Clinton: Florida, Michigan Primaries Were "Fair" And Should Be "Honored"

Sen. Clinton, speaking today at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, argued today that the delegates from Florida and Michigan should be seated, in some form or another:

"If you are a voter from Florida or Michigan, you know that we should count your vote. The nearly two and a half million Americans in those two states who participated in the primary elections are in danger of being excluded from our democratic process and I think that's wrong. The results of those primaries were fair and they should be honored. Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of discussion about what we should do to ensure that the voters in Florida and Michigan are counted.

"In my view there are two options: Honor the results or hold new primary elections. I don't see any other solutions that are fair and honor the commitment that two and a half million voters made in the Democratic primaries in those two states. Whether voters are clamoring for solutions to the challenges that we face or not, or whether people are coming out in droves to be heard, we have a basic obligation to make sure that every vote in America counts.

I hope that Senator Obama's campaign will join me in working to make that happen. I think that that is a non-partisan solution to make sure that we do count these votes."

These comments follows a public letter from her campaign manager Maggie Williams sent to Obama's David Plouffe, seeking a resolution of the delegates from both states. Here is the text of the letter:

David Plouffe Obama for America Chicago, Illinois

Dear David:

The 2008 primary campaign has been a spirited contest that has resulted in record voter turnout. Both of our candidates can proudly boast of bringing new people into the process and energizing our Democratic Party.

With the campaign now entering the final phase of the nominating contest, it is vital that both of our campaigns come together to ensure that the delegations from Florida and Michigan be seated to reflect the will of the voters.

In Florida and Michigan, nearly 2.5 million Americans made their voices heard and participated in primary elections. We think the results of those primaries were fair and should be honored.

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Over the last few weeks, there has been much discussion about how to ensure that the Florida and Michigan delegations are seated. We think there are two options: Either honor the results or hold new primary elections.

To that end, we are in active consultation with all of our supporters in Florida, including Members of Congress. In Michigan, we are in active consultation with the committee appointed by Governor Granholm.

We hope that your campaign will join us in our efforts to ensure that these votes are counted.

Sincerely,

Maggie Williams
Campaign Manager

Comments

[imsixftsix]

Hillary, stop bogarting the joint...must be some real good stuff you're smokin'....the "primaries" were DISQUALIFIED in Florida and Michigan ahead of time..you are soooo high you can't see the reality..

[iswearington]

might i suggest that..it is my humble opinion...that the only solution to this solomonic debacle...is a solomonic decision.split all the delegates allocated by the DNC for both michigan and florida right down the middle. give each candidate 50 percent of the delegates. if the number of delegates is odd...add a delegate to the candidate who is one short...and then lets go on with this contest.there must be some punishment for going ahead and breaking the rules.whoever is ahead when the pledged and the super delegates are counted..wins.

[ozamerican]

I agree... split the delegates and let them be seated.

[Oldchef]

It's been suggested that both state's delegates be penalized by 50% for violating the rules of the party, and the remaining delegates split evenly. Seems fair to me.

[Macready]

someone should tell hillary to FO . . . Florida and Michigan knew the outcome of defying the DNC . . . and still did it . . .end of story . . .

[eciegreasy]

We in Michigan felt the only alternative was to vote for "Undecided" or for Hillary, which was no choice at all. If there is a do-over, most will vote for Obama!

[inwonderland]

I WOULD VOTE FOR A WEEK OF NO CAMPAIGNING RIGHT NOW.

HILLARY CLINTON IS MANAGING, EVERY DAY, TO TAKE A PIECE OUT OF THE democratic PROCESS AND OUT OF SENATOR OBAMA.

LOOK AMERICA. SENATOR CLINTON IS SHOWING YOU HER TRUE VALUES..NOT THE ONES SHE
ESPOUSES, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE TRANSPARENT BY:

THE SPIN THAT ONLY LARGE STATES COUNT

THE BARELY VEILED RACIST COMMENTS OF BILL IN S. CAROLINA

THE PLEDGE BY CLINTON TO NOT ALLOW THE FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN PRIMARIES TO COUNT DUE TO BROKEN RULES AND THEN DEMANDING THEY BE SEATED...AS SHE CLAIMED VICTORY IN FLORIDA..WITHOUT A RACE.

