Mich. DNC member: Plan to split delegates flawed

LANSING, Mich. — A top Clinton supporter in Michigan said Thursday the state Democratic Party's plan to split the convention delegates between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is "fatally flawed."

Democratic National Committee member Joel Ferguson sent a letter Thursday to the co-chairs of the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee seeking to seat all of Michigan's delegates based on the results of the disputed Jan. 15 election. Failing that, he says the pledged delegates should get a half-vote each and superdelegates should get a full vote, a plan Florida also is proposing.

Clinton, who won Michigan's primary, wants to have the full delegation seated. Obama, who is close to having enough delegates to lock up the nomination, has opposed that, noting he took his name off the Michigan ballot after the DNC said it would strip the state of its delegates as punishment for moving up its primary date in violation of party rules.

The rules committee is to meet Saturday to hear plans for seating delegates from Michigan and Florida, which was also stripped of its delegates for holding a January primary.

His letter puts him at odds with the Michigan Democratic Party's chairman and executive committee, which support a proposed 69-59 split.

State Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer disagreed with Ferguson.

Under Ferguson's plan, Clinton would get 73 pledged delegates for winning the Michigan presidential primary, while "uncommitted" would get 55. The Clinton campaign has maintained that Obama should not get any Michigan delegates even though many of his supporters voted for "uncommitted."

"I am convinced that neither the RBC nor the DNC have the authority to take pledged delegates allocated to Hillary Clinton by virtue of the popular vote and assign them to either Uncommitted or to Barack Obama as the challenge seeks," Ferguson wrote in his letter.

The plan to split the delegates 69-59 was drawn up by a four-member team of prominent Michigan Democrats.

"We spent a lot of time working with both campaigns trying to figure out a solution," DNC member Debbie Dingell, who helped draw up the plan, said Thursday. "This is a consensus that was agreed to and the entire executive committee supported. At this point, we're fighting for a principle that's important."

Comments

[iswideopen]

May no child, anywhere, learn the morals of The Clintons. Both have been quite disgraceful and disrespectful, to say the least, throughout this campaign. As a female, Hillary, you do not represent what a "lady" should be. If you are the feminist you claim to be, why have you, yes, you, allowed all of the men you are surronded by deceive you, instead of trusting your own instincts. Is this how the white house would be run, were you to "steal" this nomination from Obama. No morals, total disorganization, NO CONTROL OVER BILL, do you not have a mind of your own anymore. Hillary, it's not about winning or loosing, IT IS HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME. Your political career is in serious jeopardy, and yet, you somehow think things will go your way, regardless. You and your "women of privilige" supporters have totally missed the goal and set the feminist movement back a good many years. Your example is not what we espouse to. You should be more than ashamed of yourself. Your opponent has won, fair and square. I seriously doubt that any elected offical will commit the PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE that you have; as far as I know..................................

[pupbayer]

Maybe the children could get their morals from the Trinity Church and learn hatred and racism from Obama's spiritual advisors: Wright, Moss, and Pfleger.

[Nofoolhere]

Hillary can win the GW Bush award for ruthless and unprincipled politics. Then she can choose Lieberman as her VP, a person whose demonstrated values actually exceeds her moral bankruptcy. The party and liberal/conservative labels mean nothing any more. Her "victory" will seal the evil goals of the fascistic corporate cabal that the Clinton strategy has been all about all along.

[rzan]

Is this guy even in touch wtih the people of Michigan, the people of his state, the people he supposedly represents? If he were he would realize how wrong it would be to aware Hillary everything. Polls are now showing that most of the democrats in Michigan are Obama supporters.

[OhioJan]

Some of us may still be considering going to protest the DNC meeting despite Senator Obama's wishes. DON'T!!!

1). This is exactly what Hillary's counting on. When the TV cameras report the event, the strength of the demonstration will be determined by the total number of people on the streets. It is this image alone, regardless of any spoken or printed works to the contrary. This will involuntarily compel every single observer to instantly believe that every person attending this event is there to protest that FL & MI results. Our presence will have the inevitable consequence of telling the world that we believe that the results should be counted. It'll make absolutely no difference that this isn't at all what we would've intended.

2). If the only protesters at the Meeting are Hillary supporters, how do you think the Hillary campaign will look to the press and the DNC? Pathetic!!!.

3). Senator Obama is of course correct that we must not unintentionally increase the potential for negative incidents. Hillary is ruthless and desperate. Don't you think that her supporters are feeling much the same way? This is a trap. Everyone must avoid this area like the plague! If you want to help, try to gently dissuade any Obama supporters from loitering. Let the DNC, the press and the country be angry with Hillary. They should be. We still have primaries left to win, one vote at a time. That's our job. This is Senator Obama's call to make; not

[Kingbreaker]

Actually the *smartest* thing to do for an Obama supporter would be to show up as part of the Hiller Youth and goose-step along with the rest of them. Maybe Hillary would get arrested for inciting a riot. She'd probably spend the next three months in a minimum-security prison writing a book called "My Struggle Against the Rules."

