Clinton's case to bend the rules

We hope that day is the day to FINALLY say:

Bye, bye BILLARY Clinton!

My gosh! They are worse than some countires with dictators! Some super delegates (some that are holding out) may owe them something, but the country as a whole does not.

I am now of the opinion the Clintons have made some binding deals that
1. they can only deliver if one of them is in the WH which is why they have stopped at nothing to obtain it.
2. These deals cannot be reversed.

The DNC used race too much when scheduling the primaries. SC and NV were moved up due to blacks and hispanics. (see lawsuit Florida filed) http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/5617
Also, Obama strategically took his name of the MI ballot because he was losing by 20% at that time
http://iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1264
The DNC does not have to obey their own rules; obviously, no one does.

Howard Dean has pushed a 50-state strategy as soon as he bacame DNC chairman how could he now back down.

so many are not looking at the big picture is who can win the white house not delagate math. Only Hillary can win because America is so not ready to elect a afro-american president with no experience, with Kenyan roots and a muslim name.

It's a cinch that if I were Hillary Clinton, I would prefer to have Harold Ickes present my case before Michael Tackett.

Only Hillary can win because America is so not ready to elect a afro-american president with no experience, with Kenyan roots and a muslim name.

Posted by: Jessica | May 26, 2008 4:15 PM

I for one am not interested in surrendering to the racists and bigots. That's part of why I am a Democrat. If the party is willing to accept your arguement, it will be a very sad day for this nation. It will put us back decades ion the road to true equality and justices. We need a party in this country who is willing to fight for minorities of all types,and to stand up proudly with them and proclaim that they are just as much americans as anyone else. We need that much more than we need President Hillary Clinton.

jessica, so we should all just vote for hillary because, as a whole, we are really just a bunch of racists? what a great reason to vote for a candidate. news flash, hillary has already lost and is doing nothing but destroying her own party. even if she were the front runner, the foaming-at-the-mouth rabid right would destroy her. barack obama is the next potus. get used to it.

Um, if the people of these two states had the decision to chose whether their votes would count or not do you still think the states woul dhave broken the rules? I think not. Also lets not forget that it was the Republican controlled government of Flroida that moved their primary not the people!
Regardless of who broke the rules or not, the world is watching America once agian trash democracy over stupid rules. These poeople voted their votes must count!!!

Obama supporters need to STAND DOWN and STOP ATTACKING the only 2 term president and his BRILLIANT spouse who is OUR ONLY HOPE FOR WINNING IN THE FALL.
Obama MIGHT be a good veep if he doesn't have anything that could keep our ticket from winning in the fall.
I AM SICK OF THE CHILDISH, NEW TO POLITICS (AND YES IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO STUDY, KIDS) OBAMA SUPPORTERS AND THEIR CONSTANT NASTINESS.

Misleading Headline
'bend' the 'rules'--yeah, right. The republicans put these into place while Howard Dean was sleeping.
Look---had I KNOWN this campaign was about an internecine battle for power of the Dem party the next 4 years--I would have stayed asleep or just gone green and given it all to the repugs.
IF HILLARY IS NOT THE TOP OF THE TICKET SO WE CAN WIN IN THE FALL--SHAME ON THE DEMS AND SHAME ON THE OBAMAS AND ALL OF THOSE CORRUPT CAMPAIGN MANAGERS!

Jessica: SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!!!...NOT THE REST OF US...WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US WHAT AMERICA IS READY FOR????...I WOULD SAY "WHY DON'T YOU MOVE TO S. AFRICA?", BUT EVEN THEY HAVE JOINED THE 21st CENTURY!!!!

You have the NERVE to want Clinton in the WH AFTER SHE GOT CAUGHT IN THAT LIE????? THEN SHE WENT ON LENO JOKING ABOUT HOW SHE WAS LATE ' CAUSE SHE HAD TO DUCK SNIPER FIRE!!!!!...JOKING ABOUT IT WHILE AMERICANS ARE DYING FOR REAL IN IRAQ!!!!!! AS FAR AS MONEY, WE ALL KNOW OBAMA HAS RUN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT CAMPAIGN!!!! AND FORMER OBAMA SUPPORTER: BYE!!!!!! KNOCK YOURSELF OUT SUPPORTING HILL (AND BILL LEWINSKY!!!!)

i didn't realize hillary had so many racist and uneducated supporters. no wonder she's already lost.