THE COVER SHE HAS GIVEN GERALDINE FERRARO IN THE MOST WRETCHED, OPEN DISPLAY
OF CONTINUED RACE BATING SINCE THE 80'S.

THE.."I RESPECT MY OPPONENT AND AM PROUD TO BE ON THE STAGE WITH HIM " DRAMA MOMENT AT THE DEBATE, THEN CALLING HIM INCOMPETENT TO SERVE.

REPLYING ON A 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW THAT SENATOR OBAMA WAS NOT MUSLIM "AS FAR AS I KNOW"

MAKING CAUCUS STATES IRRELEVENT (EXCEPT NEVADA, OF COURSE)

SAYING BARACK OBAMA DOES NOT PASS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF TEST BUT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE A HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM THE PREZ AS HER VEEP.

LEAKING THAT PHOTO OF OBAMA TO DRUDGE AND DENYING IT, EVEN IN THE FACE OF DRUDGE IDENTIFYING THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN OF GIVING IT TO DRUDGE.

COUNTING FLORIDA AS A STATE SHE "WON" IN HER OHIO VICTORY SPEECH. HOW CAN SOMEONE WIN A CONTEST THAT DOES NOT EXIST?

IN HER SAYING JOHN MCCAIN IS BETTER PREPARED THAN OBAMA TO BE ELECTED PRESIDENT


DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING?

THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING :

THE WAY BUSH CONTINED THE DRIP DRIP DRIP OF LIES AND SCANDAL COVER UP

AND LEAKS IS EXACTLY WHAT TRANCE HILLARY CLINTON IS EVOKING.

IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME NUMBING OF SENSIBILITY THAT KARL ROVE INVENTED.

HILLARY IS BUSH IN A SKIRT, AND ANYONE WHO THINKS OTHEWISE HAS ONLY TO LOOK AT HER VOTES ON IRAQ AND IRAN...AND HOW SHE IS RUNNING HER CAMPAIGN.

BUSH IN A SKIRT IN 08. I AM GETTING MY PASSPORT UPDATE.

[Ring0]

This year more then anytime in the past Hillary has shown us her 'true colors.' Supporting Bush and saying she would not make the same mistakes she did in the past. All the while endorsing the war with her votes. I'm reminded of Jerry Oppenheimer's book State of the Union: Inside the Complex Marriage of Bill and Hillary Clinton and I can't get over what we've allowed this country to become.

http://polidics.com/news/hillary-clintons-jew-bastard.html

Pick up the phone now Hillary ....

[jules135]

Senator Clinton: I'm sad to say that you are a liar. When you thought you were the "INEVITABLE ONE", you agreed that both Florida and Michigan WOULD NOT COUNT. Once you started losing, you "forgot" all about your pledge. And shame on you, too, Terry McAuliffe: I can't believe you once were the head of the party.

[Exit]

The Clintons live in an alternative universe.

[hiriumi]

Hillary makes me sick in my stomach.

[jdk410]

How dare Hillary Clinton and her surrogates holding elected political positions look the American people in the face and say the delegates from Michigan and Florida should be seated based on the January 15 and January 29 primaries respectively.
How dare you!
They say we shouldn’t disenfranchise the people that went to the polls and voted. How about the voters who did not vote because they understood the rules set by the DNC?
How can politicians that were elected to their positions in FAIR, OPEN and HONEST elections - tell their constituencies that the Michigan and Florida results should count? Where do they get the NERVE and AUDACITY to look the people that elected them to public office in the face and tell them with a straight face these elections should be counted?
What a disgrace – outrage and fleecing of the American people.
I hope every one of the elected officials is in the same situation when they run for re-election or another elected position -
1. They are not allowed to campaign – and there opponent is one of the most recognized names in the WORLD
2. They remove there name from the Ballot – and their opponent keeps their name on the ballot
3. The rules which they agreed to before the election – are changed after the election
After an election with the conditions that you so honorable support on behalf of Hillary Clinton – I hope you LOSE! I hope you LOSE! I hope you LOSE!
Oh wait – that’s right – you won’t consider it a loss until the law suit you file results in a revote! Maybe this time you will demand a FAIR, OPEN and HONEST election.
How dare you!
Speak up America and demand a stop to the deceptive, divisive politics employed by the Clinton campaign and their disgraceful surrogates holding public positions.

