May 31st, 2008
07:23 PM ET
15 years ago
Full Michigan delegation with half-vote to be seated by Dems
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws
Committee on Saturday voted to seat all Michigan delegates to its convention, giving each a half-vote and dividing them to give Hillary Clinton a slight edge over Barack Obama.
The 19-8 vote gives 69 pledged delegates to Clinton and 59 to frontrunner Obama - each with half a vote because Michigan was penalized, like Florida, for moving its primary ahead in the campaign season.
Clinton adviser and RBC member Harold Ickes said, "Mrs. Clinton has instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the Credentials Committee."
Now the fun begins.
Clinton has seriously compromised herself as a politician.
She was pretty clear that something would happen so she can put aside Obama. I think her supporters are going to be disappointed and disillusioned with this race. It will depend alot on what Senator Clinton does. Her supporters struck me as angry people.
I hope she retires now at the age of 65.
How does Ickes think that his view as to how to count the delegates is even fair. In the first place, neither state was to have it's votes or delegates counted. The fact that Barrack took his name off the ballot is a moot point, since the DNC had ruled the primary WOULD NOT COUNT. But, Clinton had the goal posts moved once again, and now the DNC has reversed itself, changed the rules on Obama, and at least was trying to be fair to Obama's campaign. Since the Clinton name is well recognized around America the lack of campaigning in Florida and Michigan did not hurt her as much as it did a relatively unknown as Obama. Every state that Obama campaigned in, where Clinton had a tremendous lead, was able to deflate Clintons numbers in a major way. This would have been true in Florida and Michigan. Barrak Obama played by the rules and actually believed the DNC when he and Clinton signed off on NOT COUNTING the votes or delegates in those states. So why is it fair Mr. Ickes for Obama to lose out because he played by the rules. Hillary as we know changed her mind only when she realized that she would need those votes to have a chance. Now she says she has the most popular votes, disenfranchising those states that had cacuses. Where is her concern for these voters? It's a fine example of a double standard and speaks volumes about her immorality.
I guess Hillary is showing us just how she would act as President....business as usual, "Do it my way or take a hike!". Haven't we had enough of this? A bunch of disgruntled feminists whining about not being given their "entitlement" is doing the country little good.
The state of Michigan and Florida should be happy they have any delegates. The other possibility should have been that superdelegates don't have a vote because the leaders of their state governments caused this problem not either candidate or the DNC.
Getting sickes of all the Clinton tactics, their lying, whining and inability to face up to what is happening, so many photographs of her drinking alcohol as if it is a necessity to do so to become a President, my vote will not be going to her at any time.
As it should be. Let us get on with it.
Go Obama
She is not going to quit. Time for party to step in and stop this charade. We got an election to look forward to, not Clintons wishes.
Fair enough. Time to move on.
Vote Democrat 08
I am so angry that the DNC has chosen to disregard the will of the Michigan and Florida voters.I thought that we went by every vote counts!!!!!This IS NOT the Democratic way!!!! Im beginning to think that there is some kind of conspiracy going on in the DNC.I am so disheartened that I MAY NOT VOTE!! I say listen to the MAJORITY of the voters in FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN.Take it ALL THE WAY to the Convention floor!!!!!
does Hillary wants the nomination to be given to her because its her right to be the nominee?
i dont get it,and she wants to be the vice president,i dont think by arm twisting barack obama to put her on the ticket will help the democrats because she will be a pain in the a...s for obama in running the country because she will be planning for 2012 to take over.
It seems people have completely missed the point. These two states violated the rules, people voted anyway, and now want to change the rules because they voted, something they shouldn't have even done! The most correct thing to do, would have been to not seat them at all, second choice to seat 50/50. The choice was better than that for Clinton. Clinton got more delegates than Obama out of this, and she and her supporters are upset? She should have gotten none! The remaining states should have their primaries, and then the remaining super delegates should make a decision and end this. People need to focus on ensuring another four years of "Bushicans" be prevented, rather than scream at each other over a few delegates that doubtful will make a difference in the end anyway. Move on.
I am turned off by what Harold Ickes said in the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee.
Are all Clintons people just like that?
Thank You to the DNC for providing me the oppurtunity to see unity in what I would consider to be the most compelling and hard fought campaign I believe I will ever witness during my lifetime. I have been a proud republican since becoming of an age I could vote. Because of the difficult circumstances that the DNC found themselves contending with, and the manner in which opposing campaigns were able to come to an conclusion in such a united manner, I am proud today to say, I will proudly be casting my vote in November for BARACK OBAMA. Thank You again.
Well there you have it
Obama 08
If Hilary takes this to the convention her political career will be over.
Also, both Florida and Michigan should feel grateful and be gracious of the rulings today – otherwise they would be out in the cold.
I think they did a great job and handled the situation fairly.
My mother lives in Michigan and wasnt able to vote for her candidate as he wasnt on the ballot and was told her vote wouldnt count anyway if she did vote.
I cannot believe the gall of Mr. Ickes and the Clinton campaign to suggest Barack shouldnt get any delegates from Michigan.
Hillary didnt give a crap about Michigan until she was losing the race.... and neither did Ickes who voted for the states to be stripped of their votes when they violated DNC rules and held their primaries early. It only shows desparation and selfishness on the part of Ms. Clinton's campaign. I was initially a Hillary supporter but as I've seen this race play out I cannot support someone who runs their campaign the way she has. I have lost all respect for her.
I am a 34 year old white female who lives in Georgia and I am a proud supporter of Barack Obama.
Yeah! All of that hoopla and it's just the way it should have been in the first place. What a waste of tax payers money.
If Hillary' was in Obama's position would she handle this situation the same way? I think not! Hillary should accept defeat and work with her party's team to defeat McSame.
Dear Democrats,
Thank you for affirming the disenfranchisent of your voters. This Republican is unbelievably grateful. Seems "every vote counts" only when it counts for YOU. Jefferson and Madison (and others) are rollling over in their graves.
Hillary Clinton is a cheater. She cries that voters are being disenfranchised all the time making cases that only the "swing" states really matter for the Democrats. She is delusional – and will stop at nothing to pull off a win in this election. She will continue this fight all the way to August and take the Democrats hope for beating the GOP in November down with her. Shame on you Senator Clinton. You are a fake and a phoney. You will NEVER have my vote. Not now and not ever.
its time to admit defeat something the clinton are not used to..yet its not defeat for the clintons but a victory for clinton and obama and their party so now they can unite and get ready to demolish mccain in the soon election...o
FL and MI are lucky the committee is counting ANY votes...after all they broke the rules...but as usual..Rules are meant to be broekn IF you are a clinton!
mccain is reflection of another bush administration..he talks of self-proclaimed differences between bush and himself but his action is the opposite..if you want more of bush like president vote mccain..he wish to stick with the old ways and is not of change...the old politiicans cannot accept change because its too inconvenient for them..they have the notion that sitting down with hostile leaders is crazy and its beacuse of this old weak leadership the world is where it is today..go barack 08
THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE THERE IF IT WERE NOT FOR HILLARY, STIRRING UP A MESS...WHEN RULES IMPLEMENTED FROM THE START......HILLARY IS TRYING TO USE EVERY DIRTY ANGLE SHE CAN THINK OF.. SHE HAS NO CHARACTER, NONE AT ALL..