Jimbo: YOU SOUND BITTER...ARE YOU BY ANY CHANCE JEALOUS OF OBAMA BECAUSE HE GOT HIS EDUCATION AND YOU DIDN'T???? YOU NEED TO GO FOR COUNSELING BEFORE ALL THAT HATRED CAUSES YOU TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK!!!

"Bend The Rules" ??? !!! How about "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Rules !"

The Democrats (BOY ! is THAT a misnomer ! Are you listening SUPERdelegates ?) brought this on themselves. They can either stick with the rules and nominate a multi-racial far-left liberal, or chuck the rules and nominate a candidate who MOST Democrats do NOT like.

Gee, and the Republicans only have a war hero to look up to.

This is going to be a HARD choice for Americans in November.

Daniel P.; AND JUST WHAT'S WRONG with a multi racial candidate? Quite frankly, I'm TIRED of having OLD, WHITE MEN for president!!!!...Is being WHITE a pre-requisite for the WHITE house...if it is I'M SURE THE REST OF THE WORLD REALLY RESPECTS US!!!!!...WITH EVERYONE COMING unglued IT SURE SHOWS THE REST OF THE WORLD (THAT WE DO have to deal with!!!) JUST WHAT WE THINK OF THEM...BY THE WAY, DID YOU KNOW THAT WHITES ARE THE MINORITY IN THE WORLD???

The DNC and the superdelegates should take a GOOD HARD LOOK at who actually is ahead in the electoral college and popular votes. Did we not learn ANYTHING in 2000? We need the most electable candidate to run against John McCain and that person is Hillary Clinton. BO is far too inexperienced to trust him with the future of this country. We've had the "guy you'd like to have a beer with" for 8 years who also was inexperienced and look what we got! We simply cannot risk Obama. His supporters are the most negative, nasty bloggers and really don't represent the majority of Americans. Bitter, angry people don't make good leaders..... OR followers. Wake up people!

We all know who's WAY AHEAD and it's NOT HILL and BILL!!! ALSO, THEY HAVE MORE BAGGAGE THAN AMERICAN TOURISTER, SAMSONITE AND ALL OF THE OTHER LUGGAGE COMPANIES put together!!!! AND STOP TRYING TO MAKE OBAMA SOUND LIKE SOMEONE WHO JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL!!! HE WOULDN'T BE RUNNING THE WHOLE SHOW BY HIMSELF...PRESIDENTS DO HAVE CABINETS, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW!!!!

And don't even try to make Sen. Obama sound like he's the one who's ANGRY...that's what this website is for ...to express our views...and if you say that Sen. Obama was EVER angry or bitter you and everyone else knows that's NOT TRUE...he has remained cool, calm, and collected even when he was assaulted 4 on 1 during the Gibson- Stephanopoulos SHAM of a debate!!!! How about Bill shaking his finger in people's faces????...do you think that makes him OR HILL look GOOD????

To: Must Dems LOSE in the fall again?

If you think Hillary is BRILLIANT it sure must not take much to impress you!!!

She is nothing more than a snake oil saleswoman in a pantsuit...........

I grow weary of her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWdciKp0G0&feature=related

If the DNC is foolish enough to not relent on this, then it is only safe to assume that they are foolish enough to blow an election over an issue they blew in the first place. Ya gotta love 'em.

This is Hillarious! Operation Chaos is in full swing.

Public school has worked wonders on you. The way I see it, if you truly knew your history and our founding principle's, you would chuck McHillObamanation in the trash bin of history and support the only true candidate of freedom. Ron Paul!

Give it up, Senator Clinton, it's over ! I hear a entire choir of large women singing, " It's Over !". Give it up, Hill, you're over !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.

Forget that the Republicans may have caused Michigan and Florida delegates not to be counted. But DO REMEMBER that Hillary SIGNED a contract saying she understood the votes would NOT count. She CHEATS...no other word for it.

