Obama Should Think Big -- and Seat Michigan and Florida

Barack Obama should call for the Florida and Michigan delegations to be seated at the convention -- not as a concession to the Clinton camp or because of pressure but as an outside-the-box show of strength.

The Illinois senator has several things going for him right now: He has what everyone agrees is an insurmountable lead among pledged delegates; he has an imposing lead in total popular vote; and those facts give him this trump: superdelegates -- elected officials and party operators -- are not going coronate Mrs. Clinton in the face of all those advantages without a wildly compelling reason.

Put it another way: The superdelegates won't risk crippling the Democratic party by driving black voters out of it short of a colossal Obama collapse -- like wearing an al Qaeda flag pin while holding rallies with Jeremiah Wright. The Clinton camp has trotted out various arguments -- some quite silly -- for why the superdelegates should nominate her, but the nomination is his to lose.

But there's one argument that needs be addressed: Democrats don't want to go into the fall risking offending voters in a state they need for victory (Michigan) and one they desperately want (Florida).

So here's what Obama should do: Get bigger than the problem. Say that while the arguments against seating the delegations are all valid and helpful to him, as presumptive head of the party he needs to think of its best interests. And right now the Democrats' best interests lie in a united front in the fall. So he'll support the two states' delegations being seated.

Properly presented -- and if Barack Obama is good at anything, it's proper presentation -- it would demonstrate a position of strength.

Here's what would happen:

- The press and bloviators would go wild, entering new paroxysms of ecstasy over his ability to transcend old politics.
- The Clinton camp would be confused -- who knows, maybe they would even oppose seating the delegations out of sheer reactive instinct.
- The numbers would not change dramatically -- Obama would still have an insurmountable delegate lead and a formidable popular vote lead.
- The superdelegates, faced with more Obamamania, would have less room or reason to dislodge Obama.

Crazy? Probably. But it's time for a power play.

Comments

[TommyMcCarthy]

Finally!..­...... A practical look at President-­Obama-the-­unifier in action....­.as he brings together disparate groups and forges practical compromise­s.........
using his powerful oratorical and persuasive skills,...­....
as well is his unerring ability to find and claim the moral high ground!!

What does that look like in this case?

In secret behind-the-scenes negotiations he has HIS LAWYERS scotch the deal to have the voters of Michigan and Florida (FLORIDA!!) heard. His rationale?­...... as explained to the voters?...­........(c­rickits chirping).­..........­...apparre­ntly he's decided that "the less said, the better".
(His TRUE rationale:?? "What's in this for ME?")

Thank God for the inspirational "new" politics in which .....WE! ......yes every ONE of us!.......­(with the exception of residents of Fla. and Michigan) are the change WE'VE been waiting for!!
Now tell us a little more about bowling, Sen.

Let me be the first to affix my bumper sticker: IMPEACH OBAMA.....­..........­..........­..........­..........­.........t­m

[SoulSistah]

RIP -- HRC Presidential Aspirations

[vallon]

The decision to exclude Michigan and Florida was based, in part, on the assumption that the race would be over by Super Tuesday. As we know, Conventional Wisdom does not apply this year. There is a way that the states can be included in this dynamic race.

Revote? Too expensive. Who would pay for it? If Sen. Clinton is serious about giving these battleground states their say, then caucuses should be held. One third of the cost should be paid by each candidate's campaign, and one third by the DNC. To counter Clinton complaints that caucuses would benefit Obama and his organizational skills, Mrs. Clinton should be allowed to decide when they would be held.

While this idea isn't perfect, nothing will be. If this problem isn't solved, then it could be remembered as the 'hanging chad' spectacle of 2008.

[anywho]

First, OBAMA is not responsible for the situation in FL & MI.
Second, I am sure the delegates will be seated at the Democratic Convention, but the solution will not be approved until the campaign is over. MI, FL and the Clinton's are not in a position to dictate the terms. OBAMA will be ahead even if Hillary gets all the delegates she is asking for so the whole thing will be mute.
But, this isn't cool for Hillary, she looks desperate and underhanded and Rendell is pathetic whining about it. SAD to be so desperate that it shows.

