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."
Josh...I agree. Obviously Obama, Richardson, Biden and Edwards were not interested in Michigan. They must have believed that rumor that was going around that Michigan had joined Canada because they liked the bacon.
How could the DNC be so blind as to not recognize the immense victory of Hillary against NOBODY!
Unbelievable how the DNC got bullied by the Clinton camp into even considering seating any of the Florida and Michigan delegates. This overture of goodwill will not be met with a response in kind. Clinton will continue to with her 'entitlement" mentality and insist on being the nominee against the clear will of the people. Never mind if this jeopardizes the party's unity, the general election and the good of the country. She puts personal ambition above all else.
Truly hope I'm wrong.
Please, give it up Billary...you are on the way out.
Boo Hoo. I loved seeing how the Clinton supporters acted today. It showed their true colors and education level.
Did they not understand the rules when these "persons" voted???? Was this not stated before hand?????? FL especially are just making the rest of the nation(after chad gate) see how you play the game-
It's so very sad that the committee is so in favour of Obama that they would cheat Mrs Clinton is so blatantly without a second thought. It doesn't matter who you support it just reeks of garbage.
The RBC did the best it could today under difficult circumstances. Hillary supporters should not be upset over the 4 vote slippage in her total. It's alsohard to deny the Obama supporters any votes from Michigan.I think Hillary is a great candidate but will support the nominee which appears to be Obama. It is time for all the bickering to end and focus on fixing the economy and bringing our troops home.
I hope Hillary does not intend to take this matter to the convention. She will certainly lose and all she accomplishes is the potential defeat of her fellow democrat. If she does that she is politically dead. Congratulations to the Florida and Michigan voters. Your full votes will be restored at the convention but only after the nominee is apparent.
Truth be told Josh... Both primaries were at the time deemed invalid so it shouldn't have mattered who's names were on the ballot. The DNC had more Clinton supporters than Obama and with the exception of Ilkes or whatever his name is the RBC was interested in reaching some sort of compromise with both states in the interest of party unity
Those that think Clinton should get all the delegates need to remember that she agreed the results in Michigan would not count. In fact it was Ickes who agreed to it. This was when they thought they were the presumptive nomination for the democratic party. Funny how they changed their minds when they began to lose. There is no way this woman should be President. She reminds me of Bush.
Do you call this being bias? Josh, do you have any children or people who look up to you? What will you teach them? To change rules when they are loosing or behind? This was a flawed election and deep down your heart, you know it but fighting unjustly? Its a shame people cant deal with this with honesty knowing Hillary is wrong and should just accept her defeat.
The Clintons are singlehandedly ruining the Democratic party. Why should she get all the votes. What entitles her to it! Tell me Please! And why is Obama always to blame for everthing that occurs in the universe. Say if you are not for the DNC then get the hell out.
How can you say Obama not having his name on the ballot is a convenience for him when at the time he wasn't the front runner, and the race still had three other contestants?... I hope this mess continues and the country sees first hand what to expect next year if a Dem takes the white house.
Josh, you conveniently over look the fact that the DNC had already said that the Michigan primary was NOT going to count! Therefore noone's name should have been on the ballot. I'm from Florida and I agree that taking away 100% of the delegates was too harsh. I haven't missed voting in any election (national or state) for over 10 years but I didn't vote in the Florida primary because we were told over and over that it would not count! How many people in Florida and Michigan were like me and simply didn't vote because of this? That is the reason why simply giving all the delegates to Clinton would have been outrageous. No one can cry foul because the DNC is ran by the Clintons and has been since 1991. The underdog simply ran a better campaign.
Michigan of all places surely is the land of the greatest people
who come together in a time unique and a setting reflective of the current values of mainstream america today. And as Marvin Guberman so succinctly exclaimed to the throngs which were gathered recently at the park in Grand Rapids under the weeping willow tree where sat Olympia McDoodlehead sipping a mountain dew, and she said I believe HILLARY IS OUR CHOICE for the next deciderer to answer that 3:00am call which might be Bill needing a ride home from the bar.
Anyone could see how any other outcome would have been grossly inappropriate. The Clinton people are going down kicking and screaming for unfair things because it's their last chance. "give only Clinton delegates from Michigan, it's the only way to represent everyone." Yea, hypocrites fighting for representation, as if Michigan had no obama supporters.
You take it all the way to the convention Hillary! The Good Ole Boys are doing everything they can to knock you out! You are the only one that will get my vote in November!
Dear Hillary Clinton,
It's over! OBAMA 08-12
Josh – I've read many comments from people here on CNN and other sites stating they voted uncommitted to give their votes to either Obama or Edwards as it was the only way they could. Giving those votes/delegates to him was only fair. It's time to start looking at issues as this is now a closed chapter of this long primary season.
Why do you hate Pelosi and Dean for this? They didn't suggest the 69-59 split – the state of Michigan's Democratic committee did.
We need the strongest candidate to fight McCain in November and based on how she's run her campaign and the people she surrounds herself with, it is not Hillary. Obama has run a better campaign. It's as simple as that.
Everybody lets chill out here , it was a good decision to unite the party.
Remember everybody know what the rules were on Mich. and Fl. before the voting took place and everybody agree including Sen.Clinton.
Lets all now make sure that Sen.Mc Cain doesn't win the White House and carry out Pres.Bush's 3rd term . Can you just picture what the Supreme Court would look like if McCain becomes Pres. of the U.S.A.
DEMOCRATS UNITE
Josh, although you disagree with the outcome don't you think its a little childish to say " we hate you"? In the end we all have the same agenda.
Seems like alot of people just dont want a black man as president
I agree with the Democratic National Convention’s ruling on the votes in Florida, but find the ruling on Michigan’s votes disturbing. The DNC is talking out of the side of their heads on the Michigan decision. This is not an accurate reflection of the intention of the voters in Michigan.
Uncommitted votes should be accurately and fairly acknowledged as uncommitted. I support Senator Clinton’s desire to count Michigan’s votes as is. I sincerely hope the problem with Michigan is resolved before any more damage is done to the image and integrity of the Democratic Party.
The unresolved dispute and misrepresentation of inaccurate counting of votes would be a precedent we all would regret being set.
Timothy
Sharon Minnesota May 31st, 2008 8:37 pm ET
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Democracy at it's worst. Florida and Michigan can join the Republicans for sure now. They will be happy to count your votes come November.
Stop whining. YOU LOST! The Clinton name doesn't entitle anyone to benefit from breaking the rules. Sorry you don't like it but you might as well quit your bellyaching and get used to the fact that Barack Obama will be our next president:-).
HILLARY deserves a lot better, and everybody knows she is the best the Dems have. CLINTON for PREZ