Obstructionist Obama in Michigan

[RecycleMichael]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/POLITICS01/803200382

Clinton turns up heat for do-over. But new primary looks unlikely with Obama camp balking and time short.

The Detroit News

Despite a quick visit from Hillary Clinton to make the case and pressure from other top Democrats, supporters of Barack Obama appeared no closer Wednesday to accepting plans for a do-over Democratic primary.

Supporters of the June 3 revote -- including a four-member committee of top Michigan Democrats that hatched the plan -- held out hope that the state Legislature would act on a bill to hold the new primary. But with time running short, the Obama campaign, which has little to gain and much potential for loss in a new vote, piled on the legal objections, and it remained unclear Wednesday night whether the proposal would even get an up-or-down vote in the Legislature. Ken Brock, chief of staff for Senate Democratic Leader Mark Schauer of Battle Creek, said it's up to Obama and Clinton to reach a deal.

Without action today, it's likely the idea would die, as lawmakers will head home for a two-week recess. Passing the bill after spring break wouldn't allow enough time for state and local elections officials to prepare for a June 3 vote, they say. Without a new vote, Michigan remains unsure of its place in the Democratic nomination race. Democratic leaders could pursue a purely party-run contest -- a vote-by-mail primary or party caucuses -- if the state-run primary fails. But it remains unclear whether the campaigns would agree, and significant logistical challenges would remain. The national party stripped Michigan of its convention delegates because it held its January primary earlier than its rules allowed.

Clinton, who won the Jan. 15 primary as well as a similarly controversial contest in Florida, rearranged her campaign schedule, making a Wednesday morning appearance before a small crowd of supporters at a downtown Detroit union hall. She avoided some of the heated rhetoric aides have used this week, but said denying Michigan a chance to vote would be "un-American" and made clear where she placed the blame for Michigan's predicament. "Senator Obama speaks passionately on the campaign trail about empowering the American people," Clinton said. "Today I'm asking him to match those words with actions."

Through its top attorney, the Obama campaign responded to Clinton's visit by raising a series of issues it said could invite lawsuits if a new primary went forward. His supporters in the Legislature said they believe there is not enough backing among Lansing Democrats to pass primary legislation. "There's not enough support," said Sen. Tupac Hunter of Detroit, Obama's Michigan co-chairman. "There aren't any moving pieces out there that I can see coming together to change the situation."

Still, there were some signs of life for the do-over plan:

• Two Clinton supporters, Govs. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Jon Corzine of New Jersey, said they had commitments from 10 Democratic donors to put up the $12 million in private money the new Michigan vote would require. Nine, including Corzine himself, a wealthy Wall Street executive before entering politics, gave money to Clinton this year.

The Obama campaign went on the attack. "This letter from some of Clinton's biggest campaign contributors eliminates any pretense that Clinton's efforts in Michigan are about anything other than an attempt to bankroll an election in which they appear more than happy to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters," spokesman Bill Burton said in a written statement. "Today's events are even more evidence that Clinton is willing to do absolutely anything to get elected."

• The Democratic National Committee issued public confirmation that the proposed primary would meet its guidelines. It was the DNC's decision to strip Michigan and Florida of their delegates as punishment for violating the party's scheduling rules, prompting the current scramble. Obama has said he'd accept any solution in Michigan that was approved by the DNC: "I want the Michgian delegation and the Florida delegation to be seated and however the Democratic National Committee determines we can get that done, I'm happy to abide by those rules," he told CNN on Wednesday. That seems at odds with his campaign's objections to the Michigan do-over approved by the DNC.

• The committee that drafted the new Michigan primary plan held conference calls with Democratic members of the state House and Senate. Though there were no signs the conversations moved many votes, the committee -- U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, both of Detroit, UAW chief Ron Gettelfinger and Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell of Dearborn -- issued a statement arguing that a do-over primary is the best chance to give Michigan a role in the campaign, and imploring legislators to vote on it.

