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."
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looks pretty fair considering it could have been 100 % penalized.
the committee did the best with what the two states put them in.
so.
time to unite.
Democrats 08
Josh – you are aware that Hilary personally signed a legally binding document last fall that stated she was totally cool with Florida AND Michigan not counting right? She only started making a stink over this whole mess when she realized she was losing.
I am so sick of Hillary I can just scream. First she says that Mich. and Fl broke the rules, and the rules are the rules. Now she gets a compromise, and it's still not good enough. Do we really want a wishy-washy president like her. She's just another Bush, It's her way or the highway. Oh yea, I'm a white middle aged woman.
Since this was the Michigan Democratic party solution, Josh should attack the Michigan Democratic party...but of course not be angry at the Michigan governor (a Clinton supporter) who signed off on the move of the primary in violation of the National party rules, fully knowing that would mean disqualification.... and of course not be angry at Clinton who
agreed that the primary would not count....and then suddenly whipped up naieve supporters after realizing that she was way behind in delegates and popular vote and needed to resusicate the disqualified states to get bargaining chips for VP or to try yet another spinned rationale to get the superdelegates to overrule the choice of delegates awarded by primaries.
democracy with half vote..? Is DNC "GOD" on earth..
Funny... what happenned to our found father ideology
WE THE PEOPLE,, one person one vote..
There are no penalties or rules in that.
It should have been all or none.. Either way the DNC lost FLorida in general election..They have alienated FLorida
Let the DNC stew in thei election of OBAMA..a losing candidate.
A SHAME to the proess
I am a demcrat..Now I will switch to Republican.. .unless Hillary runs independent
I am so confused here. I am a white Female from Florida, and I too was raised by the quote "follow the rules". I'm not sure I understand why the DNC held a hearing today. Just last year everyone in that room today voted to penalize Florida and Michigan for breaking the rules. Hillary agreed upon these rules, an expressed no concern whatsoever, when she was ahead. Hell, she even stated on live Television that she didn't remove her name form the Michigan Ballots , beause, it didn't matter, the votes don't count! Did know one elsee see this, but me! Am I missing something here? This election has really helped me to open my eyes wide; there are a lot of ignorant people out there, and they don't even know it. You mean to tell me you can create a rule, agree on a rule, set a rule, and then change it to accomodate someone, some situation etc. This is absolutely ridiculous! You all need to truly open up your eyes and stop this nonsense. Hillary has no one to blame for this situation but herself! She ran a poor campaign from the start. I am not surprised by the fact that her campaign is 31 million dollars in debt. She has none of the qualities of a good Leader. She ran a negative campaign, and spent too much time trying to elaborate and research dirt on her opponent instead of showing America that she is trustworthy and capable of being the next President. She used poor judgement when selecting her campaign staff; therefore, she had to hire, fire, and rehire and she still doesn't have it right, and now to make matters worst, she is a sore loser. Hillary allowed America to see the true Hillary and I don't like it. Hillary and Bill Clinton have more tricks up there sleeves than any of her supporters care to see. They have received millions of dollars from questionable Countries, Bill has pardoned people who should still be behind bar, and they thought they had Washington DC wrapped around there fingers, but, I'm glad the Superdelegates have opened there eyes, and are also tired of the games played in DC. Enough is enough. a change is definitely needed!
I am an Obama supporter and not happy with this decision. Hillary should step down and get out of this race before the entire US votes for McCain.
She is tearing the D-party and the voters apart with this continuing fighting to be the Queen of America. She does not give a hoot about the American People, The D-party or anything except herself. She is not fighting for change in American and how Washington DC runs the country, and if she is elected it would not be long before the people and delegates who votes for her will be kicking them self for ever believing in the pack of lies that she keep spitting out.
I will vote for Obama, and if he is not on the ballet then I will vote for McCain.
Josh,
You obviously have not been keeping up with this. Floriada and Miichigan were being punished because they illegally moved up their primaries. Why are you blaming Barack?? Hillary did not give a darn about Florida and Michigan until she was losing.
