Time For A Democratic Peacemaker: Senator George Mitchell
Robert Strauss: Where are you when we need you the most?
The one and only Great Robert Strauss, former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in the 1970s, Clark Clifford in the 1950s and 1960s, emerged as the senior Democratic Party leader and peace maker in the 1980s and 90s, and also, a trusted advisor of both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Now, God bless him, Bob Strauss is in well-deserved semi-retirement and I would guess, respectfully, he is at an age where he wouldn't look forward to mediating as solution to the difficult dilemma faced by the Democratic Party over the Michigan and Florida convention delegates.
My proposed Strauss-like leader of the Democrats who can pull that off: Former Maine Senator and Democratic Majority Leader George Mitchell.
Senator Mitchell, as we all know, was centrally responsible for bringing peace to the warring factions in Northern Island. He was the trusted investigator of steroids in major league baseball. He is also a savvy politician whose years as Majority Leader taught him the wisdom of the need to make a choice between two unhappy alternatives if the absence of any deal is far worse.
The current dilemma involving Florida and Michigan in the Democratic presidential race fits that very dilemma.
On one the one hand, the Clinton campaign and many others believe that the Michigan 700,000 Democratic primary voters and the 1.5 million who voted in Florida in January should not be disenfranchised, even if they violated the DNC calendar rules that everyone agreed ahead-of-time should be enforced.
On the other hand, the Obama campaign and many others believe that rules should be followed before the game is played, and not changed in the middle of the game, much less those who violated them rewarded. They favor a 50-50 split seating all the delegates - but Clinton campaign supporters and most Florida and Michigan Democrats would still see this as disenfranchising voters.
One thing everyone agrees on: Democrats cannot afford to alienate Florida and Michigan voters and possibly lose the White House in 2008 as a result.
So what to do? Enters Senator George Mitchell.
He is neutral in the Clinton-Obama race. He is highly respected. He is senior (though he has young children and shows no sign of losing any energy and vitality). And most of all, as just noted, he understands politics and the need for a better alternative among two even worse alternatives.
There is some re-vote solution out there that constitutes that alternative. A mail-in ballot, a "firehouse" primary (where voters go to various firehouses or public libraries to vote, rather than a voting machine in every precinct), or some combination. Yes, the verification process for mail ballots will be a challenge - though not too much different than handling millions of absentee ballots as has been the case in Florida and Michigan for years. Yes, the "fire houses" or libraries, etc., must be numerous and located strategically to make it relatively easy for those who did not receive a mailed ballot to vote. Provisions for transportation of voters who need it to get to the fire houses would not be all that complicated to work out.
Yes, it could cost $10-$20 million or more for the Michigan and Florida state Democratic parties to pay for all this - since taxpayers could not be expected to foot the bill.
But if George Mitchell could get Northern Ireland Protestants and Catholics to make peace and craft a complicated solution for coalition governing, he should be able to get the Obama and Clinton campaigns to solve all of the above problems, especially raising the money. If both campaigns posted a special solicitation on their websites to all their donors, most of that money could be raised from small donations in days if not a couple of weeks.
So to Senator Obama and Senator Clinton: How about making a joint call to Senator Mitchell and invite him to "bring us together" and remind him: "Blessed be the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth."
Mr. Davis, a Washington attorney, is a supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and has many friends and family members who support Senator Barack Obama.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Wonder how many times the Clinton supporters are going back to this well before they notice it's dry. The two states have spoken. No deal. Over. Forget it. Try something else, like joining everyone else in the real world. Just a suggestion.
this is rich coming from Hillary's favorite CNN mouthpiece who is a cutthroat like Wolfson, Penn and Carville
Yeah, I have to agree with what everyone else is saying; not only is this unnecessary, but it does the thing that everyone is trying to avoid - drag out the primary even longer.
Where we are all equal as Americans - despite our differences - is in the voting booth. Our vote is sacred. I think she was in tune with how we feel now - with paying for Iraqies to vote, feeling our patriotism for this country after 9/11 - we really want to vote this year.
I live in a western caucus state. I felt it was Obama supporters who acted so aggressive in my caucus that a foreign army had invaded. Caucuses are a terrible way to exercise one's vote. A voting booth please.
Now if I lived in Florida or Michigan - I would be angry about the way my vote was being treated too. I don't care what the rules were - my vote is more important. If my party would continue to refuse that to me - it would devalue my vote enough that I would protest in some way.
Obama needs to be held accountable. Either he honors the American vote or not. It really is a matter of patriotism. This would be a way for him to redeem himself with American voters. Trust the process of voting Obama. Leave your future up to us. This is our time. My vote needs to be treated as a patriotic sacrament.
Think about the opportunity Obama is passing up. This year - Americans don't care too much about race - we care about voting.
What are you afraid of Obama - Votes!
I think Obama has poor judgement. And he has done nothing compared to Hillary to demonstrate his interest in the struggle all of us can participate in together. The focus needs to be on choosing the best person for the job to create new jobs for all Americans.