[HowietheScreamer]

Clinton has gone TOTAL Faux Nooze... she thinks the fact that Obama and Edwards weren't on the ballot in Michigan was "fair"???? She's totally nuckin futz.

[mickyx65it]

Clinton: Florida, Michigan Primaries Were "Fair" And Should Be "Honored"

Well, if that is fairness for her, now we know she why she cannot be president.

[ME08]

And this is fair?

Discriminating against senior voters
Discriminating against shift workers
No absentee ballots allowed...

This is the system by which Obama won most of his victories...in the wholly unfair, undemocratic caucus bullshit, where peer pressure was the hallmark of determining a candidate...so all you Obamabots getting on your righteous high horses, come down off of them...you have been called out!

Hillary WILL get Michigan and Florida, and you can whine and bitch to doomsday...tough shit!

[in4success]

these are the rules, again, which clinton agreed to until inevitability vanished.

hillary will NOT get FL and MI as they sit.

[dlswriter]

Your beef is with the state party reps. To blame Obama is lunatic. I was at a caucus where the entire process was run by Clinton supporters and there was some strong-arming tactics used, and not by Obama supporters.

[thomdavis1]

Dear Moron Everlasting 08 (ME08),
---PRIMARIES Obama won:
MS, VT, WI, VA, MD, DC, DEMS ABROAD, LA, IL, GA, MO, AL, CT, UT, DE, SC, VIRGIN ISLANDS=17
---CAUCUSES Obama won:
WY, TX, HI, ME, WA, NE, MN, CO, KS, AK, ID, IA=12
---I am not great at math, but I do KNOW that 17 primary wins is greater than 12 caucus wins, and that primaries award more delegates that caucuses....so please, PLEASE, please, STFU---and quit "whining and bitching" out your bunghole

[brueso]

Before those 'contests' happened, she specifically said they don't count. Now that she's desperate and she likes the numbers she had in them, she thinks they should count. Sad.

[Querent]

Pretty desperate, no? I guess Hillary knows she can't win without cheating. Thus her redefinition of "fair". Kind of reminiscent of the "Blue Skies Inititiative" or the "Forest Preservation Plan".

[apcalc]

I'm waiting for Barack to show some character and leadership in getting this Florida and Michigan problem solved.

I'd like to see some decisive leadership skills.

This would be a good opportunity to show he is of presidential timber.

Sadly, It seems as if he is trying to squirm out of them or he is hoping to stall or ignore them and they will go away.

[nomobull]

ge followed the rules why should he fix hillary's mess explain . it is not fair since a lot of people didn't vote and yhe other candidates followed the rules and either removed their names or didn't campaign in the states, why is it his responsiability when shes the one who wants thenm to count. where is her leadership?

[sculptor]

If that's her idea of fair then I sure as heck don't want her running this country.

[HumeSkeptic]

Good point, sculptor. Excellent point.

[terraprieto]

Agreed. I guess Clinton thinks the elections of Saddam Hussein were fair, too.

No, she's not ready to be president. And never will be. She doesn't have integrity and good character. No matter how many years she's been in Washington.

[EdwardTx]

The fact that this debate is even occurring is indicative of what is wrong with the Democratic Party. The states of Florida and Michigan knew what the rules were and they knew what the consequences were for violating those rules. With that knowledge they moved their primaries ahead anyway. What is the Democratic establishment doing? Are they saying enforce the rules? No! They are negotiating with those who violated the rules for a lesser (none) punishment.

The Clintons will do anything to win. They have proven how amoral they are. In this instance, however, who can blame them for trying. With a weak and impotent leadership at the DNC they are bound to get their way. With neutral leadership like this the Clintons are almost certain to wrest the nomination from Sen. Obama one way or another. And trust me, President McCain will be laughing all the way to the White House.