I just don't understand the logic of die hard Hillary supporters? What really makes these people think that the Michigan or Florida votes were fair? Everyone wants there candidate to win, but come on. Fair is fair! Trust me when 40% of a state votes uncommitted against a 55% vote for Hillary it doesn't indicate anything positive for Clinton to gain on. That means that 40% voted against her (any body but her). It's time that everyone start to wakeup to the facts and accept the results. You can't win them all, and you can't make up rules as you go!
It's resolved. Lets move on and deal with John McCain. There is no way anyone could ever determine the will of the MI voters from what happened at the polls there. The people of Michigan never had a chance to express a preference between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama and the best outcome today would probably have been a 50/50 split. A few more delegates one way or the other won't affect anything. Let's put this behind us and focus on winning in Nov.
Josh,
You are a deluded. Hillary publically agreed to remove her name from the ballot- a lie!!!! She deserved to get no delegates from Michigan. the compromise was generous to her. Face it, the Clinton dynasty is over, and not a moment too soon
Too bad Josh uses the words hate. The " Monstor" THAT HE SUPPORTS, Hillary ,causes people to behave the way that they do. Hillary is not a person I would even allow my children to follow not even my "Dogs-animals" if they were allowed to vote. She is evil and you see what she is doing to the Democratic party . Hillary Clinton, She will do anything in order to become the nominee. She is truly a "MONSTER" AND THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW HER ARE BLIND beyond recognition.
You realize Obama didn't put his name on the ballot in order to follow the rules set by the DNC, the same rules both he and Clinton were supporters of until Clinton started to lose? Can't really penalize someone for following the rules and reward someone else for breaking them.
This is probably the most fair response by the DNC. I had the ability to watch mart of the RBC meeting today and it appeared that the delegate apportionment was submitted by the MICHIGAN Democratic party – not by Obama or by Clinton, or by the DNC. Does anyone really think that Obama would not have gotten any votes had his name not been removed from the ballot? This is the (new) definition of "is" by the Clinton campaign, and a "my way or the highway" attitude only highlights how the campaign has become focused on winning and not really caring about the votes being counted to enfranchise the voters.
As to the half votes, that is more than fair in my view. Both states were found to have changed their primaries' dates against the rules of the party, and the party can make its own rules. Nothing in the Constitution addresses political parties. This punishes the state partty folk. Whether they were justified or not is bside the point. The state folk knew the risks, and all the candidates, including Senator Clinton, signed off on the original punishment.
BTW, I am an Obama supporter, but I'm not so rabid that this will keep me from voting Clinton in November if by some chance she becomes the nominee. I don't intend to cut off my nose to spite my face. I know what four more years of Bush policies will mean – a weaker dollar, a continuation of no real strategy or definition of mission in Iraq, and the potential of aggression against Iran.
it wouldn't matter if they hillary clinton got the 73-55 amount of delegates, she still is going to lose. Clinton supporters just have to deal with that
The way the DNC Rules Committee voted is just about the way I saw it coming though not what I would have liked. Even so, this gives Hillary some breathing room. After the landslide in Puerto Rico on Monday, there will not be enough delegates left for Obama to pick up what he needs to nail down the nomination. Too bad, Berry.
Now, on to the convention and, um... Barak, why don't you bring your friends Revs Wright and Phlugr along with you to Denver. They've done so much for your campaign.
LOL, if you want to be like that Josh then go back to when Hillary and O'bama both agreed to not campaign in Both Florida and Michigan and noted that Michigan and Florida would not be counted because they broke the rules but now Hillary is being two-faced and changing her mind. Why would I want someone in office that does that. And anyway what do you say to the million voters in both Florida and Michigan that didn't vote because they knew that THERE OWN STATE BROKE THE RULES AND THERE DELEGATES WOULD NOT COUNT?
FAIR IS FAIR.
Hey Josh –
HRC was the only on the ballot because she did not remove her name as instructed! Typical Clinton supporter, only knowing half hte story because she doesn't want to educate the voters.
HRC is just as slick as her husband without only 3 more years experience than BO. As for me, I'd rather vote for the person that I can trust.
