Hillary Clinton Declares A Great "Victory" in Florida!

So Senator Hillary Clinton won ZERO delegates in Florida tonight but she is ubiquitous on the cable networks extolling her "victory" as evidence that grassroots Democrats want her to be the nominee for president over Senator Barack Obama.

This move on Senator Clinton's part is the most weasel-like posture she's taken this entire campaign. The Democratic National Committee ruled months ago that Florida's Democratic delegates would not be recognized as punishment for the Florida Republican legislature's decision to move up the primary. Senator Obama and Senator John Edwards honored the party's ruling and did not openly campaign in the state. Why waste money on winning a primary that the DNC does not see as legitimate?

Yet tonight I saw Hillary Clinton on Fox News and on MSNBC running a victory lap and crowing to all and sundry that Florida has shown that she is the candidate that most Democrats prefer. This disingenuous and opportunistic display on Ms. Clinton's part shows the depths to which the Clinton camp will sink. It is disgraceful for her to declare herself the "victor" over Obama in an election that the DNC has already ruled illegitimate. But Ms. Clinton milked it for all of the publicity it was worth tonight. Shameless.

What's more, MSNBC reported that Clinton broke evenly with Obama in the tally of voters who have made their decision most recently (and Obama didn't even campaign in Florida).

So Ms. Clinton's dishonorable display tonight raises all of the old questions about the James Carville-style underhanded campaign tactics for which the Clintons are legends. These techniques might be colossal attributes when taking on Republicans, but they reek of foul play when directed against fellow Democrats as she did tonight. Undecided Democrats, as well as Obama and Edwards supporters, should call out Ms. Clinton on her stagecraft. This opportunistic stance should become a campaign issue and I hope Obama and Edwards put it to good use.

Comments

[newfapalooza]

Whether or not the DNC should have allowed FL votes to count is a different matter from whether or not Hillary should be claiming this as a 'victory'.

I think the DNC should have handled this differently because the FL voters should have their voice heard but the fact is that all candidates agreed to abide by the rules that were set a long time ago.

Now when it suits her purpose she wants to change them. She did the same thing in Nevada. Believe me, had Obama had the lead, she wouldn't care a whit about the FL voters and would discount them like she did in SC.

Hillary supporters can be glad that FL voters supported your candidate but lets not for one minute pretend that this is about the voters.

[sebocd]

Hillary's victory claim in Florida is another classic Rovian master technique: create your own reality. It's not just Billary anymore. It's Geo-Billary we're getting. A three for the price of one, tripartite.

[wrensis]

Here are the numbers
99%reporting
Clinton 856,944 50% 0 (higher numbers that McCain)
Obama 568,930 33% 0
Edwards 248,575 14% 0
Kucinich 9,535 1%
Had Obama had the numbers he would have done the same. Clinton said thank you for your vote, Obama tried to ignore the writing on the wall.

[loungestar]

Sadly, as I read these comments posted by readers, I see only a few reasonable and sensible remarks noting the necessity to recognize Florida voters. It's the 5th largest state and indicative of the rest of the country more than any other state contest so far. Not only do we need Florida in the general election, but how can anyone who calls him/herself a Democrat deny other voters their voice? That, I thought, was a Republican maneuver. It is a matter of record as to who campaigned and who attended fundraisers in Florida. I suggest that the rest of the commenters take a minute to look them up before spewing so much venom without knowing what they are talking about. Your hatred is most unbecoming.

[mir]

Hillary - disgraceful and dishonorable! Campaign issue of first importance!

[AnneOnymous]

I think you stated what many were thinking after watching Clinton's "victory" celebration, Mr. Palermo. What an appalling spin. She is now directly challenging the decision of the DNC, and threatening to inject further divisiveness into the Democratic party - as if Bill hasn't already done enough. Why isn't she pointing out that it was the Republican­-dominated Florida legislature that disenfranchised the Florida Democratic voters - they knew the rules the DNC had created and went ahead and scheduled the primary for today anyway?

I used to like the Clintons. I really did. But the last few weeks have made me wonder if I could really vote for her in the general. Her loyalties to the Democratic party seem to be so easily be forgotten in her headlong push to get the nomination. It leaves a bad taste...