[Querent]

Far from "weak and impotent", the Democratic party has the most vigorous and activist leadership it has had in many, many years. Howard Dean has set out to rebuild the party, and he has been succeeding splendidly. We are nearly prepared to contest the election in all fifty states for the first time since the FDR era, and contrary to your bleak forecast, Obama will be nominated, and will lead the party to supermajorities, or near supermajorities in both houses of Congress. And neither Hillary nor McCain can prevent it.

[BillN]

Indeed, and the last thing Howard Dean is going to allow, is for the Democratic party to implode during one of the most important election years in our history. Slap the respective party leaders on the wrists, then re-do the primaries in both states. It's the only way to ensure that ALL voices are heard, and ALL candidates are on the ballot.

Of course Hillary wants to leave things as-is. Barack Obama wasn't on either the Michigan or Florida Primary ballots. She has shown Michigan and Florida in her 'win' column for weeks now. How presumptuous of her.

She reminds me of the high school classmate who talked the senior year government class into playing hookey and going to the beach. Then, she was the only one who showed up for class and received the "good citizenship" award.

We all know people like this, don't we?

[EdwardTx]

And in what United States of America are you living that persuades you that the Democratic nominee will be competitive in all 50 states. While I support Sen. Obama's candidacy, I am a realist. In Texas, for example, or the past two general elections the Republican candidate has had almost a 1.5 million vote margin. If "contest" means winning a previously uncontested (read: written off as not winnable) state, then it won't be happening in this election. If it means not writing a state off, then that is very achievable.

Now with regard to being weak and impotent, in this instance to the leadership has been. Why create a rule and not have the cajones to stand by it and enforce it? I am sure that now when the DNC creates rules the state parties will be more willing to abide by them. Instead it will be the typical Democratic style of leadership and discipline. Can you say herding cats?

[pikakeskin]

It's not the "Democratic establishment" who screwed this up -- it was two staunch Republican Governors. Hillary Clinton does not want 2.5 million Americans disenfranchised. Barack Obama does. Go figure.

[mediahack]

In the end, Hillary will get the apportioned delegates from Florida and Michigan. Once she wins Pennsylvania and the overall popular vote, the super delegates will go with her.
Obama should have wrapped this up when he had the chance. You need a killer instinct in this business.
He doesn't have it. His 11 straight wins are fast becoming a political footnote.

[ozamerican]

Even if she gets the apportioned delegates from Florida and Michigan, and delegates from landslide victories in the remaining states, she STILL loses.

It's a special characteristic of the Clintons that they think that just because they are delusional, the rest of the world must think exactly the same way.

Do Clinton supporters realize that the reason she hasn't been booted out of the nomination process is because, well, she's a Clinton? It's not because she has a chance of winning. Deal with it.

[in4success]

there's are huge volunteer groups of independent camera crews going into PA to document activity and exit poll at 80% of the precincts. this will make extremely difficult to get away with irregularities associated with fraud. there is great concern in that state based upon reports from NH, TX and OH in particular.

this is what saved the 2006 elections.

WE THE PEOPLE are taking our country back.

[KimberlyKay]

I sincerely hope Iowans are listening. Their state party convention is coming up soon. If they are listening to Senator Clinton today they have something few voters ever get -- the opportunity to punish a candidate for lying to their face while running for President. Senator Clinton assured the people of Iowa and New Hampshire that the states of Michigan and Florida would not be rewarded for jumping the gun. Now, she has flip-flopped on this one entirely. While this may be a non-issue to many voters, I don't think it is in Iowa or New Hampshire. In both states, polls show Senator Clinton being defeated soundly by Senator McCain; while Senator Obama defeats Senator McCain in this crucial swing states without difficulty. Perhaps Senator Clinton should have thought of this before she broke her promise to the people of Iowa and New Hampshire.

[BrooklynLager]

Good point.

[apcalc]

Polls I have seen - Obama loses to McCain in both New Hampshire and Iowa.