, MISMANAGED

CAMPAIGN. SHE NEEDS TO IMPROVE HOW SHE BOWS OUT.

Smitty   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

I don't get it.

If she lost cause the world is so sexist, how's this make her more electable in the general election?

Choose one argument or the other.

TESAP   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

THE STATES DID NOT OBEY THE RULES, I DO NOT THNK THEY SHOULD BE SEATED, AS FOR FLORIDA WHY ARE THEY CONSTANTLY IN THE NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO VOTES.

Luckyj   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

Are we living in the United States of America????
If the rules is broken than maybe the Evil doers in here.

Hillary 08, the electable candidate   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

Obama paid to take his name off the ballot in MI... Hopefully, his game of political posturing that got him his Senate seat from IL will come back to bite him in the butt.

Hillary 08, or McCain if necessary...

Oh, and by the way, I really hope that all black churches are not like trinity. When I go to church, I go to be lifted up, not to tear others down.

Obama is a hypocrit and liar

sheryl   May 30th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

And the beat goes on!!!!!

Obama 08/12!!

Why now ?   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

First off I still don't understand why all of this now. When the DNC told Florida and Michigan that they would be penalized Hillary had no issue with it then. Now that she is losing it seems to be a problem. I'm sorry and I like Hillary but fair is fair and right is right. The citizens in those two states need to fault their local leadership for putting them in this situation. All of those rules were set in place and all states knew about them so why argue now. If Hillary was winning it would not be an issue and that is they way it seems to me, she was caught off guard plain and simple. We need change not Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton that's not a change that is a pattern.

Robert , Oklahoma City   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

In the caption, no apostrophe in "its." Apostrophe is for contraction, not possessive.

Dj   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

What did the (white Catholic) Priest say? "I'm Bill's wife. I'm entitled."

That's what she thinks. That's what she has demonstrated.

Unfortunately, it's not going to happen!

Laurie   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

I have listened to Clinton, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson on the campaign trail. Of all of the campaign rallies that I attended, Mrs. Clinton's was the most disorganized of them all. Why is this important? Mrs. Clinton appears to stir the pot to her liking. She agreed to the ground rules before. If she didn't like the rules, then she should run as an independent candidate. If this is the way that she plans to lead the country by having disorganized rallies and disrupting the Democratic party, this may be a glimpse of what a possible presidency may if she is elected-total chaos. This is a woman that has become so obsessed in her desire to become elected as president that it is leading us into despair.

Crush Rush   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Shes the true closet Republican.Just ask Limbaugh,hes infatuated by her,though he wont admit it openly,for fear his pinheads would turn on him.

Less, Austin Tx   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

The DNC will not be intimidated by Hillary or her lawyer. They have her signature agreeing for Florida and Michigan's votes not to count.

There is no way the DNC is going to let Hillary 'play dirty' and get away with it.

If Hillary would have followed the rules in the first place, she would have taken her name off the ballot. But since she is known to play dirty, she didn't take her name off and now she want's all the votes to go to her.

Hillary's wrong and a lot of people know this, even the DNC.

race card time   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Black man trumps any woman-look at history.

Black men got the vote in 1870. ALL women had to wait until 1920.

So now we think the black man is owed the nomination and the presidency.

And what a good time for the unqualified candidate to waltz into the white house than now- with the country in such a bad way and eager for any change.

Erin   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

I thought she signed an agreement that stated no delegates would be counted?! I think Edwards should just give his delegates to Obama and end this whole chaotic fiasco. This woman is so self involved it is ridiculous. I never liked her from the start, unlike a LOT of people in the Democratic party. I knew from the start that she is just looking for a power trip...

Connie   May 30th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Since we are going to drag the lawyers in. The DNC should not count either state. You can't run against yourself in a primary, so MI defiantly shouldn't count. Now you open up another can of warms.

Carrie Pa   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

The Clinton Machine believes that all Americans are stupid. Wake-up people!

Robert in Toronto,ON   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

I'm flying past intelligent posts and going straight for gutter politics now:

Clintons stink. She's will always bend rules, say rhetoric, or quote stats – ANYTHING that will benenfit it her. And the only people who are fooled by this are Hilly Clinton supporters. Fortunately you guys aren't the majority of Americans.

Helena   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

CNN: Please report that California poll out today shows Californians want Barack Obama 51%-38%. He's also ahead nationally in the polls. What poll is Hillary claiming that she is ahead in?

Also 2 superdelegates so far today for Obama – only 41 left to go.

Good bye Hillary!

Monica, Kingsland   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

This is crazy. Here is the question; Can ANYBODY do something with Hillary before it's too late. At this point in the race, surely noone is still supporting her unless their out of their minds.

Hang it up and go home, before you destroy what's left of our (democrates) chance of winning the white house.

You lost, don't be a sore loser. There'll be another chance to run, if you don't blow it.

Cry, scream, spit; do whatever you have to do just get out of the way.

Rob in St Louis   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

The whole argument–the whole train of reasoning–is ridiculous. Any 1st grader could see the unabashed opportunism of the Clinton position on Michigan and Florida delegates. The primary and caucus system we have, is the one we have. There are rules. Michigan and Florida broke them. It's up to the citizens of Florida and Michigan to punish their leaders. If Michigan and Florida are included with the other 50+ primaries and caucuses, it means the Democratic primary process changes from having two flawed primaries, to an entirely flawed primary season. The MI and FL primaries were unfair because the conditions they were conducted under–the surety that the Democratic primary would not count towards the overall delegate count–simply bias the process. Never mind that Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan...How can any reasonable person believe that the turnout in Dade or Broward counties might have been different if the primary would have MATTERED?

I think Bob Dole was confused when he called Scott McClellon a miserable creature.

I didn't need more proof that another Clinton administration was a bad idea. Anybody else tired of spin? Half truths? Twisting arguments with convoluted logic that betrays more fundamental principles of fairness and...well....all of that stuff that the rest of us more or less consider 'right'? Talk about the usurption of the golden rule!

The only thing that has been more pathetic, is the bleating of HRC that NOT including the MI and FL results would be unfair and an abomination of the democratic process. She needs to read up on her DNC rules. ALL of them. Not just the ones that help her.

Not that it really matters. She's still going to lose. It just jacks up the temperature and polarizes the party. But hey...does anybody still think she really cares about that? Oh, I forgot. She thinks she's Rocky.

As I recall...Rocky loses in the first fight. Maybe the parallel isn't all that bad, after all.

NEVER AN OBAMAPHILE   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

GIVE 'EM HILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not accept anything less than what is fair and ethical. Obama took his name off the ticket in Michigan because he knew he would get trounced by Hillary–THAT IS THE HONEST TRUTH.

He should not be awarded any delegates in Michigan, Florida delegates should be seated as the people voted. BOTTOM LINE....BOTH CANDIDATES WERE ON THE TICKET.

The Democratic party will be very sorry if they discount the voters in Michigan and Florida–especially come November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Concerned Democrat   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

There is absolutely no legal merit to this argument. Let them waste their breath only to be told that this is a DEMOCRACY and not a Clinton-tatorship!!!

Cammi317   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Wow....I don't even know what to say about this madness. How about they don't seat them and they don't count their votes since they could not follow the rules and refuse to accept their punishment or to compromise.

It is a Constitutional right!   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Go Clinton.......it is everyones rights to vote and have those votes count. The DNC did wrong and we all appreciate your stance to RIGHT the wrong.

If the Obama supporters feel so confident about his numbers and their candidate – why not count all the votes and seat the delegates as voted. Obama voluntarily removed his name from Michigan – not sure why but that was abandoning the citizens of that state.