But there were new signs of tension within the party. The Michigan chapter of the Change to Win labor union coalition, which backs Obama, took aim at the "Gang of Four" committee of top Democrats, accusing it of "unprecedented efforts" to pressure lawmakers into supporting the new vote. Hunter and Obama's other Michigan campaign co-chair, state Sen. Buzz Thomas of Detroit, expressed qualms about spending private money on a public election, as proposed in the legislation. Thomas issued a statement that the do-over primary bill is "riddled with problems that overwhelm any possible positive outcome." That echoes the objections that Robert Bauer, Obama's chief counsel, raised in a memo. Bauer said several issues would leave a redo primary open to court challenges. Among them is the fact that under DNC rules, voters who cast ballots in the January Republican contest, thinking the Democratic vote didn't matter, would be barred from voting in June.

[rwarn17588]

Looks like FOTD has stolen RecycleMichael's computer!

[}:)]

[RecycleMichael]

The voters in Michigan deserve to have their votes counted. Either count the earlier election or have a do-over.

The demcratic national committee is OK with the plan, The Governor of Michigan is OK with the plan. The top democratic leadership is OK (and came up with the plan), and the Hillary camp is OK with the plan to re-vote.

Obama stands in the way.

To not count every vote is un-American.

[rwarn17588]

Trouble is, you do have to have that super-majority in the Michigan legislature to approve a do-over vote.

Michigan's county and city clerks are against a do-over. And if the legislature doesn't want it, there's nothing you can do. Lawmakers are leery about the estimated $12 million cost.

The ball's not in Obama's court.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/michigan-up-against-the-wall/index.html?ref=politics

[pmcalk]

So the democrats that voted in January will be disenfranchised under her plan.  How can that be American?  And the republicans that might have voted for one of the two democrats, if it mattered, will be disenfranchised.  Again, how is that American?  And it will be a privately funded election by supporters of one Candidate.  Sounds more like Russia.  

The fact is, there is no good answer to this problem (except that they should have followed the rules in the first place).  There is an answer that will help Hillary, and of course that is what she wants.

[tim huntzinger]

If the Democrat Party in MI would not have played politics with its primary they would have had their votes count, right? Is that not what happened there and in Florida? And if that state does not count, why does Hillary tout that as a win when Obama was not on the ballot anyway? Rules is rules.

Michigan's insiders blew it for the stupid voters who thought they mattered.

Frankly, I think though that Obama looks scared and should go for the vote.

[FOTD]

I like PM's vegetable story here.....

Hillary's gotta learn why rules are made and  learn to live with the consequences in the game.  How can someone like that have the integrity it takes to run the free world?

[Conan71]

They knew the consequences in Michigan and did it anyhow.  

The Clinton's didn't care because this was supposed to be a coronation tour for her not a hotly-contested primary.

Now they cry foul because some Clintoneering is in order.

[FOTD]

TRUE^[]

[Hometown]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

They knew the consequences in Michigan and did it anyhow.  

The Clinton's didn't care because this was supposed to be a coronation tour for her not a hotly-contested primary.

Now they cry foul because some Clintoneering is in order.

We would be wise to remember that Conan is the epitome of a cynical Republican hack sowing division among Democrats in all of these threads looking at Clinton and Obama.

Democrats will be holding hands and focusing on our common enemy before long.

[Gaspar]

Not my fight, but I'm not a supporter of anyone who thinks they have the right to change the rules after the game is over.  They all like, support, and help to set the rules, until things don't go in their favor.

Clintons
Gore
Kerry
Bush
Dean

It seems like a pattern.

I wonder how many recounts we will have after this election?

I say. . . Wah!

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

The voters in Michigan deserve to have their votes counted. Either count the earlier election or have a do-over.

The demcratic national committee is OK with the plan, The Governor of Michigan is OK with the plan. The top democratic leadership is OK (and came up with the plan), and the Hillary camp is OK with the plan to re-vote.