Obama O8
Of course you would not be happy. Its all or nothing for you Clinton supporters. I hope she does go to the credentials committee, just to hear no she cant have it her way.
Look on the positive side, she is in Puerto Rico drumming up support (popular vote) argument so she can make her case when she wins that STATE, with the endorsement of SUPER DELEGATE Ricky Martin, who will be preforming at the DNC in Denver. The popular vote argument is garbage in a primary.. Reason the votes in the Caucuses are not counted. FACT.
P.S when she looses Montana and South Dakota and the (Popular Vote) she will continue her destructive, broke self to the convention.
For those of you who didn't pay attention:
1. Clinton and Obama both signed off on the rules that didn't count those votes, because of the penalty ruling on the early primary.
2. Both candidates also signed pledges not to campaign there.
3. HILLARY BROKE THE RULES, then expected the votes to be treated normally. Then she manipulates the press and calls the voters "disenrfranchised".
Guess what, folks? This will be essentially over in 72 hours. Clinton voters who take this to Denver severely endanger our chances of taking the White House.
As L.A. sportscaster Chick Hearn used to say, the refrigerator door is closing, and the eggs are getting cold. Put on your big girl panties and DEAL WITH IT!
actually no. They are biased towards the rules. You obviously have no knowledge or regard or respect for the way this worked. Both of these states fought to have their elections early even after being warned of the consequences. Neither of them should have been allowed any leeway and the fact that they were and the fact that you are still not happy with that proves just what a closed minded, sad, win-at-all-cost Hillary supporter you are. The rules are the rules thankfully, so I either suggest you leave this country or wake up and smell the coffee. Curious what your take would be had Hillary been in Obama's position and Obama in her's? Anyway the way it all stands in this current reality is that FYI Hillary loses either way.
Josh, I am one of those in Michigan who did not vote in the democratic primary because I was told it wouldn't count. I am also an Obama supporter. So what about my voice? To say that all the votes should count and they should all go to Clinton is not fair to me or any other Michigander who wanted our voices to go for those besides Clinton. Giving her all the delegates and Obama none would NOT be representative of the true desires of Michigan and is absurd. The allocation agreed upon is more fair than Clinton all, Obama none.
Unfortunately, I believe Hillary needs to contest Michigan as it does not seem like the DNC is abiding to Michigan state law. For Hillary to be "given" less delegates than she earned in the Primary is ridiculous! Senator Obama removed his name from the ballot and therefore the "uncommitted" delegates should not be given to him.
HILLARY, TAKE IT TO THE CONVENTION. BO will go down by his own past actions; otherwise, Senator McCain by default will be our next President!
The DNC did the right thing and stuck to the rules. The votes in FL and MI as cast were invalid as the presidential nominees were not allowed to campaign – you can not have a free and fair democratic election with the nominees not being able to campaign in person for the votes of the people. Obama, Edwards, Richardson and others showed good faith in abiding by the rules of the DNC and petitioned to have their names removed in both MI and FL – they were successful only in MI because FL maintained the names of the candidates on the ballot against their wishes. Hillary Clinton pledged that she would abide by the DNC ruling that the move-up primary votes of MI and FL would not count. She decided to go against that pledge when it proved politically advantageous. The half-delegate count and Michigan compromise was fair and a significant number of Hillary Clinton supporters who made up the MAJORITY on the Rules and Bylaws committee supported it. The playoffs are coming to an end and we need to focus on November.
On to the general election.
Josh, 45% of Michiganders didn't vote for Hillary Clinton.
Why should she get all the votes?
I'm not a supporter of Clinton's or Obama's (and no, I'm not for McCain; I am a Democrat) and I thought the rules committee should not have reconsidered their original decision to strip both states of their delegates. I dread the next election cycle, now that states believe they can leap-frog to the front of the line with impunity – I understand that the Michigan Dem Party leader isn't done and will push the credentials committee to restore the votes fully.
As a voter in the biggest, most populous state, our primary was relatively early (March 5), but my two preferred candidates had dropped out by then, so, Josh, we've all gotten screwed.
But to put this to bed, I'll live with this decision. How about it? Are you willing to compromise?