Rules are rules???? Next time you think you have been wronged at work because of some rule, or driving because of some rule, or your rights have been undermined – please do not make a fuss to make a bad rule better – just bite the big one! Now that is progress right?

Get real....these are citizens rights at stake....they may not be yours this time – but watch out for next time if this is not repaired! The DNC and the committee have a duty to the citizens and the Democratic voters first and foremost. Thank goodness Clinton has the tenacity to make this happen and the silent voices have an opportunity to be heard.

Michael - Sacramento, CA   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Everyone is entitled to support the candidate of their choice, but I fail to see how ANYONE can support this:

"Utrecht also made clear the [Clinton] campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates, since the Illinois senator took his name off the ballot there."

So the nearly half of voters that actually took the time to vote AGAINST Clinton (and not FOR any of the 3rd tier candidates still on the ballot such as Kucinich, Dodd, or Gravel) should be ignored, is that it? THEIR votes are meaningless? In what alternate universe is this fair? Those voters could have stayed home and not voted at all, as they had been told (as all Michigan Dems were told) that the primary there wouldn't count, but some Democrats decided to show up anyway to do nothing but vote for someone other than Clinton, and the Clinton campaign has decided that THEIR votes shouldn't count.

Reminder: at one point in this election Sen. Clinton repeatedly said none of the Michigan votes should count...but that was before her campaign started to tank. Now she says only the votes for her are valid. That is so far beyond brazen they need to invent a new word for it.

GOBAMA 08!   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Go home Billary!!! You can do NOTHING to better this country.

People are you listening   May 30th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Someone needs to tell the Lawyers of Hillary Clinton, since you want to penalize Obama for taking his name off the ballot. Let's remember it was Hillary's choice to sign the agreement discounting the 2.3 million voter of FL and MI. No one made her sigh it.. This is so blatant. Come on Hillary supporter. Even you have to say this going a little to far.

PA Voter   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Read the letter in it's entirity. I don't agree with the argument, however my real question is this: If Sen. Clinton and Hillary for President so vehimently opposed the decision of the DNC to discount the Florida and Michigan votes, why did they not write this letter BEFORE the primaries began? Why was this letter not submitted BEFORE Sen. Clinton willingly signed the document indicating she understood and agreed with the DNC decision? She raised this argument after Super Tuesday when it became clear that she might not be the nominee after all.

Timing is crucial when trying to establish your credibility, Sen. Clinton.

King   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

If Clinton thinks winning in Puerto Rico means something, maybe she should run for president in the country and Take Geraline with her,Rove, Bush, Bill and all the other delusional people with her.

Allan   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

"The States have already been punished because no campaign activity was conducted in Florida or Michigan."

So you agree that the voters in Florida and Michigan did not have the opportunity to learn about the candidates before some of them chose to vote in a primary that they knew in advance was a meaningless "beauty pageant?"

Sounds like an argument in favor of completely throwing out the results of both botched primaries to me.

In that case, each state should have half its delegates taken away and the delegations split 50/50 Clinton/Obama.

mollygonz   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Keep dreamin Clinton lawyers,..keep dreamin.

Objective Mike from Illinois   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Christopher:
You are stating that Obama is going to win using technicalities???

The freaking DNC made the rules you idiot. You probably don't respect rules in your own life that's why you're cool with that.

In addition to playing by the rules, Obama has won more LEGAL votes, more delegates and more states.

So, we should COMPLETELY ignore the rules by counting FL/MI 100% and giving Obama 0% delegates and votes in Michigan.

That's like rewarding people with a new car for drunk driving and crashing their car. Do you see how stupid this is???

By the way, primary rules are different from General Election rules. In the Primary EVERY VOTE DOES NOT COUNT and the voting rights don't apply because the law allows the party to DETERMINE how they will run their process!!!. That's why you have primaries, caucuses, conventions, and winner take all systems (republican). The claims by the Clintons of "every vote should count" is ignorant, stupid and clearly targeted at morons.

boered1   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Christopher May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

This is only fair considering if you do your homework you will see this is how Obama won his first campaign. He got the others running thrown off the ballot using lawyers and on technical issues

Yeah it is SO wrong to elect a candidate that follows the rules!

In Chicago the signatures were thrown out because THEY WERE OT SIGNATURES you moronic Clintonista. A PRiNTED NAME is NOT considered a legal signature ANYWHERE in the US unless it is countersigned. So people tried to FORGE names (after all they are not signatures but names only) and Obama called them on it, just like here people are trying to break rules and Obama will not let them. Such a terrible thing ahving someone with intergrity in the race isnt it? Prevents you cheaters from getting your wat.

moronic Clintonistas

emka   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

this is sheer madness and inordinate ambition on the clinton's side to wrestle victory from Obama.what was she doing when Obama won 12 straight elections?. She just woke up and realized she has lost and consequently cannot close the gap.You cannot decide nor make the rules for the party.You are not larger -than-life and Democratic Party is bigger than you are..

Neutral   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Michigan and Florida delegation must be seated. Obambi can't receive a single delegation from Michigan, he voluntarily removed his name from the ballot; he has NO ONE to blame but himself. To give Obambi even a single delegate from Michigan is akin to rewarding a thief after he stole everything from your house. This nation do not believe in rewarding misbehavior.

Hillary is the ONLY choice for the Democratic Party to win the Whitehouse, Obambi have caused racial division and sexism due to his "go for broke" mentality in the campaign trail. Obambi is RACIST, a BIGOT, the two books he wrote which are full of lies about events(made over $2 million out of it) showed his HATRED towards WHITE PEOPLE.

OMG!   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

There nust a revote in order for this to be 100% fair. Hillary you are one HOT MESS! How could you agree then disagree? You are a showing that you will do anything including sink to the depths of hell to get what you want. I SAY REVOTE TO MAKE IT COUNT FAIRLY. I don't care what any of you think she is a LIAR AND A CHEATER.

Enomisa, how did Obama steal it?   May 30th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

By "stealing" more popular votes? By "stealing" more pledged delegates? By "stealing" more superdelegates? By "stealing" more states? I don't get it

Thomas   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

She sounds like Obama more and more every day! Ask Obama about how he got elected a few years ago...

HillarySkank on myspace   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Your campaign will not support any delegates going to Barack from Michagan? What about those that didn't vote for Hillary then? Their votes aren't counting then! You are all full of crap, spinning everything to your little demented little minds.

Mich was changed by the Democratic Gov, they should not be counted at all. The only place that has a case that the judgement was too harsh is Florida whose Republican leaders made this change (and that is only because they thought it would benefit Hillary and believed then and now that any Republican would have an easier time running against Hillary than Barack).

Obama is a thief   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Obama and his delusional supporters think that he can simply waltz into the white house without any experience, any qualifications whatsoever and on rhetoric, JUST because America is sick and tired of Bush and ready for change.

But Hillary Clinton is the better change. We do not owe the cute, inspirational black man with a gift for speech delivery the nomination.

Write in Hillary Clinton if Obama steals the nomination.

Darth Vadik, CA   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Leave it up to lawyers, right Hillary?

Dustin   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Obama's sympathy vote....North and South Carolina...tell me race isn't a factor in his winnings.

Mike   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

You want sexism? Well then, Bill needs to put a leash on his woman. He's the only one left that has any control over her. She's jumped the fence and gone crazy!

Marc in DeKalb, IL   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Wow. Count Michigan, but ONLY Hillary there.

Count Florida when its election went before Obama could get his name out too effectively.

... her lawyers are just as crazy as she is.

This is what a cult of personality can do.