Obama stands in the way.

To not count every vote is un-American.

You're right, they deserve to have their votes counted, and if I were a Michigan Democrat I would be furious with the officials that made the decision to disenfranchise me!

In fact, I would probably be mad enough to switch parties or move to another state, like beautiful OOOklahoma! "where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain!"

[cannon_fodder]

Does anyone, even you RM, think Clinton would be doing this if South Carolina was stripped of their delegates?  Or any other state that Obama has a polling advantage in?  Surely not.  Everyone, EVERYONE knows this is a desperate ploy to try and narrow the gap and not based on principle.

Pretending it is principle based, there are clips all over of Clinton saying that those states will have to accept the consequences.  She signed a pledge.  Those states would not be counted and she would not compete.

Then she claims victory.  Funny thing, when there is no competition there is no victory.

So here are the problems with it:
1) lacks integrity/goes against agreement
2) costly (though her donors will fund it)
3) potentially unfair or detrimental to Obama
4) false altruism (those poor, poor voters)
5) Futile.  Statistically, even with those votes Obama still comes out 100 delegates ahead.
6) Internal:  if it is "unAmerican" then the Democratic party is unAmerican.  There is no disenfranchisement here, this is an internal party matter.

and 7) IRONIC

If Clinton would have stood on her "principles" back when she was saying they should be stripped this could have been avoided.

If the States would not have moved their primaries, they would have received unprecedented attention and this would have been avoided.
- - -

So... RM, do you really think Clinton is in this for the people?  Would she willingly throw out her agreement if it benefited Obama?  I can't truely fault her for trying, but her motives are not any more pure than his in this.

[NellieBly]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

If the Democrat Party in MI would not have played politics with its primary they would have had their votes count, right? Is that not what happened there and in Florida? And if that state does not count, why does Hillary tout that as a win when Obama was not on the ballot anyway? Rules is rules.

Michigan's insiders blew it for the stupid voters who thought they mattered.

I believe both the Florida and Michigan legislature are run by Rethuglican majority.

Frankly, I think though that Obama looks scared and should go for the vote.

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

The voters in Michigan deserve to have their votes counted. Either count the earlier election or have a do-over.

The demcratic national committee is OK with the plan, The Governor of Michigan is OK with the plan. The top democratic leadership is OK (and came up with the plan), and the Hillary camp is OK with the plan to re-vote.

Obama stands in the way.

To not count every vote is un-American.

Gee, RM... "un-American"???  Yeah, way to "twist the truth like a Clinton"... hmmm... two can play that game... let's see... Clinton was the only candidate on the Michigan primary ballot... sounds kinda "communist" to me...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/15633003/detail.html

quote:One of the sticking points holding up a possible do-over election in Michigan is a rule that would ban anyone who voted in the Jan. 15 Republican primary from voting again.

That ban would apply even to Democrats or independents who asked for a GOP ballot because Hillary Rodham Clinton was the only major candidate left on the Jan. 15 Democratic ballot.
------------------------------------------------
Michigan's Republican primary drew 867,271 voters, including 18,106 who voted "uncommitted." The Democratic primary drew 593,837 voters. Clinton won with 328,151 votes, or 55 percent; 237,762, or 40 percent, voted "uncommitted;" 21,708, or 4 percent, voted for Rep. Dennis Kucinich; 3,853, or less than 1 percent, voted for Sen. Christopher Dodd, and 2,363, or less than 1 percent, voted for former Sen. Mike Gravel.

According to exit polls, 7 percent of GOP primary voters said they were Democrats and 25 percent said they were independents or something else. That means nearly 61,000 people who voted in the GOP primary were Democrats, while more than 217,000 were independents.

hmmm... "Obstructionist Obama"?  

Which voters in the state of Michigan are the disenfranchised voters if the Clinton machine gets its way and changes all the rules at the very end of a close nomination process?

"Who's zoomin' who" here???