Obama Wants Full Voting Right For Florida And Michigan Delegates

New York Timers:

It seems like another lifetime ago, but remember all the fuss about Michigan and Florida?

After those states held their primaries in violation of Democratic Party rules, the party cracked down on them and said their delegates would not have a voice at the national convention in Denver. Then in May, the rules committee agreed to let their delegates have half a vote each.

Now Senator Barack Obama, the party's presumptive nominee, has asked the credentials committee to let the two states have full voting rights at the convention after all.

The request is likely to be granted since it comes from the all-but-certain nominee, who now controls the party apparatus.

Read the whole story: New York Timers

Comments

[riverhouse]

There's no point now in a general election where every vote counts, especially in MI and FL, for him not to do this. This is about winning. It's a good move. Now he needs to put on the gloves and punch the gop a few hard hits. The American public is hacked as hell and they are looking for someone through whom to express this anger with the direction of the country. O*bama needs to come out slugging.

[sf101]

After the way the DNC treated these people I'd be surprised if they voted at all.

[recruitgal]

They knew the rules going into it...

[superbust]

exactly

[Superbus]

Way too little, wayyyyyyyyy too late.

[PopeRatzo]

waaaaaah!

What exactly is it "too little" of, Superbus? And what makes it "too late"?

[ThunderclapNewman]

As always, Shortbus, you don't have a clue.

This is a very generous attitude for O to take.

He has asked the rules and credentials committees to restore the delegations full voting strength, in place of the mandatory half-strength punishment meted out by the committee.

It's a palliative approach rather than a combative one, and it shows a magnanimity that McMaverick certainly doesn't possess.

[ebanks84]

It's never too late.

[sharonh]

Taking Ms. Clinton's votes away from her in MI, awarding half to Obama, not taking into account all Florida's voters, all determined how the delegates voted. The Obamabot argument in this situation is the same--your elected officials broke the rules, elect new officials, he won, he won. Well, he never did win and perhaps now some of you will have to open your eyes a little wider and see how the nomination was stolen from Ms. Clinton. I heard over and over about but her arrogance at being the "inevitable" nominee. To those of you who fit this profile, once again I say look up "inevitable". You have been played. Will I vote for McCain, no. The fact remains that we don't know who the man is, where he stands, and what he will do tomorrow. I just have to have faith. Pass the kool-aid.

[ThunderclapNewman]

No one stole the nomination from Hilz.

No one.

She lost according to the rules laid down by the DNC, which controls the party primary/caucus system.

Even if those two states---both of which wittingly broke the rules---were counted, she didn't win.

You need to learn how to lose graciously, and move on.

There were no new officials elected to change things.
It was the Cli.nt.on camp which wanted to change the rules while the game was still being played.

Your bitterness and rancor will consume you, if they haven't already done so.

[sharonh]

I am not bitter, might be a bit rancorous. I am by nature pugnacious and some things, righteously p** me off; this is one of them. Thank you for your concern about my mental health though.

[WillNYC]

and the reason you don't take him at his word... but yet you take Hillary's and McCain's word???

c'mon why don't you just come out and say why "we don't know who the man is, where he stands, and what he will do tomorrow. " ? Have you been listening to anything Obama says or is there something about him that prevents you from doing that???

hmmm wonder what it is... hmmm Its as clear as dollar bill to me.

Obama '08

[abby4ever]

We can't pass the kool-aid, we ran out. How about a Bud?

[wdw101]

bud is not American owned

[belief08]

Sure, you won't; you'll do it out of spite. Just like all you Clintonites, you think what you are doing is sooo right. If the shoe was on the other foot, it wouldn't matter to you one bit. But, because it's Obama you have your head up your but with anger. Face it Obama out campaign someone that thought she had this election wrapped up.

Never under estimate the internet, intellect, enginuity, skill, hardwork and a multitude of great supporters. This was arrogance on her part to think this election was hers to take.

[ntmessage]

This was predicted a while ago. Obama was against seating all the delegates until he was in and now flips to include these delegates. Most will likely have a longer memory, especially after seeing the DNC on TV exposed for their duplicity in what some charge was a rigged process but definitely was unfair and overly punitive penalties singled out to these two states alone. NH got off without a penalty. Further Obama has the gall to thank Dean in his letter in an action that both bankrupted and split the party. Today we now risk Clinton voters going over to McCain.

[ThunderclapNewman]

You have, as is your habit, utterly misunderstood the situation.

O was in favor of letting the DNC take care of the issue of the two states which knowingly violated party rules.

The Rules Committee, with full participation from Hilz staff, voted to strip those delegations of their votes last summer if they broke the rules.

The Rules Committee met in June and decided to instead assess the smallest penalty allowed under the rules, which restored half the votes to each delegation.

Now O is asking the committee to be magnanimous and to restore all the votes to the delegations.
Since this is what the Cli.nto.nistas wanted to begin with, why is it suddenly a bad thing?

[Deaninphilly]

Because his campaign was against full seating at the hearing that is why.