Flem   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Holy Cow!!! Just when you thought the Clinton sewer machine couldn't get any more nasty and un-american...NO MICH. DELEGATES FOR OBAMA AND ALL FOR HILLARY??? You've got to be joking! This just keeps getting more bizarre...if you can stomach the Hillary campagn's stench to actually get your mind around what her lawyers are saying.

GEEZ!!

Hey Hillary supporters: what say you now? You can't POSSIBLY support her now, can you??? My Gawd! ANYONE who still would vote for her at this point probably bought totally into Bush's reasoning for invading Iraq. BOY, are you people DUMB!!!

dennis from texas   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

clinton should run as an independent there are many reagan democrats who will vote for her besides with the edition of two new states florida and michigan shecertainly will win. clinton all the way to president 2008

58 old white ladies for OBAMA   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

IF HILLARY WANTS RESPECT & HONOR, SHE NEEDS

TO BEHAVE WITH HONOR & DIGNITY. SHE HAS BEHAVED

JUST NASTY.

Jim   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Obama won in IL because he got others kicked off the ballot, and now he wants points even though he took his name off the ballot, dream on it ain't gonna happen, Hillary gets them all in MI, and her part in FL.

Iisha   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

I would like to know where were the lawyers when the decision was made in the beginning to not count Michigan and Florida? I am sorry this appears to be yet another stunt by the Clinton campaign and I will NEVER support her due to the way she has handled herself.

Monica   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Unbelievable.
The DNC better not count an illigitimate election where she was the only one on the ballot without giving the uncommitted voters the same priviledge to elect delegates to choose their candidate. Thousands of people saw her name on the ballot and chose not to vote for her but they still voted. It should tell you something that thousands voted uncommitted just so they would not have to vote for her.

Voting DEM - either nominee   May 30th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Seat half the delegates from each state, per DNC rules the penalty for having their primaries early is not less than one half of their allotted delegates - but don't seat any for either candidate...

...OR STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND DISALLOW ALL DELEGATES FROM EACH STATE AS EXPRESSLY STATED AND AGREED TO BY ALL NOMINEES LAST FALL.

$$$$   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

*****************************************************

Another fine example of Hillary wasting money!

You're $20 Million + in debt and still paying for high priced lawyers and galivanting around Puerto Rico.

There is no FAIR and HONEST way for you to win.

Stop spending the dems $$ fighting and unite!

*****************************************************

DreamBird   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

The DNC legitimate primary proces:
Let’s look at the Delegate Selection Rules of the DNC :

No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention.

Provided, however, :

that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February;

that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February;

that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February;

and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.

In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.

The first Tuesday in February was the 5th, so that 22 days prior would be January 14th.

Thus, the Nevada caucuses could be held no earlier than the 19th,

the New Hampshire primary could be held no earlier than January 22nd, and so on.

Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina all moved their caucuses and primaries in violation of DNC rules, and yet suffered no penalty, not even the standard 1/2 reduction in delegates.

So why were Michigan and Florida afforded such draconian treatment?

This is what the DNC said the primary calender should look like, in their own words.

The new DNC Rules and Bylaws for the caucus and primary 2008 calendar schedule is as follows:

* Iowa holds the first-in-the-nation caucus on January 14.

* New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary on January 22.

* Nevada conducts a caucus between Iowa and New Hampshire on Saturday, January 19.

* South Carolina holds a primary 1 week after the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, January 29

This is what ACTUALLY HAPPENED........

Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina all moved their caucuses and primaries in violation of DNC rules, and yet suffered no penalty, not even the standard 1/2 reduction in delegates.

(1) Iowa

The earliest Caucus could be held = 1/14/2008

The Caucus was held = 1/3/2008 – A violation of 11 days

(2) New Hampshire

The earliest the Primary could be held = 1/22/2008

The Primary was held = 1/8/2008 – A violation of 14 days

(3) Nevada

The caucus was held January 19th, but was changed from second in the schedule to third in the schedule.

Nevada was supposed to be the second Caucus, ahead of New Hampshire, but New Hampshire and Nevada switched positions around, while Nevada still kept their date of January 19th.

South Carolina

The earliest the Primary could be held = 1/29/2008

The Primary was held = 1/26/2008 – A violation of 3 days

These 3 states violated the rules but are still having ALL their delegates seated at the convention.

Then there is the rest of the story

Michigan

The earliest the Primary could be held = 2/5/2008

The Primary was held = 1/15/2008 – A violation of 21 days

Florida

The earliest the Primary could be held = 2/5/2008

The Primary was held = 1/29/2008 – A violation of 3 days

The DNC is in violation of it’s own rules.

I would ask this about Michigan and Florida : WHY only Fl orida and Michigan were punished?

Why were the others given waivers?

Why were Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina never punished by removing their delegates and popular vote accumulations from all of the candidate cumulative totals?

Why is the DNC so corrupt with the people and citizens of this nation?

Stephen   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Are You Crazy?

Just stop it already!!   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

I'm just amazed that the people who support her are so hellbent on her winning that they won't admit she is ONLY pushing for Florida and Michigan because she can't win without them. If this were Obama, they'd all be saying he is just using FL & MI and not sincere in his motives. But with her, they have different standards of honesty and commitment.

And while I'm on the subject of double standards; why are HRC supporters accepting of her using the gender card when Obama has never ONCE mentioned her gender being an issue, but they want to hold him accountable for the race card when ONLY her supporters are bringing up race and then trying to put it on him.

The hypocracy has gone from ridiculous to insulting.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

UTRECHT ON BEHALF OF HILLARY ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT AND SHOULD BE DISBARRED JUST LIKE BILL. UTRECHT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAMPER WITH THE DEMOCRAT PARTIES RULES WHICH MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA AGREED TO. THE ONLY DOG IN THIS FIGHT IS FOR UTRECHT TO TAKE IT UP WITH MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVES WHO CHANGED THE RULES AND I HOPE THE DNC SENDS UTRECHT AND HILLARY PACKING TOGETHER.

Tom   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

HRC and her team is doing everything she can to achieve the nomination and keep lying to the public . As a former Clinton supporter, I disagree of what she has been doing and she is destroying the party and she is extremely selfish ande is only for herself and is ready to sell her soul to devil inorder to get nominated.
May God has mercy on her

Chris from San Antonio   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

How nice. They want to be "fair" yet not award Obama any delegates in Michigan because he followed the party rules.

These people make me sick.

Oh, and you want to know who else had "elections" with only one candidate on the ballot? Saddam Hussein, Mussolini, Kim Jong Il...

AC   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Rules are for the rest of us -not for the Clintons

Jim   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

100% right!!! Don't give Obama anything he hasn't earned! He was stupid enough to take his name off in Michigan then he cannot claim delegates. Furthermore, if anyone should be punished it's Obama for trying to manipulate the election process by removing his name and thus creating a distabilizing situation that looks unfair to his supporters but is actually unfair to Hillary Clinton if she does not receive all of the delegates she claims and that she won fairly.

Punishing Hillary Clinton in Michigan is not only illogical since she did nothing wrong but at the same time it rewards Obama's manipulation of the primary process.

You present yourself to the electors or you cannot be elected! Even if you don't campaign your name must be present on the ballot or you will have no gains to claim.

Mike in Calgary   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Clinton said the vote didn't count! SHE RENEGED! After the Minnesota I-35 Bridge Collapse, she said bridge and highway safety were a priority! Then she ignored economists and proposed a gas tax holiday that pulled the funding rug out from under the highway projects and the construction jobs! She lied about her courage at the airport in Bosnia. She squandered medicare and pharmacare dollars by and over 4,080 American Lives (AND COUNTING) by voting to start the war in Iraq, rather than dealing with Al Queda in Afghanistan. She couldn't bother do read the Intelligence Report ... or maybe she just LOST IT like she lost or misplaced the Rose Law Firm Boxes (WHITE -WATER) on her desk that she couldn't be bothered to find and produce when the ordered to do so by the Court! At least Vince Foster had some honour and decency!

