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

[intuition]

There she goes again! They were not fair, she cheated, he didn't participate, according to agreement. The Clintons are absolutely shameless -- how can we let "them" run our country when they can't even handle her campaign? Sorry -- their time is up.

Hasn't everyone had enough of these entitled royal families? I have.

[McHenry]

Hillary's claim that the Michigan and Florida primaries were "fair" and should be validated by the DNC is yet another example of the "do anything, say anything" candidate's pursuit of a return engagement to the White House regardless of merit.

Why the press or Obama isn't much harder on her in this regard is a mystery. In addition, the tactic of asserting that Obama must answer a list of questions to the satisfaction of Clinton is equally hollow. Especially in the light of the Clintons' refusal to release their tax returns, Clinton Library contributors and other important financial information for fair vetting by the press and the voters. And do it now before another round of primary voting rather than later; but that won't happen. The Clintons will continue to stonewall the issue and shift the focus by attacking Obama.

This entire Clinton campaign has shifted into a low, nasty exercise of "win at all cost" and will surely hurt the Democratic prospects in the general election and in particular all the down-ticket Democrats who are running for Congress. Not that the Clintons care about the Democratic Party or its prospects for controlling both houses of Congress. After all first and foremost its a family business to them and they are Clintoncrats way before they are Democrats.

[Salome]

Florida and Michigan held their primaries in clear violation of Rule 11 of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Convention. Rule 11 prohibits states--except for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, from setting their nominating contests before Super Tuesday, the first Tuesday in February. These Rules became effective on August 19, 2006. Had Hillary voiced an objection to these rules before they were promulgated, or even afterward, she would have an argument today. Had she intervened at any point when Florida and Michigan were dickering with the DNC about their non-compliant Delegate Selection Plans, she would have an even stronger argument.

But she did not, and as a member of the DNC, she ought to respect the published rules. More importantly, she ought not to encourage states to violate the Delegate Selection Rules. What will happen in 2012 when many more states decide to unilaterally move up their primaries before Super Tuesday? How will the DNC be able to do to stop it? Hasn't Hillary effectively nullified Rule 11? Why hasn't the DNC sanctioned her for this?

I find it regrettable that the voters of Florida and Michigan have been thrust into the middle of this ridiculous farce. Hillary is using them, just as she uses women and blue collar Democrats. SHe makes me sick.

[krnewman]

I'm a MI voter and before the non-primary here she told all of us in an NPR radio interview that the vote would not count for anything. So I took her at her word and believed her and acted accordingly. Now, she tells me it does count. Would the press please please please ask her how she could tell me before the date that my vote would not count and after the vote that it will? I would have liked to have voted for Obama but it was not possible to write in a candidate and he had already taken his name off in deference to the Party's wishes. Frankly, I find her unbelievable.

[MrKnuckles]

Miserable, egoistic, disgusting, venal, crass, Rovian, and insidious in their adherence to propagandistic make believe, Hillary and Co. must be shouted down as they show absolutely no inclination to listen to logic or reason. That sound like anybody we already know?

[mydogshakespeare]

Among the many reasons that I will not vote for Hillary, is these kind of absurd remarks coming from her and her campaign manager... "fair" elections, really?! She panders to the same kind of dumbed-down voter targeted by Bush's neocons.

[PeopleFirst]

I agreed to pay my mortgage..­..........­can I take that back? Why not ? It'll benefit me??? But Hillary gets to do whatever benefits her :(

[PeopleFirst]

FL was told that their votes WOULD NOT COUNT so many didn't even bother to go out and vote. Yes many did but just as many DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!!! How do you sign a legal document and then take it back? This is just a taste of what is yet to come. She really isn't much different than Bush. They both dictate to Americans what they will and will not do, whenever and however they want! Why didn't she fight for FL voters BEFORE she signed the Agreement? Oh she didn't need us then but now she does. There wasn't a problem UNTIL SHE BROUGHT IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobby]

Hillary just get on a broomstick now! Dorothy, please pour water on the WITCH!

[AxelDC]

By "fair" she means that she was happy with the results. Never mind that Edwards, Richardson and Obama were not on the ballot in Michigan, as requested by the DNC. Never mind that Obama, Edwards and Richardson didn't campaign in Florida, as requested by the DNC.

Clinton's law: those who play by the rules are fools. Those who cheat and win can call the others sore losers.

[julia06]

Hillary is mistaking fact for opinion, yet again.
Seriously? Some of you want a person like that for president, AGAIN??!!

[Infostream]

When is the Howard Dean going to grow a pair and kick Clinton out of the DNC? She wants to count primaries that broke the rules and in which her opponent did not campaign, as "fair". She claims Obama hasn't been "vetted" when she's thrown a million sleazy BS negatives at him, while she has not been challenged by Obama (too classy) or the media (likes a close race - good for ratings), Think McCain would be too restrained to bring up Hillary's brother getting $200k to "lobby" her for a sleazy presidential pardon, or any of the other nasty pay-for-play stuff in her "vast experience"? WORST OF ALL HC HAS ENDORSED McCAIN OVER OBAMA - unprecedented, unforgivable treason to her party and country, KICK HER OUT OF THE DNC NOW!!!

[tkunz]

She is spiralling out of control. If Bill Clinton had an ounce of humanity in him, he would give up his ambition to ride this poor , distubed woman back into the White House and finally get her the help and treatment that she so desperately needs.

[rcampbell]

For months I'vebeen saying I would be pleased and proud to vote for either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton for the Presidency. I've changed my mind. Senator Clinton's more recent attacks have exposed her as a very mean-spirited, old-school politician who will say and do anything to gain power. This is PRECISELY the kind of politics Senator Obama is trying to change and I will actively support him over her. The 3AM ad, saying McCain is more qualified than a fellow Democrat, the front-runner-as VP suggestion and now the unapologetic race related comments by Geraldine Ferraro all show a desperate campaign. Mrs. Clinton cannot win the nomination now except by deceit. The math simply doesn't allow it in real terms. I'm amazed, disappointed and fed up with her campaign's decision to tear down Senator Obama in such a way as to help Senator McCain.

[Meah]

If Hillary Clinton gets these votes and cheats Obama out of the nomination, I will quit the Democratic party. And probably thousands of others also. If she keeps this up, McCain will win the election. Oh yea, let's unite, just so long as it is under Hillary Clinton. You blew it lady!