The Michigan-Florida Delegate Impasse
by sarabeth at 6:19 am on May 28th, 2008 in 2008 PresidentialAccording to the AP, when the Democratic Party rules committee meets this Saturday to try to resolve the Michigan-Florida delegate impasse, it is constrained by party rules that will not allow it to restore more than 50% of the states’ delegates. Only the Credentials Committee can restore 100% of the delegates. But that would postpone resolution of the issue till the first day of the convention in Denver, an outcome that only Hillary Clinton is praying for.
A Democratic Party rules committee has the authority to seat some delegates from Michigan and Florida but not fully restore the two states as Hillary Rodham Clinton wants, according to party lawyers.
Democratic National Committee rules require that the two states lose at least half of their convention delegates for holding elections too early, the party’s legal experts wrote in a 38-page memo.
The memo was sent late Tuesday to the 30 members of the party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, which plans to meet Saturday at a Washington hotel. The committee is considering ways to include the two important general election battlegrounds at the nominating convention in August, and the staff analysis says seating half the delegates is “as far as it legally can” go.
[…]
The analysis also said there is an option to restore 100 percent of the delegates — by a recommendation of the Credentials Committee that meets later this summer. However, that would mean a final decision would not be made until the first day of the convention in Denver since Credentials Committee decisions have to be approved by the full convention as it convenes — risking a floor fight.
Carla wrote:
It is insane that the Democratic National Committee would seek to change or amend the rules because two states broke them. That is not how it works. The rules were established for a reason. How are we expected to look at our children and teach them about following the rules, when we adults re-write them to fulfill our agenda? Michigan and Florida knew better and now they are crying fowl! They should stay unseated since they made it clear that they were going to proceed instead of following the committee rules.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 10:38 am ¶
sarabeth wrote:
Politics being politics, you can’t blame the Democratic Party leadership for looking for ways to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations. They don’t really want to offend Michigan and Florida Democratic voters to the point where they don’t turn out to vote in November.
What’s insane is Hilarious Clinton stamping her foot and insisting that the only fair resolution is for delegates to be allocated according to the mock elections that were held after all the candidates agreed that the votes wouldn’t count, after many voters stayed away because they were told in advance that their votes wouldn’t count.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 10:49 am ¶
Watermann wrote:
Hallo from Germany,
it is a political and understandable decision by the DNC, looking forward to November. There will be 1000 and more comments on the issue. Since I can only follow the whole scene by CNN-website and via skype with my friends, I am more than afraid about the following scenario.
Despite of the fact that Senator Obama is still leading Senator Clinton by the number of pledged delegates and by superdelegates, there is still one possibility left. The remaining superdelegates might wait until the last primaries are over and finally vote for Senator Clinton following the order of the party leaders and because Senator Obama would be the first African American President. By the way, is that mathematically possible? I really do not hope so. Otherwise I would lose all of my still existing hopes in the democracy on which the United States of America are proud on.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 11:51 am ¶
chris wrote:
chris
from nigeria,
I find it very emberassing to believe that this is hapenning in America.what i see and hear over there is politics of colomny,greed abuse of personalities.l dont like them both but i think clinton should consider the party before her selfishness.Should a state change its law just to please the Governor.America now play nigerian polities.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 1:21 pm ¶
Dex Dean wrote:
Perfect example of the rules is in our favorite past time, baseball. The American League uses a designated hitter DH for the pitcher during the season. The National League does not, thus the pitchers hit for themselves. However, agreed upon by both leagues, DH’s can not be used in the World Series. That is the agreed upon rules. Now as a comparison, the American League is way behind in the series and states, we want to start using DHs. No way, that is not the rule. This is a simple solution in that the rules are the rules which were agreed upon by both candidates. As we know, Obama did not even put his name of the Michigan ballot and did not campaign in FL where Hillary & Billy Bob were well know. If he had, more votes would have come his way. Only equitable solution is sticking with the rules. We give our children the rules so lets not send a bad message to not only the children but adults in this country. The Clintons have fallen from grace as they will do whatever it takes not matter what the rules are!