The only interest that either Clinton serves is SELF-INTEREST. The only difference is that Hillary's pants stay up!

Mike

50 year-old Latino for Obama   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Yeah, there are no Obama supporters in Michigan anyway, right? Obama just took his name off because he wanted to hand you the contest, right? A vote only counts when it's for you, right? Oh, and caucus states don't count because they don't vote for her, right?

I am SICK of this woman. Any respect I might've had for her is gone. Don't be fooled, Michigan and Florida. She only claims to care about you because she "won" your states. If the circumstances were switched, she wouldn't want any votes from your states to be counted.

I thought maybe she was coming to reality, but she's willing to do anything to win. In my opinion... seat half the delegates, giving the uncommited ones to Obama. That's the fairest solution I can think of.

DADZITSO   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

this issue is sample to resolve . give her all the delagate she want the the next day all superdelagate swicth to obama . she is becoming a pain on the rear end.

David   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

What does Terry McAuliffe think about this? When he was DNC Chairman he threatened Michigan with exactly the same as the Clinton camp are whining about now.

Anonymous   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Seat half the delegates from each state, per DNC rules the penalty for having their primaries early is not less than one half of their allotted delegates - but don't seat any for either candidate...

...OR STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND DISALLOW ALL DELEGATES FROM EACH STATE AS EXPRESSLY STATED AND AGREED TO BY ALL NOMINEES LAST FALL.

Rick   May 30th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

No matter how you try to spin it, its over for you HRC. Try again in 012 !

McCain will be the next President in 08!!! No one can beat the GOP Swiftboaters when they are called out in action !!!

Oren Ovadia, California   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

It would be a big, hudge, big mistake to nominate Obama. He is too liberal and tighted up to too many religious freaks. Lets make an Clinton-Obama ticket and take the White House by storm. It would be too funny if Hillary will run as Independent and tell the Democratic Party to @#$* off. That way Obama want win and she has a great chance to carry the Presidential Race!!!!

let it go   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Why is no one going after the law officials of these two states? The ones who made the choice against the DNC to move up their primaries.

Clinton's champaign is fighting for states both candidates agreed not to champaign in? There is no foundation here. It is exhausting trying to watch them legitimize this! There is no solution for rule braking! What about the states that followed the rules, what does this say!?

This whole thing is sick.

Obama v McCain   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

-and she's going to get away with it too folks! just watch! she has serious plans that will destroy it all! She's out of control and off the HOOK!

Hillary The Fuzzy Math Candidate that Can NOT Even Beat Obama   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

News flash to Hillary and her supporters: The fat lady is about to sing...

If Obama is not electable then why can’t you beat the rookie? Only reason she won FL and MI is because of the Clinton name brand.

Nevada   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

I don't understand how they can make a case considering there she signed away their right to have the vote counted... as much as she may like to pretend that didn't happen...it did. So no matter the effort put forth and her change in attitude, she still said not to count them... Maybe it is illegal for them to not count the vote, but it is a known fact that if Obama receives nothing then it is a skewed result and it will be treated as such at the convention. Any way you look at it... Clinton still loses, so how about we put it to rest? I think Clinton is making a bigger stink about this then the states themselves.

Rus in St. Paul, MN   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Even if they seated all of the delegates in full, Hillary will still not win. She'll be behind by about 110 delegates. 17 of the "uncommitted" in MI have already confirmed they will vote for Obama, 12 more of those lean Obama but they haven't gotten a 100% confirmation on.

Hillary, under that scenario, will need 235 of the remaining 307 Super and Pledged delegates to get the nomination even if Florida and Michigan are seated in full to reach 2209. Go to demconwatch.blogspot.com to get a full rundown of these numbers and all possible FL/MI scenarios.

Even in Hillary's best case scenario, she will not get the nomination. The math is too stacked against her to make it up at this point in the game. To her supporters, we all respect Hillary, but honestly, she failed you all. Her lack of a campaign strategy through the majority of February and March is what killed her campaign, not Florida and Michigan, not sexism, not racism, not any other ism anyone wants to throw out there.

It's as simple as that, she failed you.

Blue Virginia   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

I can't wait to contribute money to the first democrat who decides to run against her for re-election to the Senate. To Hell with Hillary and any of her screwball supporters who want to ram her down our throats. Hillary- Go Home, Sit Down, and Shut Up!

Dustin   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Here we go again! After the Court threw her case out, she's going the legal route to legitimize restoring the long lost delegates! Why worry about beating McCain when the DNC can't even decide who they want as their candidate! This proves that both sides (Obama and Clinton) will do just about anything to make their respective bid for the White House, violating DNC rules not withstanding. If you ask me, this is just one more reason to consider voting for a third party candidate this election year!

"Whoever proves themselves worthy" '08!

Ratgurl   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Why do people still kowtow to her? Hasn't she proven to everyone -including herself – that her role has been played & the curtain has dropped? The show has ended, it's time to go home.

KATE   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

so, by disregarding the uncommitted voters, the Clinton campaign wants to disenfranchise 45% of Michigan voters. Really, is that not contrary to the ideals of count every vote! Never mine that Clinton wants to win by getting all of Michigan's delegates, while her standing opponent gets ZERO !! HOW IS THAT FAIR...

Jerry   May 30th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Hope her lawyers successfully make the point that the "S" in USA stands for "STATES", and states have the right to schedule elections, not political parties. Who runs this country anyway? There have been a number of countries where the political parties held the real reins of power. Fortunately, most of them were on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall a few years ago. Florida and Michigan should have never caved to the parties (Reps or Dems) in the first place. I'll bet they won't do it four years from now!

Voted for Reagan (twice), Bush I (twice), Bush II (twice), and now I'm defending Hillary. And Geraldine Ferraro makes sense. Strange place, this Twilight Zone...

Toyin,Austria   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Lawyer, WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE SO SELFISH???????????? WHY DON'T YOU PEOPLE HAVE THE FAIR OF GOD??????? I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR TATICS, I'M VERY SURE IS NOT GOING TO WORK, YOUR CAMP IS FULL OF BITTERNESS, RACISM, ANGER, HEANVY, STRIFE; I CAN GO ON AND ON. BUT NOTE THIS: OBAMA IS GOING TO COME OUT VICTORIOUSLY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. ALL YOUR PLAN FOR HIM WILL NOT SUCCEED. AND NO WEAPON FASHION AGAINST HIM SHALL PROSPER. IT IS WELL WITH OBAMA AND HIS CAMP.

trying again   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Why all the anti-Hillary comments and hate? White male candidates lagging behind by far more delegates got to exercise their right to take it to the convention. Why not HRC? Is it because the black man feels entitled to the nomination AND the presidency?

Hillary should keep going..the voters clearly want her to. This is not what is dividing the party and creating bitterness . It is comments like Roland Martin's and those of the other Obama supporters in the Media that are creating and fueling divisiveness.

Let the voters decide, let the DNC make a FAIR decision about Michigan and Florida, and let the primaries continue. Hillary is not the enemy...she has done nothing to hurt this party, this country or the world.

Obama is the divisive one. Clinton has the right under the democratic party rules to fight to the convention, where the nominee is decided. The superdelegates should not be weighing in until then.

In fact, her staying int he race has made OBama realize how much work he must do to gain credibility and substance, to counter GOP attacks.

Dee Okla.   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Why do we have rules, do just change them if they don't work for us?

To all MI & FL people that are yelling now and feel Hill is working for them to have their vote count now, Where were you all and Hill back when it counted? Why wait till now to act so put out.