[midknightryder13]

I saw a suggestion on another thread that I thought was genius -- if you want to 'protest', take the money that you would use to travel to the meeting and donate it to Senator Obama's campaign.

[eurydice]

Any women who vote for McCain in revenge for their deposed demigod Hillary will elect a candidate who will appoint judges to the Supreme Court who will overturn Roe V. Wade, and enact legislation that will set women's rights back one hundred years.

Nice going. Go ahead. Shoot yourselves in the feet.

Though most Clinton supporters are beyond reproductive age in any case. But they care nothing for their daughters and grandaughters.

[Kingbreaker]

In addition to neutering any kind of civil rights legislation and environmental protection.

McCain's solution to every problem is to lower taxes and bomb other countries.

[RThM]

I agree with Joel Ferguson's statement that the plan to split the delegates is fatally flawed. It's also fundamentally unfair to registered Democrats in all the rest of the states, not just the ones who didn't vote in Michigan. This wasn't a legitimate primary and the results of this sham election are thoroughly tainted. Either split half the delegates at fifty-fifty or hold the election again. Ferguson and other Clinton followers may owe the Clintons their souls but the majority of the rest of the Democratic party has opted out of that contract as evidence in Obama's winning.

[drzoon]

there is not going to be ANOTHER election.

people need to relax.

HRC is a liar. And she is a thief. But we all know she isn't going to steal this thing.

Delegates are what we count in this election. Ask Hilary... she said so back in October 07!

[hank48188]

James Carville, one of Hillarys people, said he had the cash to pay for half the cost of new elections for Florida and Michigan. The Obama people blocked that plan because he knew he would lose big in both States. Obama can't carry either State in November anyway, why should he care about those voters.

[bmsrosmuc]

They could not agree on the terms of the 'NEW' primary. The MI primary is an open primary and they were only going to allow people that had voted in the democrat side, not the dems or independants that voted in the GOP primary, to vote in the new primary. then the clinton campaign started to take over the MI legislature and the Mi reps killed it, because it was just getting a creepy feeling to it. If the state just did what they were supposed to, they could have been vital in picking the nominee. There should be no do overs, just cuz you had no plan post super tues.

[midknightryder13]

Oh, yes -- THAT would look fair and impartial -- having one of the candidate's 'people' PAY for part of the election.
Shall we talk about how BAD that would appear? Let the lines about "Hillary literally BOUGHT the election" commence!

[indeevoter]

So...Michigan submits a plan to the DNC to seat its delegates - and Clinton opposes it.

Well, that being the case, one would have to assume either Clinton believes HER plan is better for Michigan than the one they themselves proposed - OR (gasp!) Clinton's concern about Michigan was never about anything more than crass political calculation...she needs and wants the maximum delegates and votes she can manage to squeeze out of that state's voters.

[realistxxx]

No, but it is Obama that is disenfranchising the FL and MI voters... oh wait...

[drzoon]

how?

[midknightryder13]

(whispering to realistxxx) You HAVE to remember to use the [sarcasm ON] [sarcasm OFF] font.

[RThM]

Clinton doesn't want to settle this fake issue. She needs it so she can keep implying to the superdelegates that the election was stolen from her and they need to fix the injustice by overturning Obama. That's precisely why she also keeps harping on the equally fake popular vote claim. That's what "proves' she's right.

[twschaller]

You are so right - It doesn't matter what anyone says, or decides, she'll keep dreaming up new excuses to stay in the current news cycle as long as she can - forever I guess!

Hopefully when enough delegates are in Obama's column to override any new iteration of her bizarre and ever-changing math, the media will begin to lose interest

[Kingbreaker]

Bingo - you win points for best analysis.

[ObserverinVancouver]

You don't get to be a super delegate the day after you fall off the turnip truck. None of the undeclared super delegates are likely to swallow any of this. In fact, any of them who are parents are probably struck by Sen. Clinton's resemblance to a three-year-old having a temper tantrum and will be ready with the equivalant of a large glass of cold water.

[drzoon]

yep!

[Moxo]

Would it also be "fatally flawed" if HRC was in the lead and Obama wanted their votes?

[TonalCrow]

We all know the answer to that. Hillary gave it when she agreed -- before the primaries -- that Michigan and Florida should lose all their delegates for holding their contests too early.

She was then -- in her mind and in those of her supporters -- not only "in the lead" , but, as the media so obligingly said, "inevitable".

[Independent voter]

Darth Vader is going to lead 400 weeping whiners to the parking lot of the DNC meeting. Like that's supposed to make difference.

THe DNC is supposed to completely ignore the 35 million people who took the time to vote and the 3 million people who donated money and listen to 400 of hillaries harpies.

fungool clinton

[Charmed]

I can't wait for Saturday to see all of hillary's supporters out there acting like Jerry Springer guest. It's going to be the most entertaining day of the primary's.