Posted 28 May 2008 at 3:25 pm ¶
Esther wrote:
Since the beginning the DNC make a discrimination rules prohibite to FL and MI the primaries prior to Feb 2nd, BUT accept to other states do it !!! The rules have to be for everyone, iqual or become in a real disaster as we have see it since past January. Now with the big mistake OVER for DNC will be impossible pick up any nomination without make any decision. Hillary Clinton won those states with big margen and in general election on November 4, the electoral Votes from both states could be a BIG differency to pick up the next President of USA.
I am FL voter and i can sworn that if the decision is wrong….. the 1.9 millions democrat voters of FL will not be count as the DNC think. Be or no to be. Thanks.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 3:39 pm ¶
Esther wrote:
To understand the real situation here in FL, let me explain that we have governor and state congress where the mayority is republican, and I so the democrats try to change the date, BUT the republican authority force the date before the 2nd of February. it was fantastic Republican strategic, as well it was fantastic by Republicans give the “independents votes” to Sen. Obama in the traditional RED STATES to divide the Democrat party in the primaries. This situation let the chance to the Republicans see the possibility to keep the White House, because Sen. Obama never will pick up those votes in General Election in the case he will the nominee, and I can see what will happen in the traditional BLUE states (Democrats) where Hillary Clinton gets the votes CA, NY, AZ, NM, TX, NJ, MA, CT, PA, VI, FL, MI, OH, etc… She has the popular vote, ALL states, big states with big electorals votes in November 4…… Can you predict who it is going to win????
Posted 28 May 2008 at 3:53 pm ¶
Robert Davis wrote:
What is the motive or explanation behind changing the rules?
Why did FL & MI contest the rules?
Why?
Why should the rues change?
Posted 28 May 2008 at 4:01 pm ¶
Diann wrote:
The DNC needs to count the votes as they were cast and admit the nistake they made, not the voters. the agreement between the candidates was not to campaign in these two states. Senator Clinton did not. Senator Obama spent 1.5 million dollars in Florida on national ads. He also had hundreds of staffers in the stae. Senator Clinton left her name on the Michigan ballot, Senator Obama removed his because he knew that he would lose.
The DNC forgave three other states that moved theri primaries up against the ruls. In these states they are counting the votes and teh delegates. This is a ploy to make Senator Clinton lose this election, which she is rightfully winning. The Democratic party could lose as many as 18 million voters, and the General election because of this situation. I am one of them..
Posted 28 May 2008 at 5:07 pm ¶
Fred wrote:
This ptoblem was generated by the DNC.In any democratic country every single vote is counted,that is the rule and the power for the people.To deny the counting of a single vote is a dictatorship act.
If we are against totatiltarism.if we proclaim CHANGE all votes must be counted without restrictions..otherwise we migth be at the same level of Iran,Cuba,N Korea,you named.
Posted 28 May 2008 at 7:43 pm ¶
sarabeth wrote:
Don’t be a bloody ass, Fred. Counting the votes from a mock election that was declared in advance to be a mock election (and from an election with only one name on the ballot) is democracy only in the minds of deluded Clintons and Clintonites.
The Clintons’ excuse is that she is blinded by helpless ambition, and he is helplessly supporting her madness. What’s your excuse?
Posted 29 May 2008 at 4:22 am ¶
Greendoggie wrote:
Please, please keep in mind it was the REPUBLICAN legislature in Florida that set the date for the PRIMARIES!!!!!
Posted 29 May 2008 at 9:13 am ¶
Greendoggie wrote:
Please, please keep in mind it was the republican legislature in Florida that set the date for the primaries.
Posted 29 May 2008 at 9:13 am ¶
Greendoggie wrote:
Please keep in mind it was a the Republican legislature in Florida that set the date for the primaries.
Posted 29 May 2008 at 9:14 am ¶