The race is decided. Even if they do seat Florida and Michigan, Obama still wins. The Florida vote was 50% Clinton to 47% for Obama/Edwards. She'd pick up 106 delegates to 99 for Obama. Michigan cast 55% for Clinton when she was the only major candidate on the ballot. If she gets 55% and Obama gets the 40% who voted "uncommitted", she picks up 86 and Obama gets 63. She'd only be behind by 160 delegates. (I suppose Clinton backers could argue that Obama should get no Michigan delegates since he wasn't on the ballot. That may be the reason that we haven't seen a compromise where some percentage of Michigan and Florida delegates get seated.)

She is becoming such an embarrassment to women everywhere. Where once we saw promise, now we see only an egomaniacal toady!

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FROM INFORMED DEMOCRATS TO DNC

To: DNC Members
From: Informed Democrats
Re: Understanding of Florida Primary Rule Violations
Date: Until Michigan and Florida are Seated

Dear Governor Dean & Esteemed DNC Members,

STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING: As an informed Democrat, I am seeking to understand when will, we, Democratic voters see true equity in the Democratic Presidential Primary race?

RULES OF UNDERSTANDING: According to the rules of the Florida Democratic Presidential Primary, agreed to by all Democratic Presidential Primary candidates, no Democratic candidate was to advertise in Florida prior to the Florida primary.

FACTS OF UNDERSTANDING: Senator Barack Obama purchased national cable advertising and advertised HEAVILY in the State of Florida prior to the January presidential primary.

REQUEST OF OUTCOME BASED ON UNDERSTANDING: When will Senator Barack Obama and his campaign receive written (and publicized) notification he is; therefore, disqualified from receiving ANY of the delegates he and his campaign are seeking when Florida is ultimately seated, based on he and his campaign’s failure to follow DNC rules?

EQUITY IN UNDERSTANDING: As a lifelong, Informed Democrat I know and understand you and the esteemed members of the DNC will do everything in your power to make an equitable decision in this matter, with liberty and justice for all.

THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING INFORMED DEMOCRATS REQUEST: Thank you in advance for the time and attention you and the esteemed members of the DNC have and will give to this matter, because we know you and the members, hold that all men and women are related equal in DNC decision-making. Right?

THE ONLY UNDERSTANDABLE OUTCOME: Seat Michigan and Florida, as they are currently counted, and award the only Democratic candidate who can win in November the nomination-Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Why embarrass the Democratic Party any further by awarding the nomination to the media created Manchurian Candidate Obama and wait for the Republicans and the 529 to unload to the world Obama’s unelectable dirty laundry: Antoin Rezko, William Ayers, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Iraqi born Aiham Alsammarae, the former electricity minister convicted of corruption in Iraq and his deal with Obama and Rezko to build nuclear power plants in Iraq-a nation we are currently at war?

Democratically Yours,

Informed Democrat

Rules are made to be "BROKEN" and for 35 years "MISSPEAK" has been a master of breaking rules. So why should she stop NOW.

In fact Ickes is a master rule Breaker. he loves to make and vote for rules, then BREAK THEM.

So go ahead make Ickes and Hilary Sopranos day and BREAK THOSE RULES.

GIVE HILLARY SOPRANO A CHANCE.

VJ Machiavelli

This just proves that Hillary will break her word at the drop of a hat.

The last thing we need is a sociopathic liar like Bush heading up the Democratic Party.

She should be kicked out of the Party for the crap she is trying to pull on this. She signed a pledge and she should be held to it or shown the door.

It was Democrat superdelegates who supported Clinton that made this mess in Michigan, not the Republicans. Even as a former Clinton supporter, I believe in honesty. Obama write-in votes in Michigan were thrown out. Hillary is trying to claim "uncommitted" votes for herself that were really votes for Edwards or Obama. And many Democrats either stayed home or crossed over and voted Republican to select an "unelectable" candidate.

The Democratic Party has always been the party of fairness. In fairness to all of the candidates, the Michigan primary has to be disqualified. The Michigan superdelegates who created the mess should not be seated. It would be fair to either split the rest 50-50, or to allocate a fraction of the delegates by county convention/caucus results. Either way, it will not change that Obama is ahead in both popular vote and delegates. And as Democrats, we acknowledge that, and treat him fairly, even if we disagree or feel personally biased in another direction.