Lucinda, Albquerque, NM   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

How horrible would it be to actually wake up one morning and find out that Hillary is our president! I am convince that she is mentally ill, has no concept about the difference between right and wrong. It bother so many of us to think that she thinks she should not be held accountable to uphold her word re Florida and Michigan. And she refuses to accept caucus results. Is she living in la la land or what? Be very grateful that either Obama or McCain will be our next president.

meck   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

According to the DNC rules, no candidate should get an advantage in delegate allocation in an election that was essentially a beauty contest (i.e. Florida). If Obama can accept a compromise that gives Clinton an advantage in Florida, why cant Clinton accept a compromise in Michigan??
This woman is greedy and only worried about herself and not the party. Need I remind her; the Democratic Party selects a nominee according to the Delegate count, and NOT the popular vote!! Thats the rule.
You cant have it both ways HRC!!

Meck, Vanc

Black College Grad for Hillary   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Good!!!!!!

Obama is a Chicago street style politican, or he would have agreed to let MI and FL revote months ago when the funding was available and it was in no longer an early primary.

HE is the one who dragged this out when he said NO to a revote that was sponsered.
HE is the one that does not want these votes to count.

He made this mess by not fixing it months ago, he needs to be accountable, not the voters.

David Goldman for OBAMA   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

SHE HAS DISQUALIFIED HERSELF FROM DAY 1.

SHE GOT OUT THOUGHT. WE CAN'T GET OVER HER

SUPPORT OF THE IRAQ WAR, NAFAT, & THE RACE, &

OTHER NASTIES. NASTIES GOT BOTH BUSHES ELECTED

& WE ARE TIRED OF ALL THE MONGERING. SHE NEEDS TO

STOP ACTING LIKE A REPUBLICAN. GET UP, BRUSH HERSELF

OF, GIVE US AN APOLOGY, & START TO GO TO WORK. WE

WANT HER TO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING. SHE IS

JUST TOO OLD TO JUST KEEP GETTING NASTIER.

HillarySkank on myspace   May 30th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Your campaign will not support any delegates going to Barack from Michagan? What about those that didn't vote for Hillary then? Their votes aren't counting then! You are all full of crap, spinning everything to your little demented little minds.

Mich was changed by the Democratic Gov, they should not be counted at all. The only place that has a case that the judgement was too harsh is Florida whose Republican leaders made this change (and that is only because they thought it would benefit Hillary and believed then and now that any Republican would have an easier time running against Hillary than Barack).

Too   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Let me see if I get this straight – so Hillary's campaign's position is that you should penalize Obama and 48 other states for playing by the rules and reward Hillary and Fl/Mich for breaking the rules? Very clear that the rules will never matter in a Hillary run white house! Ridiculous!!!!

MAJITU   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Clinton and her team are actually worse than dictators in other parts of the world. They don't believe in the rules when it suits them. Disgusting!

People are you listening   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Once again this truly shows this is not about the voters of FL and MI. It is about Hillary Clinton. Stop touting the 2.3 million voters if you don't want to recognize that at least some wanted to vote for Obama.

Conservative Buyer- CA   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

I don't mind the lawyers, but the Clinton Campaign is deliberately pushing for an onslaught of mayhem protestors.

It's a double edge sword when trying to seat FL and MI delegates. Dems don't want to disenfranchise voters but at the same time Dems will be scrutinized for not being able to follow Primary rules.

One way or another the McCain Campaign is going to have a field day on this issue.

Either he'll woo voters because DNC will be perceived as the bad guy for following the rules by penalizing the states.
Or McCain will start mounting an attack on the Dems for not being able to follow rules as if saying, "Don't trust Dems with the Constitution if they can't even follow their own Primary rules."

Gerald   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

It really looks like HRC is getting ready to take this thing to the convention. I hope more rational minds get the last word on this issue. He demands are completely unrealistic. What makes this so funny is the fact that HRC openly accepted the punishment of the two states during an interview where she basically said it was clear the votes would not count! If that is not hypocrisy, then I need a new definition of the word. I wonder how HRC supporters get past that. Haven't they seen the tape of the interview?

Ivar   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

remind me not to hire Clinton lawyers coz they are making stupid arguments

Perrell, Lincolnton, NC   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

This is really just low very low of the Clinton's and all of her supporters to stoop this low to try to take something that is not hers. I thought this was the republicans way of doing things. Well I guess I was wrong about the Clinton's it just sickens me that they would rather ruin the democratic party for self gains. Wow never saw this one coming.

Elisabeth   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Barack Obama cannot, cannot, cannot be TRUSTED. He is using the old Chicago way to eliminate his competitor. Hillary should never, never, never ever give up the RACE.

The Barack Obama tactics would spoil the confidence of the whole nation abroad if he becomes the President of the United States of America.

The Chicago way of govern the country would be ugly, cowardly and extremely suspect – please realize that fact before it is too late!

mzgemini   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Since other blogs are closed for comment... why is it that Obama has to be held responsible for every thing that everybody known and unknown to him says about Hillary or anyone else, but Hillary is not held to the same standards?

I don't recall Hillary having to address Rev. Manning in his bashing of Obama in his Obama is a Mac Daddy sermon... google it and see what this hatemonger has to say

John Cruz   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Obama 53%, Clinton 40% in National Polls of Polls, why is it not mentioned? It's a lot more important than rest of these tickers.

Its obvious that CNN like to post events as if there's a tight race going on, to generate discussion and interest for their benefit, rather than state the very obvious fact...it's all over.

Marvin   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

If the DNC told the Obama campaign that these delegates in mI wont be be counted and in reliance he took his name of the ballot then it is preposterous for the delegates to go to Clinton. There are districts and constituencies in MI that possibly would have voted for Obama if not for his decision (that was based on the DNCs ruling). For the DNC to seat a delegates for Clinton would be a clear disenfranchisement of those voters! Every vote should "count" but its more important that every vote counted represents the true will of the people. That is the basis of our political system.

Dwayne   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

wow......so I guess Hilary thinks she should just get all of the votes because Obama obeyed the rules and she didn't.........i'm not shocked by this at all. I guess the HRC supporters will say that this makes sense, I guess no one in Michigan would've voted for Obama, I can't wait to hear what she thinks about Florida.

MB   May 30th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Hillary wants 100% of the Michigan Delegates seated for her and 0% for Obama. Wow.

trellskig   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

Boy-O-boy, this is a good one and I'd hate to see the outcome of it!

Andrew Lee, Nashville, TN   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

Well that was worth a laugh..... :)

Jack   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

Simple,

Obama 08

Rose - Baltimore, MD   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

Wicked always attracts wicked.

Agnostic Democrat   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

The Clinton motto: If you can't win it honestly, then steal it or file a lawsuit.

Where's that scumbag, Lanny Davis?

KLM   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

I actually do hate her. I used to say I would support any Democrat if they were elected but she is just another Bush to me. Distortion of everything.

could not say it better myself   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

May 29th, 2008 1:00 pm ET
Hillary should keep going..the voters clearly want her to. This is not what is dividing the party and creating bitterness . It is comments like Roland Martin's and those of the other Obama supporters in the Media that are creating and fueling divisiveness.

Let the voters decide, let the DNC make a FAIR decision about Michigan and Florida, and let the primaries continue. Hillary is not the enemy...she has done nothing to hurt this party, this country or the world.

Obama is the divisive one. Clinton has the right under the democratic party rules to fight to the convention, where the nominee is decided. The superdelegates should not be weighing in until then.

In fact, her staying int he race has made OBama realize how much work he must do to gain credibility and substance, to counter GOP attacks.

Gracias, Hillary! and Viva PR!!!