[liseworks]

It's going to be THAT fairytale Bill was talking about !! Yes entertaining, to say the least ....

[Kingbreaker]

Again, the best *tactical* maneuver for an Obama supporter would be to show up as a Hillary supporter. and enjoy being obnoxious.

Bring your shotguns and shotglasses.

[DocGreen]

If these threatened demonstrations occur, then Hillary should be shown the door. She is seriously undermining the the integrity of the party, employing thug tactics and blatantly breaching her agreements with the DNC. She has no place in the DNC. Let her start a women's party or old person's party, or whatever constituency she thinks she has. It is interesting that she does badly with educated, informed Democrats (at least the ones no on her payroll).

[drzoon]

she is doing what tom delay did for bush in miami! he bused his texas thugs in to create havoc and be a media event to distract from what was going on with the florida vote.

more and more hilary is a thug republican

[Sparklez]

Now she is the pot calling the kettle

How can SHE disenfranchise the voters in MI who voted uncommitted because they couldnt vote for Obama

Dilly broad is a flip flop, crybaby, liar, and the like

[dahlenu]

This idea of changing the rules after the game is very, very unfair. What about those who didn't vote in Florida and Michigan, because they knew their votes would not be counted?

[realistxxx]

"Screw 'em"

[Clintonistas]

[Kingbreaker]

I honestly do not understand how any sane person could support HRC at this point. When fairness gets :thrown under the bus" for short-term political gain, the next step is a dictatorship.

[MrKnuckles]

The truly corrupt aspect of this specious and highly staged debacle is that many months ago, (back when Hillary thought she would cakewalk into the Oval Office), ever single Hillary supporter who was on the Rules Committee of the DNC voted to strip Florida of their delegates for violating their established primary rules. Among those voting to punish the Sunshine State was Hillary's campaign guru, Terry McCauliff. The vote to strip Florida of its delegates would have been unanimous except for one dissenting DNC member who was actually an Obama supporter.

Now that things aren't so rosy for Hillary she has gotten religion and wants to portray herself as a champion of civil rights, the will of Michigan and Florida voters, the legacy of the Suffragettes, and of granting Santa Claus' the right to lodge a Super Delegate vote for her; all to hide that she's a miserable, double talking, propagandist.

This kind of blatantly dishonesty and low rent stagecraft should not be rewarded, no matter how many people are howling outside of the DNC meeting on Saturday.

[liseworks]

Give that bus load a free taco - they'll stop howling, gobble it down & forget why they were there ....

[rsg5354]

Obama wins the NOMINATION and Hillary is sayIng HOW DARE HE? DOESN"T HE KNOW THAT I'M WHITE and ENTITLED TO THE NOMINATION? LMAO SHE'S AN IDIOT.

[ldjnews]

I was taking a walk and thinking about this Florida and Michigan business, and it occurred to me that the Democratic Party should be having a crisis of conscience over the Clinton Dilemma and it isn't. It is instead in the middle of Crisis of Unity. I understand Clinton’s demand to prevent Obama from getting any delegates or votes from Michigan, and her call to count the votes and delegates of Florida as is. That makes sense---if and only if the Democratic Party is willing to transfer the punishment it directed at these states to Obama. You know, make Obama the fall guy. That’s a really interesting transfer for historians to draw a lot of conclusions over. I’m already drawing my own. For now, though, it means convincing voters or at least supporters or superdelegates that Obama is responsible for the Michigan-Florida problem and thus should absorb their punishment. That can be done. Voters get emotional at hearing the word disenfranchisement. And if you’re white and clever and transfer the punishment to your black opponent, in the same breath, that is, if you point the punishing finger at the frontrunner Obama, you’ve got a case. That's the DNC Dilemma, whether to transfer the punishment or suffer the consequences of a candidate whose entitlement carries power. Since Clinton's New Perspective trumps the DNC rules, I guess it must be true that Clinton should no matter what rule in the matter, one way or the other.

[Stephen420]

Thanks for this very thoughtful post.

[realistxxx]

Wow! You're too thoughtful to be an American. You sound like an elitist! LOL!

[realityczech4u]

I don't see how any honest analysis could result in a conclusion different than yours. Both signed an agreement not to campaign or participate in either state. Barack followed it up so scrupulously as to remove his name from the ballot in MI. The lack of campaigning placed him at a serious disadvantage since Hillary already had massive name-recognition from 16 years in the public eye. The only fair settlement would skew the distribution of delegates from these states seriously in Obama/s favor. That appears to be the opposite of what the Dems have in mind. Even a 50/50 split would be unfairly biased against him. So I can draw no other conclusion than that they are playing Barack for a chump for having played by the rules. Very sad. People should not stand for it. I know I won't. Hillary and her people like demonstrations? Just let her steal the nomination from Obama with her chicanery.There will be demonstrations. Count on it.