Obama Asks That Florida and Michigan Delegations Get Full Votes

The Obama campaign just issued a press release containing a letter to the DNC Credentials Committee asking that the Democratic National Convention delegations from Florida and Michigan be seated with full, rather than half, votes. That request brings the contentious "early primary" dispute over those two states full-circle: Hillary Clinton's supporters previously had suggested that she might appeal to the same Credentials Committee to have those delegations seated in full despite the fact that those states violated party rules by holding their primaries too soon, with the intention that those votes could throw the nomination to Clinton. Obama's letter today displays the degree of finality and inevitability his nomination has garnered since Clinton conceded, and is an effort to mend fences with Michigan and Florida voters and Clinton supporters.

Tea-leaf readers may also find the timing of Obama's letter interesting given the fact that behind-the-scenes machinations over Clinton's role both at the Convention and in Obama's campaign seem to be heating up.

The text of the press release, and the DNC's initial response issued about an hour and a half later, are reproduced below.

Subject: Obama Urges Credentials Committee to Give Michigan and Florida Convention Delegations "Full Vote"

Obama Urges Credentials Committee to Give Michigan and Florida Convention Delegations "Full Vote"

CHICAGO - Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, today sent a letter to the co-chairs of the Democratic National Convention's Credentials Committee and urged them to pass a resolution granting a "full vote" to the delegations from Florida and Michigan.

The text of today's letter is pasted below:

August 3, 2008

Hon. Alexis Herman, Co-Chair
James Roosevelt, Jr., Co-Chair
Eliseo Roques-Arroyo, Co-Chair

Dear Credentials Committee Chairs:

In just a few weeks, our Party will convene in Denver for our National Convention. This will be an historic event that will showcase our vision for changing the direction of our country.

The delegates and alternates who gather on Monday, August 25 will reflect the talent, energy and rich diversity of our Democratic Party. The delegates will come from all 56 states and territories. As these delegates go about the important business of the Convention, I believe Party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories. Accordingly, I ask that the Credentials Committee, when it meets on August 24 to approve the delegates for the National Convention, pass a resolution that would entitle each delegate from Florida and Michigan to cast a full vote.

As a candidate for the nomination, I supported the DNC's efforts to establish and enforce a schedule for primaries and caucuses that would broaden the opportunity for Democrats from all regions of the country and all backgrounds and walks of life to have a meaningful voice. An unprecedented number of voters participated in our Democratic nominating process. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Dean for his principled leadership during this long and challenging process.

As we prepare to come together in Denver, however, we must be - and will be - united in our determination to change the course of our nation. To that end, Democrats in Florida and Michigan must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington and lead our country in a new direction.

With warmest personal regards,

Barack Obama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2008

Contact: Chicago Press Office, 312.xxx-xxxx

DNC Response:

For Immediate Release August 3, 2008

Contact: Karen Finney/ Stacie Paxton: 202-xxx-xxxx

DNC, DNCC Statement on Letter Received by the Convention's Credentials Committee from Senator Obama Regarding the Florida and Michigan Delegations

Washington, DC - The DNC and the DNCC released the following statement from the co-chairs of the convention's Credentials Committee, Hon. Alexis Herman, James Roosevelt Jr. and Eliseo Roques-Arroyo:

"Today we received a letter from Senator Obama requesting that the Convention's Credentials Committee grant each delegate from Florida and Michigan a full vote. We deeply appreciate and value Senator Obama's perspective on this important issue. This matter will be the top priority for the Credentials Committee when we meet on August 24th. As always our goal is to ensure a fair process and a unified Democratic Party so that we can win in November."

Comments

[JackND]

If they get full votes, the same problem presents itself as before. In 2012, any number of states could ignore the schedule and hold their primary whenever they please.

If they are punished, they can just laugh and say "we'll get our full vote in the end". And they're right, because if you ultimately count them in 2008, you're hard-pressed not to count them in 2012.

[kdublya]

There's bipartisan legislation being drafted to creating rotating primary positions.

[mhoiles]

What ever happended to the rant of " the rules are the rules"?

[JhnGnr]

Speaking of the DNC - Does anyone know of a listing of DNC events that is out there?

The best list for events during the DNC I've run across so far is at

http://www.metrohikers.com/dnc_sign_up.html

you need to do the free registration for the site, but the event list looks pretty decent and apparently it's updated daily.

if there's anything else out there...please share!