After Hillary's most recent 'misspeak', which by most accounts has gone unnoticed (which I simply cannot believe), the superdelegates need to step up between now and May 30th. If Obama can wrap up the nomination before the meeting on the 31st, this horrible debacle will finally be over.

We need it to be over. Hillary will burn up the entire party if this doesn't end soon.

Obama will get no delegates from Florida he broke the rules that is why he tried to comprimise. Read before you write know the facts .

'I am a super-delegate, having been president before, and I think that a lot of us super-delegates will make a decision … quite rapidly after the final primary on June 3," Mr Carter said. "I think at that point it will be time for her to give it up."
I do not believe that Senator Clinton was achieving anything by staying in the fight. But of course she has the perfect right to do so.

(Jimmy Carter - Actual quotes)

Hillary Clinton, as with the Bosnia sniper fire delusion, suffers from a fantasy that she is the front-runner, and with her forever shifting goalposts, her new lunatic math and kitchen-sink-sewer, failed and bankrupt campaign, wants Obama to give her MORE TIME as some evil and psychotic person can clear the road to the WH for her . I am a feminist older than Mrs. Clinton and as an American patriot, I need to do the right thing and tell Mrs. Clinton and sex-addicted impeached Bill, get out already! The Clinton dynasty has been spoiling not just Obama's race in November but also the entire Democratic Party and its representatives'-- congressmen, governors, district officers, mayors, etc, etc--ability to win in future elections. Bill is fighting Obama to return to the WH for a third term, and Obama has been fighting not just two Clintons (both playing every dirty card in politics) but also the GOP and the mainstream media who want to see the contest continue and their high ratings maintained. To claim Senator Obama is not electable because he is black is to say that only white Americans, like Bill and Hillary, can become President, as they have for over 200 years. No Native, Hispanic, or Asian American need apply as well just in case they'll end up like Robert Kennedy as well. Is this what we want for our republic? Senator Obama MUST denounce and reject Hillary's shameless agenda. He MUST stop treating Hillary as an older white woman like his mother and therefore to be respected, and show her for the corrupt (25 million dollars gained from influence peddling last year alone), lying (Bosnia sniper fire), bullying (Judas name-calling), ruthless (just look at her ads), unelectable (highest negatives ever in a presidential candidate, and negatives increasing every day) small human that she is. The Party Elders Must remove Hillary, the basest fear-mongering, saber-rattling candidate ever, before something really really bad happens with all the hate-inciting she and Bill have been doing.

Rants, Raves & Rebellion...

That's why I love America!

So many of you people that post comments are just a bit naivete and some of you delve right into the toilet with your rant-a-palooza's.

Objectively, this Democratic Primary is over when a nominee is selected. It's always been that way. The difference is that it's so close and the way the DNC bylaws are setup... At this point, anybody can WIN.

Rules are for those of us that rely on direction and structure. For some of us, they are just policies or guidelines. Do you see the difference?

In closing, I wish all of you flammers the very best.

PS - Be careful what you wish for... You might just get it!

We know that Hillary signed the same pledge the other candidates signed and supported the rules before the voting began. We also know that Harold Ickes (Clinton campaign senior strategist) has changed his position on the situation. In August 2007, as a member of the Rules and Bylaws Commission Ickes voted to strip Michigan and Florida of their delegates. Now he wants to reverse that decision and do so in a way that would give Clinton 73 delegates and Obama 0 (since he wasn’t on the ballot). Don’t take into account he wasn’t on the ballot because of the decision made by the Rules and Bylaws Commission including Ickes, a ruling that was agreed to by all the candidates.

Michigan has suggested a reasonable solution for their state. They would divide the delegates with 69 to Clinton and 59 to Obama as a way to take into account the 40% of the voters that voted uncommitted/undecided since that was the “anyone but Hillary” option they had. Obama and Edwards were not on the ballot. Hillary received only 56% of the vote even though she was the only major candidate on the ballot. There is no way to know how many stayed home and didn’t bother to vote at all because there was no choice. In Hillary’s world she gets her delegates and the popular vote and Obama gets zero, that’s her version of “count every vote”. What about the 44% of voters who voted against you?