Obama needs to show us he is the best person. But instead he is always bringing up race. To get our sympathy? To get our vote? To threaten the Democratic Party? I will not take it on faith that he will do what he says he will do for Americans. My vote goes to the person who acts on beliefs. And he better stop threatening people to vote for him because of his race. He has such poor judgement - especially when it comes to the American people.
He is Rev Wright - just a different generation. No better. He does the same things - preaching to the masses instead of acting differently. And his preaching is divisive and untimely, in my opinion. If he keeps the Democrats from winning in the General - all the "faith" in Obama his followers have will have denied me health care and a better government.
Maybe he could start a new church. Right now, he is losing the most votes (if you count MI and FL). We have found out who he is.
Hillary is red, white and blue. Obama can be painted green (for inexperience), yellow (for being whimpy and whinee), and black (for
black for making us deal with race when we want jobs.
As a Floridian, I find it difficult to understand how any of us here could legitimately feel "disenfran
Instead of some Solomon-like mediator, how 'bout we try this? Leave it alone and let the voters decide. Without Florida and Michigan, 30 MILLION voters from almost every state will have voted -- surely they can decide! Let the primaries continue. In all probability one of two scenarios will evolve.
The first is that Obama and Clinton will more or less split the rest of the pledged delegates, the superdelegates will follow the results of the pledged delegates, and will put Obama over the top well before the convention in late August.
OR...Mrs. Clinton will stomp Obama in PA, will go on to win in both North Carolina and Indiana, and it will become painfully obvious that the damage from Rev. Wright is more serious than Senator Obama hoped. In that scenario, the superdelegates will do the right thing and nominate Mrs. Clinton, because she will have the best chance of winning in that scenario.
From the home front in Florida I can confirm that most Floridians feel disenfranchised by the democratic party. Their argument is and rightfully so that the candidate they chose, Clinton would be the leader in delegates and popular vote if Florida and Michigan had not been disenfranchised. That is quite clear and any candidate without their support would not be the legitimate representative of the party.
Since you are in Florida you should have your facts straight. Even if the pledged delegates from Florida were included Hillary Clinton would still be losing, even if the popular vote from Florida was included she'd still be losing.
And Obama and every other democratic candidate who cares about their party took their name off the ballot in Michigan so that contest is a joke. And I have news for you, if the numbers were reversed and Hillary was up and he only way Obama could come close he would have been out of the race months ago and she wouldn't give a damn about Florida or Michigan voters.
Hillary found the money for a revote in Michigan. Voters are asking to revote so it is fair to everyone. Obama always seems to ignore the voters. This year - people don't much care about race - they care about voting. May the best man win. This year - the best man for the job is the woman.
Would that be a thread...? If so, why not go and kck your Floridian Democratic Party leaders' asses...? They blew it, and nobody else. THIS DESASTER IS HOMEBREWN! Stop whining and keep your crocodile-tears for a better purpose.
She nets 38 delegates from Florida. She nets 60 delegates from Michigan (as Obama was not on the ballot). That's a total of 98.
Obama is currently ahead by 158 delegates.
158 is greater than 98.
Mr. Davis, with all due respect, I have many family members in the state of Florida who have sought out individuals to discuss the primary and they have confirmed that many, if not all, they have spoken to have no feeling of disenfranchisement. However, they all mentioned that the discussions in the media seemed to be promoted by Clinton surrogates who seem to be pushing their supporters. Very Interesting, as you seem to be doing the same on this site.
She lost 30 states to Obama, she has 700,000 less in the popular vote, she has 150 less pledged delegates. She doesn't need George Mitchell to help her steal the election from those voters and states who followed the rules to vote. of course you want the states that cheated to count, that is what your whole campaign strategy is about on the Clinton side. Disregard the millions of Americans who came out enthusiastically to support something different from a lying, back to the past candidate.
What Hillary Clinton needs is a psychiatrist and just a little bit of class to move herself out of this disgusting campaign she has run. I have so little respect for the candidate and every single one of her slimey campaign advisors like Lanny Davis.
How about this. We bring Al Gore in to be the mediator. He does a Cheney and decides that we do not need either of the controversial candidates. He steps in and says the best candidate is neither of you, but instead its me.
He is nominated by acclamation at the convention. Runs a good campaign and beats John "Lucus" McCain into a mud hole in the general elections.
And these United States of America get back on the intelligent path.
Uh, no.
George Mitchell's report on performance enhancing drugs was a complete farce. But that was baseball. Letting him screw up an election and the future of our country is another thing.
One way to make peace is not to have Lanny Davis go on Larry King and use all sorts of lawyer-speak to divide Democrats more than they already are. Personally, I don't care what Bill Clinton's former attorney thinks about the candidates. But everyone's opinion is valid. It's just odd that CNN would invite someone on who has nothing but the most biased things to say.