[Angelus2007]

And I may be one of those votes going over. I was considering O even though I wasn't sure...I felt he was better Mac, but wanted to still wait and see. Now I am convinced that he will do what ever to win. If I was a voter in Florida or Michigan I would be pissed. My vote doesn't count if I help your opponent, but I do count if I can help you. How Republican of you Mr 0bama!!!

0bama to the people of Florida and Michigan..."You are disenfranchised unless you vote for me!"

[EinChicago]

Exactly. The Oboyo campaign slogan has always been "All voters are equal....but some are more equal than others"

[FebM]

Obama needs to state in ads that while McCain is obsessed with celebrities, he has no coherent plan for healthcare, jobs or ending the war. The issue is "obsessed with celebrity" to expose his juvenile attacks at the same time expose him for what he is, incoherent.

The millions of Americans turning up to see Obama are looking for hope, inspiration and new leadership and thats what is at stake in his candidacy

Obama has the money, put it to use.

[abby4ever]

Thanks, O. After all the support we gave you here at Huffington, arguing that Florida and Michigan should not have full voting rights because they broke the rules, and rules are rules, you decide to give them full voting rights.

I bet H is thrilled. Not that I care, but if it wasn't ok when you had the meeting, why is it suddenly ok now?

Just asking.

[NochlessMonster]

You would probably get a faster response from him if you posted on his website.......

[abby4ever]

Thanks, Noch, I think I will.

[TKI]

That was then, in the middle of the game, when it would not have been fair to move the goal post;. This is now, the game is all but over, when there are no more sides, and no more talks of disadvantaging, but everything to gain by the move. I say, why not now? Besides, the piont has already been made; and, you don't raise the cane back up to one, when one is in defeat.

[pupbayer]

Because THEN it was politically expedient for him NOT to do it. NOW it is politically expedient for him TO do it. It's pretty simple.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Not nearly as simple as you are.

He wisely did not intrude on the Rules Committee's turf when the primaries were still taking place. That would have been unseemly and not in the best interests of the party.

Now that he is the nominee, he is making a request designed to soothe hurt feelings and smooth ruffled feathers.

[mergina]

NOW he wants their rights? How about when Clinton did and they told her to go fish. Obama has lost this election...GET USED TO IT. The DysfunctionalDemocratic Party chose the wrong candidate.

[bdl0715]

Obama has lost the election?

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Obama 316 (Well above the 270 to win)
McCain 209
Tied 13

[wanttruth]

Great move, Sen. Obama. By the way, Happy Birthday!!!

[olivia]

Clinton refused to pledge to restore the Constitution. http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=239574

Obama had no problem pledging to do so.

[jrterrier]

another empty move by Obama. when he had a chance to make a difference a couple of weeks by rejecting the immunity given to telecoms for violating the Constitutional guarantee against warrantless searches and seizure, he voted in favor of the bill. Hillary voted to uphold the consitution when it counted -- by voting against the immunity bill.

now that it doesn't matter, obama will sign.

[sharonh]

Change the subject.

[AdLib]

Kev,

Check out boob running off after getting his butt whipped, hilarious! He didn't know how to respond to my reposting of his raclst BS and finally skidded out on his own slime trail.

What a loser.

[genseric13]

Looked like harmless jokes to me. Don't be so sensitive. Do you have an inferiority complex?

[AdLib]

No, do you normally relate to raclsts?

[Kalima]

Think I'll call it an afternoon and have a little siesta, it's hot enough here. Later. Take care.
Happy birthday O! GN. Gute Nacht and Oyasumi nasai.

[AdLib]

Bye Kalima, as an elitist may I say a bientot?

[AdLib]

In hopes of satisfying the moderator this time, I will let quotes from haboob's profile speak for themselves with regards to raclsm and misogyny:

===========================
"Me is habib's cousin. We are camel herders by trade. We come to US because habib was mounting male camels and the mullahs wanted him stoned to_death. Unfortunately some rocks were hurled and hit habib in the head. Be nice to him. He is berry slow. Thank you.

posted Jun 21, 2006 at 16:47:50"

AND:

"but murtha takes his panties off in public-that gets the MSM attention By: azom on June 21, 2006 at 04:46pm Brother azom. Here you are. Remember the time when you gave one of habib's male camels a lap dance in your pink panties? We laugh til we cry. Remember?

posted Jun 21, 2006 at 16:55:23"

AND

"greek government to_arianna: you are not immune from the clap. By: habib on July 11, 2006 at 02:24am OHHHHHHH habib me couzin. Yer male camel is very ill. Me think you give him clap. Stop yer cab and pick up meds for him. Hurry!!!!! He is moaning for you.

posted Jul 11, 2006 at 02:43:18"

[EarthToZoey]

*exits playground*

Have a fun time trashing each other tonight!

:P

[AdLib]

Seeya!

[AdLib]

Soon that is!

[honeydiva]

that nails it...she's the vp.

[henrydavidthrow]

I'd like to have full voting rights, but that hasn't happened since '96.