[allonfla]

CLINTON WILL NOT GET THE NOMINATION SO STOP PANICKING ABOUT RIDICULOUS PLOTS AND SCHEMES

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

Who's panicking?

[JackND]

that's not the point

[SamThornton]

I'm just wondering out loud here, but shouldn't the Florida and Michigan delegates count triple? Kind of an apology for possibly making them anxious. All in the name of Party Unity, of course.

[YouDisgustMe]

LOL!

[sickofhypocrisy]

yes, propo. we pumas are a bunch of whiny women.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

No, puma has whiny men, too.

[sisterrosetta]

From Turkish Press:

"But it could also open Obama to charges of opportunism after his campaign had fought hard to punish the states and so curtail Hillary Clinton's dogged challenge for the Democratic nomination."

[Active]

PANDERING! FLIP-FLOPPER.
He argued they shouldnt count yet now he wants them to, now that Hillary is out?
POLITICS AS USUAL!

[YouDisgustMe]

yes! you're so right!

ahhhh!! i'm so angry!

[sisterrosetta]

OK, from what I am getting here. BHO wants to give the "Delegates" their full vote, but he is not restoring the FULL votes that were cast by FL voters in the primary. Is this correct?

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

No -- the only penalty imposed by the Rules Committee was the one required by rules written long before this arose: delegation either cut in half or given half votes (same effect). Obama's asking that they be reinstated to full votes, which gives Fla and Mich voters full effect as well.

By the way, Obama never asked that those two states be disenfranchised, just that the preexisting rules be enforced. Same penalty that Clinton's attack dog, Ickes, voted for before they discovered that it hurt Clinton.

[sisterrosetta]

From Hillary Clinton Forum:

Originally Posted by writerchick

Truth is, this will backfire on him. He already had this in place BEFORE the delegate petition started when he thought HRC would NOT be in nomination. That's why they dropped the lawsuit, because Obama said they would be seated ... BUT NOW that HRC is going into nomination, this only helps her. She'll be somewhere between 30 and 60 delegates away from the nomination with them seated in full - I can't remember the exact number but it tightens the gap considerably. If the credentials committee were to take away the fake Uncommitted delegates, then HRC would be ahead - as she should be.

[Fabienne]

Senator Clinton did NOT win the most delegates or the popular vote unless you give Obama NO votes in Michigan, which is patently fatuous. I can guarantee a loss for her were she to become the nominee. I know of absolutely NO ONE who would vote for her under those circumstances and it would probably lose her her Senate seat in 2012. I had thought she has decided NOT to put her name in nomination, which is the only action she can take if she wants to maintain her status in the party. As for the "fake Uncommitted delegates", Senator Clinton signed on to the rules regarding Florida and Michigan before the primary began, and Senator Obama is doing a very gracious gesture by allowing all the delegates to be seated. Do you really believe he would do this if he thought Clinton was planning on causing a ruckus at the convention? Do you really believe the party would support her? Do you really believe any of Obama supporters would vote for her under these circumstances?

[loocifer]

None of the Obama supporters would vote for her under any circumstances so who cares?

[Docbcs]

Wow! Talk about wanting to have it all ways! Had the Florida and Michigan votes been permitted when the hearings were held, during the primaries, the outcomes in the subsequent states, as well as with the superdelegates, might have been quite different. It was the decisions made in the Credentials Committee hearings that lent Sen. Obama his aura of inevitability. Now, wanting to win votes in these states, he's attempting to "kiss it and make it better"? I don't think so.

[SpoxLogic]

DUH!! If you are going to say that then I can say the following:

Had the Florida and Michigan STATE legislatures not voted to move up their primaries, then all this would never have happened.
Had the candidates been allowed to campaign fully in both states, then Clinton's margin of victory would've been less in FL and she could possibly have lost MI. So she would likely still ahve lost and maybe by even a bigger margin.

I can say this because you are also basing your comments on "possibilities".

[marymansour]

Uh oh! Was that a wise move? Hillary and Bill are going to take advantage of this. It ain't over til the lady in the pants suit sings. I hope this show of faith doesn't backfire on Obama.

[SpoxLogic]

Bill and Hillary hav ealready played their hands. If they try something now, they can kiss their legacy goodbye - what ever is left of it , and Sen Clinton can pretty much start making plans for a post political life outside of the Senate.

[poropo]

at least puma will rest and stop whinning

[proudloudlib]

yeah, right.