Ed in Kansas   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

Ridiculous! Strangely bizarre to suggest no delegate should be awarded Obama! i see all Clinton's people are like herself: They live in s strange world of their own, where Maths and Statistics have no place and where rules are rules only when they suit their whimps and caprices.
No dobut you are called Lyn "Ostrich"! The only difference here is you are the "minorest" loser bird…please come to earth.

Abul   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

DNC should expelled her from the party, otherwhise she will destroy the party. She don't care about anything else but herself.

IntelliGent   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

They can't be serious.

David King   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

So on what legal basis is he declaring this? A lawyer should practice law, not propaganda!

Ickes and Bill Clinton established these rules. These people are such hypocrites!

OBAMA '08

Obama Supporter   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

She is such a bad example for young girls that are interested in politics.

Chicagoway   May 30th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

I had to post this comment here since all other articles are closed. This is the thrid time I have asked this and still have gotten no responses. Can someone please give me examples of the sexism that Barack Obama has employed against Hillary. People keep saying this but never give examples of it. Is it because they dont know any and are just blindly agreeing with Hillary's statements?

Nateru   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

LOL....it's really, really swell that lawyer Lyn Utrecht says that both states have already been sufficiently punished...but...since I don't see her name on the DNC membership roster that is going to be deciding this, I think her opinion is about the same as the rest of us (in value).

The only thing different is that HRC has paid a ton of money for the lawyer to say it.

Probably money that HRC received from supporters...LOL...so now the supporters are paying for the lawyers for Hillary...wow...Hey Hillary, please throw some of your apparently "expendable cash" you've collected from followers my way!

TOM   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

it sure seams everything the clintons touch ends up in court. most of bill presidency was spent in court. the lawers sure love them.

jAYjAY   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

No sense whatsoever of fairplay. This is the epitaph of the Clinton legacy.

Chuck, Democrats United We Stand   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

Nothing like a pathetic political ploy to gain that which she originally stated didn't matter or count. It only mattered when she began to loose and now that she is loosing more and more every day, her attempts, and dictation as to how it will play out becomes all the more desperate. I must admit the more Senator Clinton, her Husband and the campaign camp opens their mouth the more pathetic, desperate, and sour they sound. It would be nice to see the Clintons, play by the rules they agreed to, but that would be asking too much of them to be honest.

Rick in Florida   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

This is just the beginning of a TERRIBLE SUMMER of nothing but the Clintons, Ferraro, McAuliffe, et al ARGUING that the SuperDelegates should SWITCH....and they'll go to the August Convention, right to the end, to see if they can achieve that result.

Its ALL ABOUT THE CLINTONS........

Forget the process
Forget the rules
Forget truth-in-campaigning
Forget the Party
Forgert Dems winning in November

It's all about the Clintons...always has been...always will be.

ITS DISGUSTING.

hugues   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

hillary it is over,why you want to take everybody down with you.

FB   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

So she agrees to the rules set forth, then she doesn't agree. Interesting.

Sean   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

"Utrecht also made clear the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates." Now who's blocking a resolution?

white middle aged woman FOR OBAMA   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

Cheat your way into the nom. Hillary, and see what happens. The Clintons are down right dirt. There is NO WAY I will support that woman !!!!!

WOTHLESSCASECLAIM   May 30th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

WHO CARES WOLF WHY DON'T YOU GO HELP HIM WHEN HE MAKES HIS CASE NO BODY IS GOING TO LISTEN TO THIS BOGUS CASE. THIS GUY WANTS TO PUNISH OBAMA FOR FOLLOWING THE DNC RULES IN MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA THIS SHOWS YOU HOW DESPERATE THE CLINTONS ARE THE THING THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THE PRESIDENT.

Ed in Kansas   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Ridiculous! Stramgely bizarre to suggest no delegate should be awarded Obama! i see all Clintons people are like herself: They live in s strange world of their own, where Maths and Statistics have no place and where rules are only rules when it suits their whimps and caprices.
No dobut you are called Lyn "Ostrich"! The only difference here is you are the "minorest" loser bird...please come to earth.

Maya   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

To rhe democratic party

It's Hillary or McCain

Susan for Hillary   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Good. Hope this gets settled.

Keep going strong Hillary

Sean   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

But why punish Barack Obama too? The punishment is not level. And that is the problem. Forget the punishment, but lets punish the other candidate in the process. They talk about disenfranchisement, but what about disenfranchising all of Obama's supporters in MI?

Chris Jones   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

she agreed they wouldnt count and now that it will somehow benefit her or bring her closer she has now changed her mind. I dont want a president changin mind for personal gain,

Kasch CA   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

lol desperate much?

Earl   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

This seems reasonable to me.

Pure and simple...EVERY VOTE MUST BE COUNTED! Especially in a Primary Election as close as this.

Sure, if Hillary or Obama had wrapped up the nomination before the end of primary season WITHOUT the need for Florida and Michigan, then it would be one thing but NO CANDIDATE has enough delegates to do that so Michigan's and Florida's delegates should be seated and counted as the vote reflects. Obviously, if some voted for Hillary, then their vote should count for Hillary.

David   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

This is what we are expecting.
She thinks she deserve to be the nominee.
Mrs Hillary Clinton, America is not ruled by merit, but by people's choice.
When you fail, just accept it and move forward.
You missed it, so please forget about it because rules are rules.
Mrs Hillary Clinton signed on this rules and now she want it not to be implimented.

It that a leader?

mzgemini   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

What a joke... dream on!!!

Sara   May 30th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Hillary, you're trying to create a new North American Banana REpublic.
May you slip on a peel first.

unions are not stupid   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Give me a break why are these people getting so worked up over this she has already lost and every one knows but her and the few idiots and lobbyist's she still has working for her.

Wake up Sen Obama is the nominee get over it!

Linda Esen   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Fine: She wont get any votes from Michigan either and they can split Florida!!! I guess the rules dont work when you are losing.

Dan (TX)   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Nothing like a woman changing her mind, eh? First she agrees to punish MI and FL before the campaign, now she doesn't. Sound familiar guys?

Can you imagine how many policy flip-flops would happen if she somehow became President?

BTW, if Hillary is so great and has so many years of "experience", how come she wasn't president before Bill? Yeah, I thought so....last name recognition.

Mark   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

I sure hope like heck this is coming out of her own pocket and not her campaign funds

To Sharon of Minnesota   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Please... I agree with you 100%... but do consider writing in Hillary Clinton in Nov.

I too, am leaving the democratic party after 35 years of voting democratic since age 18.

But the BEST choice is still HRC. We need everyone to commit to writing her name in in Nov.

CLINTON IS A LIAR   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

"Every vote must be counted"

Right, except for the quarter-million Democrats in Michigan who voted *against* Clinton.

Obama is ahead in every measure, including the popular vote, when those quarter-million people are included. Clinton has to exclude all of those people in order to make her false claims about the popular vote.

OBAMA is ahead in the popular vote, NOT Clinton.

Obama should get the 40-some percent of delegates to reflect the people who voted against Clinton – *that* reflects the will of the people. Giving Obama zero smacks of the practices of communist dictatorships.

Obama 08 & 12

latone   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Not award Obama any delegates? That's messed up right there. This woman is just too self-serving. It's a crying shame what a thirst for power can do to you.

Scott Hughes ATL   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

The minute I heard James Carville on Sean Hannity yesterday, I knew I was in Bizaro world.

That just proves to me that this woman will do anything to get elected... But you know that say that politics makes strange bedfellows... But Hannity and Carville???

Yuck...

People are you listening   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

"Utrecht also made clear the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates, since the Illinois senator took his name off the ballot there."

