Jersey-Based Clinton Backers Petition D.N.C. to Seat Delegates From Florida and Michigan
The day after major Hillary Clinton fund-raisers sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi about the role of superdelegates in the nominating process (as in, please stop taking the Obama campaign's position on it), two Hillary Clinton supporters from New Jersey are circulating a petition, addressed to Howard Dean, asking that Florida and Michigan delegates be reinstated "immediately."
"If they are not reinstated by early April," the petition says, "we ask the Democratic National Committee to show cause why they should not be reinstated and establish a mandate for two full revote primaries for June."
The email in full:
Dear Clinton Supporters and Fellow Democrats:
As you have witnessed over the past few weeks and months, many in the Democratic Party are seeking to disenfranchise more than 2 million voters in Florida and Michigan. This total represents more than the combined votes of the first four states, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Recognizing that these voters cast their support in overwhelming numbers for Hillary Clinton, supporters of Senator Obama have worked tirelessly to prevent these delegates from being seated at our convention in Denver. Notwithstanding the words used by the Obama campaign to paint themselves as an agent for change, their tactics are actually those of division and deception. The citizens of Florida and Michigan deserve to be heard, if not, democracy will not be served and the voters of these two critical states may turn against our eventual nominee in November. We cannot let this happen.
So, how can you help? Please click on [link] and sign this critical petition. We need your help to make sure that this election is fair, honest and ensures a victory in the fall.
Thank you,
Michael W. Kempner and John F.X. Graham
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In other words, a candidate who we had no expectations of winning the democratic party's nomination for President is poised to do so. WE can't have that and have to change the rules midstream.
If Michigan and Florida had followed the DNC's guidance regarding the timing of their primaries, there wouldn't be an issue. And you wonder Michelle Obama said that she was proud of her country for the first time.
When you're of African descent and play by the rules and win, the rules are changed so that you cannot be in that winning position. That is un American
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hillary's "kamikazee" strategy --- .
Who are these two characters from the Garden State of New Jersey to be making demands about the Michigan & Florida delegates --- cannot Michigan & Florida democrats represent themselves???
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Ok, ignoring the fact for a moment that this move is clearly Jon Corzine's gambit to get a cabinet post with the Clinton adminstration, two quick thoughts:
1) At what point will someone in the media simply ask the question to the Clinton campaign in this context: "Ok, so are you GOING BACK ON YOUR WORD about not recognizing the Florida/Michigan results? Yes or No?"
2) If these results are in fact recognized, then what about the other 48 Democratic parties in 2012? Doesn't this place them in a consquence-free space to move their priamry to any date they please?
That is all.........
Rules are not policies they can be broken and the punishment not be so drastic. Why not let the states vote whenever they
want to I would think what matters is that the American people
went to the polls and voted. If every state voted on the same
day so what. I would say the rule is unfair to pick what states
go first let the states make that decision and not the DNC.
The DNC was so hurt and offended that Florida and Michigan moved their dates up that the penalty is 100% and the American
voter being cheated.
Hey Anonymous, you make some good points, but......
Here's where I agree.
1)"If every state voted on the same
day so what."
COMPLETELY AGREE. WOULD SAVE MANY PEOPLE BUNDLES OF MONEY.
2) "I would say the rule is unfair to pick what states
go first let the states make that decision and not the DNC."
Again, I agree, as well they should.
3) "The DNC was so hurt and offended that Florida and Michigan moved their dates up that the penalty is 100% and the American
voter being cheated."
You're right, they are being cheated. That sucks.
But, here's the thing......if Hiliary was really as savvy as she thinks she is, she should've seen something like this coming. She didn't. But besides all that, doesn't it seem, just a little sleazy, I mean, just a little, to have a handshake agreement on not counting the votes, and then take back your pledge because the results don't benefit you? It's like placing a bet on the blackjack table, then saying you want your money back when you hit 25? I dunno, just doesn't seem like a "stand-up" move by someone that presents themselves as a quality person. I don't want to use the word "slick", but.....
Last question: In your heart of hearts, would Hiliary be this agressive about the votes if it was Obama that one the states?
How are the Florida and Michigan voters responsible for the DNC's arbitrary rule?