Also in Hillary’s world we are asked to ignore the states of Iowa, Nevada, Washington & Maine who use a caucus system to award delegates. They don’t “count”. To claim a popular vote lead Hillary has to ignore these states and anyone in Michigan that didn’t vote for her. Now that is creative isn’t it? Does that sound like “count every vote” to you?

Take a big look at the picture. Hillary is by far the best candidate. She has the experience that Obama doesn't have. Whether you like her or not, put that aside. Look at what's best for the country. It sure isn't Obama. Maybe later but not now. At least Hillary apologized for her mistakes with the sniper fire. Obama didn't apologize for Rev Wright and tell the truth. Wow where did Rev Wright go. They shut him up real quick.
GO HILLARY

Clintons are about THEFT now. And if they take this nomination from Barack by some form of miracle, I guarantee she will not win, and the Democratic Party will no longer exist as it is. Folks thing black folks are going to sit back quietly and take this. We don't have to talk a big game like feminists. America will definitely have its hands full in every major city. And it wont be terrorists. And folks wont be burning bras. But there will be some burning. And you can check the history books on that! And this election is as big as the death of Dr. King to us. Remember that.

She is fighting so hard because she is not done sabotaging the campaign that was certainly wrapped up. Lil old McCane had NOTHING, and was going to be crushed. Clinton has been DOMINATED, and by her OWN doing. And now folks want to coddle her and her supporters who are NOT going to help Barack. Has she done anything honestly and fair up until now??? Everything SELF-SERVING. Clintons are your friends based on THEIR needs. And all of these whites and feminists are going to soon find out - like blacks did. When we were no longer needed, or convenient - under the bus we all went. We were picked up on the curb by...Barack Obama - who was not even black enough at the beggining of the primaries getting only 36 percent of the black vote. She is going to stab stab stab you in the back!

Under the DNC rules, Obama would get NO Florida delegates because he campaigned there. But of course rules only apply to Hillary - even though she didn't break any rules! What a joke. And Obama thinks he can bring peace in the Middle East when he can't even figure out how to bring peace in his own political party? Vote for Obama, and you're voting for Jimmy Carter's second term.

Yes, thank you Keith for showing us the tone and character of the typical Obama supporter. Funny how Obama supporters say it's ok to riot if their candidate doesn't get in, but if a Hillary supporter won't vote for Obama, they're racists. Once upon a time I would have supported Obama, but not now, not ever. Thanks again, Keith...you're a real eye-opener.

The Democratic Party led by George Wallace acting Howard Dean has done more damage to Florida and Michigan than the civil rights violations and voter fraud issues of 1964.
The DNC has no one to blame but Howard Dean for disenfranchising the voters in the Florida and Michigan primaries.
Hillary is right Obama is wrong. Every vote should count!
B Hussein Obama and his mentor Dickie Durbin kept Obama out of the Florida and Michigan for brownie points with the DNC and Dean. Now Obama wants some of the votes to count how about Hillary I take my half out of your middle Obama is saying.
The Democratic Party that made so much about the pregnant and hanging chads just shows how the little partisan games are played with Jimma Carter licking his chops for Obama! Jerry White, Springfield, IL

And now the Hillary campaign has boiled down to wait for Obama to get killed? Hillary supporters should be proud.

Just what dems need...a traitor to the US like Jerry White telling us how to run a campaign! Jerry, all you know how to do is out undercover CIA agents during a time of war.

Bemused, If you want them to follow DNC rules, then nobody gets any Florida delegates. But since you obviously think the delegates should be seated and the anti-campaigning rules quite strictly enforced for Obama's national television ads, then I suppose Hillary will have to forfeit hers as well. Remember those fundraising visits she made that just happened to be scheduled right before the primary? You wouldn't want anybody to get the impression that the rules weren't being enforced equally, would you?

It is pretty funny that the Party that said every vote counts is now saying that they dont. Its pretty sad that the Dem nominee can only win by disenfranchising millions of voters in 2 states. I have no problem with them not taking the results but the Obama campaign refused to agree to let both states have a revote. They fought very hard behind the scenes to keep both Michigan and Florida from revoting. That is the problem I have with it. Because it doesnt benefit Obama they have no problem keeping millions of people from not voting. It really is despicable.