To those who defend Clinton and pounce on Obama lawyers, this is fair to you. At least Clinton is just upfront with her cheating. It seems the only will of the people that matter are the ones that voted for her.

The reason that Obama block a revote in Michigan was because the only one who would be allowed to vote where the one who had already register democratic. This disenfranchised all the ones who did not register because they were told their votes would not count.

And Florida stated it was illegal to have a privately funded primary and they would not get voter registrations to privately owned companies. So if their state was not going to fund it it was not going to happen. That's why their congress voted against it.

Chris Jones   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

typical only out for herself and not the party, if she somehow wins by cheating go MCCAIn

Jim   May 30th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Let's see...

1. Michigan and Florida were warned not to move dates or face dire consequences.
2. Billary agreed and signed off on it.
3. Once the "cake walk" became a devastation, Billary comes back and says we have to seat them, never mind what I said before.
4. In accordance with the rules, Obama removed his name from the ballot and did not campaign.
5. Now he's not entitled to delegates because Hillary laughed in the face of her party and did what she wasn't supposed to do.

I think with this sort of crap...uh...I mean argument, I would agree, and seat NO DELEGATES. If it cannot be fair all around, then don 't do it.

Oh wait, we are talking about the Clintons. Right. Billary is the only one allowed to say what is fair or not.

Oh jeez, please.

AND ALL YOU DIE HARD CLINTONIANS! GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU! WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO BILLARY FIGHTING FOR THAT TAX HOLIDAY ON GASOLINE? A SERIOUS, COMMITTED CHAMPION WOULD HAVE PUSHED IT TILL IT BECAME REALITY. BILLARY PUSHED IT UNTIL IT WAS INCONVENIENT.

ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU WANT THIS KIND OF MENTALITY IN THE WHITEHOUSE?

Republicans for Obama '08

Megan   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

DNC rules also don't allow changing the rules to fit your needs...duh!

john   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Sorry to hear your hard stance Ms "bought and paid for lawyer" Its We the PEOPLE who will not stand for rule breakers and benders until they (Clintons) get their way. The Delegates can go to the Convention (they have been punished enough) but they have no vote. Period

California Democrat   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

If Obama does not get anything from Michigan, neither should Hillary. The uncommitted were obviously Obama supporters, I know she is going to try to take this to the convention. She sickens me.

Lisa   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Keep fighting Clinton!!!! We need you!!!

GENE   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

What a devious pair Bill and Hillary are. I would say "two faced" but they seem to have so many more then two. I really wonder if either of them are mentally sound.

Stop the Spin   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Obamabots don't want the votes counted in FL and MI. End of story PERIOD! Thanks to Obama's short sightedness, he is going to lose both FL and MI in the general election. It will come back to haunt him. McCain is up by 4 points in MI and it's only May. If Obama loses MI then it's all over for him even if he picks up a few states out west with low electoral votes such as NM and NV.

Obama used lawyers to keep primary opponents off the ballot in his first run for office and now he's doing the same here. This guy is a shyster and is masquerading as a reform candidate when in reality all he is is an old time Chicago politician.

Janet, Arizona   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Wow, Hillary broke the rules in Michigan by leaving her name on the ballot, and now she wants to be rewarded by getting ALL the delegates in Michigan. And because Obama took his name off the ballot in compliance of the rules, he should get no delegates. Unbelievable. I'm seriously worried about her mental health.

Amber   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Thats right....seat our delegates!

I'd like to see these fools try to win a GENERAL ELECTION without the support of FLORIDA! Go ahead DNC....try us!!

usa   May 30th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

========hillary is a Republican======

Rick in Florida   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

So Hillary GETS ALL HER DELEGATES AND VOTES.....and Obama gets NO DELEGATES OR VOTES in Michigan....rewarding the cheater (who agreed NOT TO COUNT Michigan's results) and punishing the guy who OBEYED THE RULES AND WRITTEN AGREEMENTS????

This is BEYOND belief, and Hillary CANNOT BE ALLOWED to get away woth this TRAVESTY.

But everyone should understand that Hillary WILL NOT GO AWAY in June and will fight all the way to the Convention, since she feels she can argue, sway, cajole, bully and maybe bribe SuperDelegates to vote for her in the first FLOOR VOTE in Denver in August......so we all should BE PREPARED FOR A HORRENDOUS SUMMER from the Clintons in their efforts to steal the nomination. BE READY !!!!

enomisa   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

Clinton is the far better candidate.

If Obama steals the nomination, I will not vote for the democrat, for the first time in 35 years.

I will write in Hillary Clinton.

Dvon   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

please give up Clinton

Rom, NY   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

FROM THE CURRENT ARTICLE :
"the Clinton campaign's chief lawyer said the committee is compelled to seat both delegations fully and not award Barack Obama any delegates from Michigan"
OMG !!!
I WOULD BE ASHAMED OF MYSELF IF I WAS A SUPPORTER OF SUCH A WOMAN !!! could she go any lower?

mjc   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

hillary = the only democrat left running who can WIN in november.

get ready for the loss you'll have to deal with, save up your money for years of therapy, obamabots! he's gonna lose.

ANGEL in NV   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

The time is now!! Obama/Clinton 08

Kerry   May 30th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

So, Hillary wants Obama to be punished for following the rules?

I just don't get her. Hillary lies and steals every chance she gets. How can people support her? What is this telling our children? That it's ok to break the rules because rules don't matter?

I would never vote for Hillary in a million years.

Big Boss   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Even if they seated the delegates the way Hillary wants them seated he would still be winning so whats the point.

Mauri   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Considering the trashing Hillary Clinton has recently been forced to hear from Obama supporters, I for one, sincerely hope that this works out for her. I speak, of course, of the clergy who has been supported by Obama for twenty plus years - whose diatribes are disgraceful. As a Catholic, I disown this priest and his apology.

Go Away!   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Hill, please give it up! The fat lady is singing! Go home gracefully, and give women all over something to be proud of.

LIAR LIAR LIar   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

See, if Sen Clinton's really cared about Michigan, she would never suggest that she should be the only candidate to get delegates from Michigan. She very well knows that such a suggestion doesn't make sens whatsoever.... It's all about HER again. Rarely seen such an ego-centrical person... RARELY!

Venus   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

I wonder how much her total $-bill will be with all these people who work for her?

Next week – Hillary will be out of the news!

Go Obama!

Craig- Easton, PA   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Funny how you didn't mind voting against the bedrock principles of your party when there was no direct benefit to you and you wanted to win Iowa and New Hampshire. The arrogance is simply stunning. It now appears that you have no other goal but than to punish and destroy the party in pursuit of blind ambition. Six months ago, I would have willingly voted for Senator Clinton... Now I wouldn't know what to do.

Michael   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

This is not about the voters...it is about Billary Clinton.

Belle   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Amen!!!!

ANGEL in NV   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Obama/Clinton 08' Dems UNITE!! Please stop the bitterness. We have to come together to stop McBUSH!

Shawn   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Go Hillary! This sounds like what Obama did while running for the state legislature back in Illinois and he has said he was just following the rules! Well, you follow those rules and you don't let him steal this nomination from you. He has only come so far because he has pulled tricks out from up his sleeve in caucus states and his reverend didn't open his ignorant and destructive mouth soon enough. If only he had, you would clearly be the front-runner!

Hillary '08! YES SHE CAN!!!

CB   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

I despise the way she is handling this. How can she look herself in the mirror while arguing that she should get 100% of the Michigan votes? She doesn't even try to be logical. Just outright greedy.