POLITICS ASIDE, I challenge anyone to site a RATIONAL, LOGICAL reason why some states should have a say in the primary and others should not. And if so, why not take that argument to the general election as well. And do not cite the Constitution. The Principle is identical. Particularly as the selection of the nominee could very well determine the results of the general election.
Go ahead. Try. Not one journalist, political pundit, blogger, politician, or reporter has been able to make this argument on any rational basis.
Did everyone forget that we supposedly live in a democracy? Countless men and women have fought and lost their lives in the support of this democracy. How quickly people forget the ideals and sacrafices that this country, with all of it's imperfections, has been built upon. Actually they probably didn't forget, worse they just don't care.
It is absolutely extraordinary, how many indiviuals will hide behind rules, schedules and committees verus doing what they know is right.
The country spends well over $100 billion a year fighting in Iraq, implemented a $200 billion a year tax cut, so also let's please hear a response that doesn't relate to cost of holding new primaries. And yes these are costs incurred at the Federal level they, but of course are in fact incurred to some extent by tax payers residing in every state.
The WWII generation, widely considered the greatest generation in U.S. history, would likely be shocked at how far this country has sunk in strength of character.
Obama could have put his name on the Michigan ticket.
Why did he put it on Florida's ballot and not Michigan.
Seat the delegates as they are.
Accept that he did not play by the rules. Obama campaigned in Florida prior to the election by running TV ads. This is strictly a convention rule violation. Go the DNC website at www.democrats.org, click on our party then delegate selection. Then click on delegate selection rules. Go to section 20 CHALLENGES: This section addresses timing violations by states and campaigning in those states. go to C1(b) this adddresses violations of campaigning in states that have violated the timing rules.
Under this section Obama has violated this rule. Of course he can't lose delegates that have already been taken away.
COUNT THE VOTES! The right to vote is fundamental in this country. If the Democrats are to have a legitimate nominee, they cannot ignore the choices of more than 2 million voters in Florida and Michigan. It is outrageous that anyone in this country is arguing against these voters' rights!!
I don't believe the people of Florida & Michigan, who had no say in this change should be penalized,the decision that resulted in this mess was done by supporters of both camps and by a Republican and Democrat. I think if the roles were reversed Sen. Obama would be asking for the same thing.
As a seperate issue YES people of African Descent do have a harder struggle, but I think that's a seperate issue.
To not count people's votes I see as much more un American,
Yes, we Michiganders can represent ourselves, and we think this is a crock! In Michigan polls, Obama and Clinton are exactly even. A 50/50 split is a very fair and economical way to deal with this situation. Mrs. Clinton says she's trying to help us poor, victimized Michigan voters, but if she tries to steal this election using Michigan as a tricky tool, half of all Michiganders are going to rise up and bite her. Take your half and be happy Hillary. We were told, BY YOU, that the vote didn't count, so we did other things that day. Live with it. You can't use us to cheat.
Hillary violated the rules as well with numerous "fundraising" trips to Florida. She also held a "meeting" to "thank" Florida supporters--not that that is really campaigning, goodness no. She was also supposed to have removed her name from the Michigan ballot and did not.
Get the facts straight.
Still no logical, rational, non-political based response to the March 28th 1:34pm post, except for those that also agree that every state has a fundamental right to vote. For those that do not agree that this is the case I challnge you again to READ that post and reply.
Revisded comment....PLEASE DISREGARD PRIOR POST, ABOVE.
Still no logical, rational, non-political based response to the March 29th 7:31pm post, except for those that also agree that every state has a fundamental right to vote. For those that do not agree that this is the case I challenge you again to READ that post and reply.
Hillary will take PA and most of the rest of "US" by a landslide if the MSM will get off of her back. Also, FL and MI must be counted and the fact of the matter is if Obama had won they would have been counted already. If they are not counted then, we are going to have yet another presidential candidate who can really turn the tide in America eliminated by the bias to Obama over Clinton by the MSM with FOX included, but less so unbelievably, and the DNC and RNC's fear of a strong woman candidate. Dare I remind the DNC, we have Bush II because of disenfranchising of FL. Also, does the DNC realize the fact is Obama can't beat McCain in the fall? Another consideration I think the DNC should think about is the RNC led by Karl Rove is doing everything possible to get BO nominated because they have, from the beginning, known their nominee would beat anyone but Hillary. Wake up DNC, before we lose again in November.