If George Mitchell were to do the half-assed job with this primary that he did with his steroids report-- basing it almost entirely on the testimony of two trainers who had been busted-- we will be in an even bigger mess come June than if the Clintons and Clintonites such as Davis, Carville, Joe Wilson, Penn and Wolfson continue their unrestrained assault on the frontrunner.
George Mitchell will be a good arbitrator, and will get this thing resolved. He'll definitely side with Seantor Obama, but the fact that the Obama supporters on line are so dead set against this, I find it very puzzleing.
And then CNN hypes James Carville - great unbiasd journalism.
I think you have your candidates mixed up AnninCA . Clinton is the Washington elite candidate - Senator Obama the regular folks candidate. Because educated folks vote for Obama does not make him the elite candidate, but the critical thinkers' candidate. Clinton agreed to the rules when she thought she had the nomination in her pocket - and now she wants to change the rules? Sorry, it does not work that way. The power-hungry candidate is Clinton - win at any cost regardless of who her political machine mows down and if she destroys the party in the process. Clinton's "experience" is falling apart at the seams, het penchant for twisting the truth is coming into the light, and her desire to change the rules in the middle of the game only adds to the "kitchen sink" tactics of the Clinton camp. Bush-Clint
Chill, this isn't refelcted in the way people are voting. Senator Obama isn't getting the blue collar workers. he's getting the well to do, and there really is no denyiny that.
It also seems that the candidate along with his supporters of entitlement, seem to be the Obama people. They have this idea that the Clintons should just give up, and anyone saying otherwise is "power hungry".
The fact is its amazing to hear the complaining coming from the Obama camp and their supporters. Its politics. Both sides do the same thing. I think its ironic to see that the Obama supporters want to have it both ways. They play just as dirty as everyone else, but only complain when they get the mud in their eyes.
What's going to be more amazing is that, this is nothing compared to what the Republicans have in store for Senator Obama come November. The Obama campaign needs to toughen up a bit because whining might get the nomination, but it doesn't get anyone the Presidency
Oh, dear! Obama pulls from all segments of the populous. Clinton may have a larger pool in the blue-collar working class, but Obama will draw from that voter pool, as well. And what you Clintonites cannot seem to get through your heads is that we are not complaining or whining like the Clinton camp. Changing rules in the middle of the game - rules Hillary agreed to when she thought she had the nomination in her pocket? She would be having a hissy fit if the tables were turned. Get real!
Geez, having seen a Red Sox fan and board member get put in charge of the steroids scandal in baseball and then watching him come up with a list of Yankees and Mets and ONLY ONE Red Sock, I'm afraid I would find no merit in this idea whatsoever, as I find there to be no intrinsic honesty or fairness of outcome attached to Mitchell's doings of late, Northern Ireland notwthstanding.
It's time to stop these primary gymnastics, do the math, admit defeat and then work to elect the Democratic nominee. The contest is not a cliffhanger no matter how much propaganda the Clinton campaign spews out. The 12 to 1 run buried Hillary and she can't climb back out. She didn't even get the most delegates from Texas, a state where she claimed victory. The party is over. Time for Hillary to throw in the towel and go back to the Senate where she still has a bright future ahead of her.
P.S. It might help if she worked hard to get Democrats elected as well.
I find it interesting that you referred to the "12-1 run" How many of those 12 states have gone for a Democrat in November? How many of them do you think will go for a Democrat this year?
My feeling is that its still a race, but Hillary should call it quits and give the Obama people a chance to have a decent shot at John McCain. My feeling is that there will be more coming up on Senator Obama and it will cost him a lot of votes, particularly in states that Hillary beat him in , and that the Democrats need to win in November.
He needs all the time he can get to consolidate the Democratic Party to have a legitimate shot in November. At this point I think there is a genuine dislike between Obama supporters and Hillary supporters. And I think its pretty reflective in the posting herer at Huff.
We need to unite in November if we have a chance to win. I think they need to start building bridges to each other..
BTW if the deligates from Mich and Fl.are split evenly,the two states will still have them seated.In the general,they will still want to be heard.All the states that Hellary has taken,Obama can still carry.He will certainly carry her women voters( McCain promises to choose 2 conservative judges like roberts for the supreme court)They will not risk Roe V wade being overturned
Lets be honest. Hillary won't carry the Obama voters because they basically made the decision that its either him or nobody. I think for party unity the Conservati
However I think the Liberal/Progressive wing of the party has to be very careful how they proceed. There is a lot of hurt feelings on both sides of this infight. I think that if a lot of the Hillary supporters feel that they are being ignored or dissatisfied, like the Obama people said if they didn't get the nomination, will either sit home or vote for John McCain.
I think Senator Obama needs to mend some fences, wheter its called for or not. If not a lot of voters will simply sit this one out.
My opinion is that Hillary should get the VP nod. It will secure a lot of Hillary supporters and mend a lot of fences quickly. Anything else will seem like a slap in the face.
Obama is smart enough to know that if Hillary is his VP he won't live to complete his first term. She just may be generous enough to allow him to give the first State of the Union...bu
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