Think logic   May 30th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

Time is never short when it comes to do the right thing. The Democractic Party's rules are as of now outdated. A precedent has been set by the 48 state primary. Dems, over-rule your rules and get on with the revotes in Michigan and Florida. Right now the supreme and golden rule is with the voters of M and F.
Anything less is an affront to you voters by the millions.

Mike   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

If they don't award any MI delegates to Obama then they should not award any delegates at all!!! This includes FL!!

Obama supporters will not stand for people who breaks the rules!!

Any person supporting Hillary will lose their local elections!!

Bridgette-PA   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

This whole campaign is sick, very sick. This is soooo sad to see. When you lose, pick your chin up, smile, congratulate your opponent and move on. This is just sick.

OBAMA-SEBELIUS/08!

Creative Woody   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

The Supreme Court has already ruled that the DNC can make up and enforce any rules it wants to. I don't understand why nobody is asking why Hillary was in favor of not seating delegates before she was against it.

Priscilla for Obama   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

Hillary does not have a case. She most certainly is not the more electable, matter of fact, she IS NOT ELECTABLE because she has her own self-interests at heart, NOT AMERICA'S AND MOST CERTAINLY NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

Go Obama – We Love You!!! Yes We Can!!!

Mary S   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

Please go away Hillary. Cheaters never prosper.

Beltway Insider   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

The Clinton campaign has officially crossed the line from crazy to evil.

How can someone be so blatantly and shamelessly dishonest, hypocritical, and deceptive. Her campaign is making a mockery of our election process, the democratic party, and our country as a whole.

I'm sorry, but if you still support this whack-job, then you need to have your head examined.

Yes We Can   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

Final desperation! Good try, because after this all that matters is how we are going to conduct our general elections campaign. And It is Obama all the Way!

Amanda   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

ok well if we are talking to lawyers is her signed letter a legal contract?

Nadine   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

This is sad, and so is Hillary. So desperate to get back in the White House. The stain she & her husband Bill left and so many of you women crying for a female president.

SLIMSISTA   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

HERE WE GO...HRC & HER BUDDIES TRYING TO STEAL THE NOMINATION AWAY FROM OBAMA.....

SHE AGREED TO NOT COUNT MI & FL....PLEASE DNC DO NOT LET THEM STEAL THIS PRIMARY...

Franky   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

I'm gonna tell you right now this is NOT going to work.........I can tell you what will work or not! And I'm not even a politician or lawyer.......ohhh and as for the "lack of campaign activity"........maybe, just maybe, if they'd campaigned, you can't tell me that there's a difference........campaigning is a MAJOR difference...........be nice and repectful!

DJ, LA, CA   May 30th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

What a scam that Clinton is orchestrating so-called "protesters" to lobby in front o f the DNC meetings.

I mean can it be any more staged? Who are these imposters....Clinton campaign staff members?

Angus McDugan   May 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

What is the deal here? America has been crying about the election being stolen in 2000 because we did not count all the votes. Now we are trying to decide if we should count the votes. Which is it? Count them or not? Follow the rules or not? I am sad to say that the DNC is starting to look like a 3 ring circus or freek show. Please do not make the democratic party the place where weirdos hang out.

By the way, Florida over the past 8 years is looking "not too smart" as they either cannot count votes accurately, cannot read a ballot, and cannot follow the rules.

j   May 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

I don't care any more. Crown the queen and get it over with.

Geez, I'm seriously thinking about voting Republican. I can't believe it.

J Beardsley   May 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

Im not exactly sure what she expects to accomplish with this....

if she were to win based on getting all the votes seated in a state that both candidates agreed would not be counted, nor campaigned in....

we're gonna be looking at another 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Hillary Is Scary As Hell   May 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

Please spare us the "attorney" posturing of which Hillary and Obama are same. And since Hillary is the one in the middle of a "try as they might" keep it on the downlow FRAUD lawsuit out here in sunny California (where she's no longer the golden girl who won the primary) I suggest we don't start swaggering too many legal eagles up to the podium to tsk tsk the committee when the person they are representing signed a legal and binding document that puts her right in the center of the controversy she and her own people help create and push forward. No Clintons...we all aren't asleep at the wheel like you think.

Pat   May 30th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

Who signed the agreement that MI and FL would not be allowed to seat delegates if they moved their primaries? Oh yes, Hillary Clinton.

If MI and FL voters have a problem, let them take it up with their party representatives who moved their states' primary dates. These are the folks who have caused their delegates to not be seated at the national convention.

eric   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

Cheeeeattteerrrssss.

GULF WAR VET   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

SICK,

Rave   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

Go Away Hillary.. you are nothing but a Lie and Cheat.

Dare   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

This is crazy and sad! She needs to give it up already. She's only going to divide the party more and more. This has become ALL about her and not about the democratic party!

Pascal from Switzerland   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

When does this mess come to an end? I CAN'T HEAR IT ANYMORE!

Oh! The Irony   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

the Clinton campaign's chief lawyer said the committee is compelled to seat both delegations fully and not award Barack Obama any delegates from Michigan.

---------------

Every vote counts, if it favors me!

Hahahaha

RH   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

There it is.

"...the campaign will not accept a resolution in Michigan that awards Obama any delegates..."

This will be her rationale (?) for sticking around beyond June 3. Unbelievable. This woman has no shame.

pablo rachi   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

party destruction is her goal, along with a run in 2012

we won't allow it

Christopher   May 30th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

This is only fair considering if you do your homework you will see this is how Obama won his first campaign. He got the others running thrown off the ballot using lawyers and on technical issues. It is only fitting the same come back to bite him in the tail. Go Hillary..... If she does not win, You are looking at your first liberal gay republican voting for McCain.

BIFF, BIFFINGTON...   May 30th, 2008 1:38 pm ET

Rob...

We "Obamaphiles" are not blind dumb and deaf... You say we name call, when you STARTED YOUR PARAGRAPH CALL US NAMES. Extremely typical of the Clinton/Rove campaign. PLAY the race card, while ACCUSING the opponent of doing it. PLAY the sexism card, while accussing the opponent of doing it.

It is obvious that Obama takes a hit EACH time race enters the discussion. I am sure, even you will acknowledge that HIS RACE WORKS "AGAINST" HIM MORE THAN HER GENDER WORKS AGAINST HER. At no point has Hillary taken a hit because of her gender. To the contrary; Each time she (and her surrogates) play the gender card, it whips up the sympathy, feminist vote.

Where is Senator Obama's sympathy vote??????????

But you will NEVER conced that obvious point. Because it does not fit neatly within your talking point.

see, Rob. I stated my CASE 'without' resorting to name calling. Unlike you.

Independent for Obama   May 30th, 2008 1:37 pm ET

Does anyone want to tell us what a "uniter" she is? The Obama camp says they are willing to accept a fair compromise, but it sounds an awful lot like Hillary wants it all her way.

Sigh.

Dana   May 30th, 2008 1:36 pm ET

Rule breaking is rule breaking.

Do not give in to her.

Please, the remaining super's need to come out and just send her packing.

This has got to end now!!!!

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@PrestonCNN: RT: MMStewart Just posted: Top Dem explains slavery remark, doesn't apologize http://bit.ly/6KEGM3
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:27:32 -0800
hambypCNN: Steele and Kaine square off on health care, jobs, and Steele talks (a little bit) about his new book ... http://bit.ly/6kbvKz
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:37:59 -0800
@HornickCNN: White House to government: Continue to open up: http://bit.ly/6SC11i
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:07:15 -0800
hambypCNN: Michael Steele has a book coming out in Jan. Asked about it on CNN, Steele demurs: "Ya, that's what I'm hearing somewhere down the line."
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:52:08 -0800
hambypCNN: @DanDoranBlum nice. hopefully you get two big wins over Pitt in one week.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:42:32 -0800
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