[thinkbig]

By the way, her declaring victory tonight was merely laughable. It won't be as funny though when she puts on pressure to actually make the 'victory' in Florida and Michigan count at convention time. Is it possible she'll "steal" an election even before November? If that isn't a Bushism I don't know what is.

[boatsie]

I am a lifelong Democrat who will not only NOT vote for Hillary Clinton should she receive the nomination; I will also leave the Democratic Party for good unless some serious action is taken against the divisive, dishonest and utterly disingenuous conduct of the Clintons during this campaign. I am ashamed of both of them.

[thinkbig]

Sorry buddy they reek of foul play used against dems too. What, you want Obama to run an ad saying Hillary is slimy but it's okay to cheat and lie to win if the opponent is a republican?

[Palito]

I'm not sure if it's wise to dismiss this so lightly as the author proposes.

This was a non race, and still 1.6 million people bothered to vote for their favorite candidate with no serious campaign. Any of the candidates would have celebrated a victory because of the huge turnout.

The extraordinary voter interest in this beauty contest should tell you something come November.

[Dalpine]

Shameless classic Clinton.

[LAShores]

Hey Joseph Palermo.
Tell us something that we don't already know!
Hillary...­... manipulative, opportunistic, underhanded, will say and do anything for power.... NOOOOO way, Just say it ain't so!

[BJG]

First and foremost it is the utmost slap in the face to all voters but especially Floridians to have referred to this as nothing more than a Beauty Contest.

In a time of war where the USA is preaching to the entire world the importance of democracy and voting it is deplorable to think the media and Mr. Obama would say something so callous and totally disrespectful.

Three million people came out today in the State of Florida to vote of which HALF were democrats. Irregardless of whether or not the delegates were recognized (still to be determined) the people came out to make certain their voices were heard loud and clear. And HILLARY is the one they wanted most.

Would you really honestly be saying the same if it had been NObama that beaten McCain 856 HUNDRED thousand votes to his 693 HUNDRED thousand instead of HILLARY CLINTON? Or the fact that Romney beat NObama as well with 598 HUNDRED thousand votes to NObama's paltry 598 HUNDRED thousand?

Put simply NObama didn't even finish in the top three and keep in mind CLINTON beat McCAIN in a Republican state.

[Herrington]

It was disgraceful Palermo. To see her smiling a pitching the "victory" turned my stomach. You expect it of Bush and Cheney and all their troll armies. And, without as much as a nod to the fact of timing of the mailed ballots versus the real time, current, balloting.

And now since she "won" both Michigan and Florida, she wants the delegates seated. I would bet everything I own, down to my underwear, that if she had not "won" those states she would not be quibbling about setting aside those delegates.

She might argue that the ends justify the means, that she feels she is the most qualified and should use any means to get elected for the good of the country. I say this is a self cancelling argument.

Until this display, I had believed that I would be able to support any Democrat selected for the office of president over any Republican. I still may be able to, but my anger at this cheapness argues that four more years of Republicans may produce the projectile system purge that this country needs.

[klondiker]

A few points, Mr. Palermo:

1. Hillary did NOT campaign in Florida - she was there for private fundraisers (which is something that Obama has done, as well).

2. Obama ran national television ads that, in fact, did play in Florida.

3. Don't you think it is good for the Democratic party to count Florida delegates, if only for the sake of the general election?

4. Whichever way you look at it, 1.5 million people voted in Florida today - you can't tell me that these people do not deserve to be counted.

5. If the delegate race gets close (which it almost certainly will), will Obama argue against counting Florida?? But, what happens if he does get the nomination? Will he, then, be in favour of counting? He'd be mad not to.

So, to me, it seems like Obama's argument going forward will be, "Don't count Florida. Unless, I get the nomination, in which case, feel free to count them because I will need Florida for the general election." - and you have to admit, that seems a bit disingenuous.

But, that is just my guess.

SO, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU:

What policy do you think Obama should adopt towards Florida, bearing in mind that there is a very real possibility that he may be the nominee??