Vinny, Michigan and Florida won't change the result, as I pointed out earlier. The Dems will likely seat 50% of the delegates from both states if they can get the candidates to agree on a fair distribution scheme for Michigan. Whether they're seated or not, Obama still wins unless Hillary can swing 190 of the 200 or so uncommitted superdelegates to her side. That isn't going to happen.

Tom O, that was Obama who did the illegal fundraising and campaigning in Florida, not Clinton. In addition, the DNC rules say that half the delegates may be stripped in the event the primary is moved up, but this may be altered at the discretion of the DNC. Please check your facts before you sound off on this board, otherwise you sound either uninformed or dishonest.

All three candidates are un-electable. Obama is Black. McCain is too old. Clinton is Hillary Clinton. We NEED a different candidate to enter at the convention, like Hillary should have done in 2004. Imagine if we'd had Clinton's never say die approach in 2004. We could have at least lost with dignity instead of early concession.Her county called (the Draft Hillary movement) and she found it inconvenient to run against an incumbent. If Obama is unelectable so is Hillary. McCain splits the Republicans. All are seriously flawed candidates. We need to go back to smoke filled rooms instead of primaries!

We need to make sure we count every vote in the Democratic Party primary. The fact that there were rules is irrelevant. The fact that Obama and Clinton agreed to those rules is irrelevant. When this country was founded, people agreed the "rule" was that African - Americans counted as only 60% of a person. That rule was obscene, and we finally changed the rule. When people in southern states agreed that the "rule" was to disenfranchise African - Americans with reading tests and poll taxes, we fought to change the rule. In 2000, we screamed for Florida to count every vote. We Democrats must prove we stand for bedrock principles, and counting every person's vote as a full 100% equal vote is supposed to be one of those principles. If Obama supporters do not adhere to this principle now, why should the bigots and racists adhere to it in the future? Making the nomination process more difficult is simply the price we must pay for our bedrock principles and ensuring that all votes are equal, just as all people are supposed to be equal.

Thank you poster #2!!!

"I am now of the opinion the Clintons have made some binding deals that
1. they can only deliver if one of them is in the WH which is why they have stopped at nothing to obtain it.
2. These deals cannot be reversed."

I've been saying this for a while now- I think she and Bill made some serious promises to a lot of heavy-hitters, who were counting on them to take back the WH- expecting, actually, and since her nomination was so "inevitable" that to lose the race didn't even OCCUR to them, and so the repurcussions of this will haunt them for the rest of their careers. I really don't think personal ambition- at the expense of the Dem Party- explains just how ruthless and underhanded she's shown herself to be- DESPERATION is a stinky cologne. Points for whoever gets the movie where that line came from. Hint, it's SUPER silly.

Judi:Maybe she DID apologize, but since she was on Leno like a week later cracking jokes about "ducking sniper fire", it seems like the apology was only perfunctory. And why should Obama apologize for Wright...HE didn't say it!!!! A comment (lie) that she told (more than once!!!) versus words that SOMEONE ELSE SAID!!!!...WHICH IS MORE SERIOUS????

BeMused,

TomO is correct Hillary did hold fundraisers in Florida. Obama did not.

TomO is also correct about seating Florida and Michigan as is, Obama is still ahead. However the DNC lawyers said the Rules and By-Laws Committee lack the legal authourity to seat the full Michigan and Florida delegates. You are partially correct in saying it can be overturned -- but not by the DNC as you stated, but by the Credentials Committee.

Insofar as Obama's TV ads ... He bought national ads that happened to include a small portion of Florida. But he did not specifically target Florida; it was part of the package.

And the argument that Obama was against a revote: Considering Hillary's backers would be funding the revote they would also be overseeing every facet of the election so Obama (or any candidate) would be an absolute fool to agree to a revote under those conditions.

Bemused, Fact check was done. Hillary arrived in Florida on Sunday and stayed for her "victory" party on Tuesday the 29th. You must be a Republican because your idea of facts doesn't match up with reality.