[jmaycock]

Great article and I think a good solution. However, the Michigan vote was completely biased towards Hillary as Obama wasn't even on the ballot. If he grants her those votes too, it would either be a move of sheer brilliance or insanely stupid. The end result will tell.

[jeff3036]

The Republican National Committee voted to deprive Florida of half its delegates because its contest fell before Feb. 5. Democrats should do the same. Seat half the pledged delegates, but no super delegates. After all these super delegates are largely to blame for this impasse, along with their republican counterparts. Give Hillary the percentage “won” on the original "against the rules" primary . Equal treatment/­punishment dished out by both parties. No more disingenuous cries from Hillary about disenfranchised voters
Florida - Clinton – 49%/Obama - 33%
105-67 delegates
becomes 53-33 Clinton gains 20

Michigan - Clinton-55%/Other (Obama) - 40%
73-55 delegates
becomes 37-28 (Clinton gains 8)

[Loeb]

As many have pointed out, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Al Quaeda
are by no means to be equated. Rev. Wright courageously pointed
to extreme racism by the US and our "stalwart allies" The State
of Israel against the people of Palestine. He perceived the
racism, perceived the Israeli/US STATE-TERROR against the
democratic­ally-elect­ed governemnt of Palestine, perceived
massacres, perceived labor exploitation of Palestinians, perceived
the occupation of GAZA, perceived the appropriation of Palestinian
land and water "for Jews only", perceived torture. Rev. Wright
perceived this against international law. Barack Obama wants
to dump all Muslims into one pit, to treat Palestinians like
a subspecies, not really human, not near the equal of those who
read the Torah. That is prejudice and discrimina­tion.(See Ackerman
in this week's "The Nation", or Daniel Levy in "The American Prospect"
of April,08). Senator Obama is following his "mentor", Joe Lieberman
of Connecticut.
Member: Jewish Voice for Peace (Jews,Chri­stians,Mus­lims,Other
20,000 Members currently

[druidmary]

This is the first time I've seen someone write a sensible article. if Obama is suppose to be the cha nge agent, the unifier..h­e's FLUNKING badly at his first attempt.

he can't even come up with a compromise in his own party and to address the "pouting" when he's losing, he always seems to need an Oprah or a Richardson to help him out of a mess(Rev Wright).

come read a few more stories at:
http://hillaryisourchoice.com/simplemachinesforum/

if he can;t settle this in his own party, how can he be the uniter, the change agent???

[mamamay]

We need to seat these states, by divying up the delegates evenly between the Dem candidates. Stop this blame drama. Unless follks know that Hil will not win, even with either Fla or MI then, that camp land is desperate. Obama is a candidate,just like Hil, and McC. Obama is following the RULES of the DNC What ever HD, HW, MW, Govs if FLa and MI decide to do to tilt Hil, dont BLAME Obama. He is not responsible for the shut down of MI and FLa. It has been suggested that AG will settle this, Or We could set up some seating rules that must be followed to benefit both Dem Candidates. Then Divide up the DELEGATES, evenly, between these two states, Any odds in Fla, give to Hil, any Odds in Mi, give to Obama.Then SEAT Fla and Mi. We need to seat these People . We are grown people not children under voting age.

[Suprshrink]

Every argument offered against the notion of seating delegates from MI and FL comes from an Obama supporter or Obama himself. If he and his supporters believed in his "new politics" this would be completely unacceptable to them. If he was behind, this would be completely unacceptable. If it was a caucas, he would jump to re-vote. There are so many contradictions to the issue that it all seems to boil down to "I want to win at any cost."

[tantip]

I was reading some of these posts and I read where someone called Obama a liar and a crook, and I just got to say, they must be crazy!

Hillary has proven she's a BIG liar about her coming under sniper fire and she said it three different times and what's the BIG secret about not releasing her tax returns? Says she will release them now on April 14th, don't hold your breath and let us not forget the WhiteWater scandal.

I'm from Michigan and I didn't vote because everyone was told Obama's or Edwards name would not be on the ballot because there were no delegates given in the democratic race because Michigan moved their primary dates and didn't follow the rules.

Rules are rules and Hillary even sent a letter to the DNC saying she accepted the DNC's ruling of not seating Michigan and Florida because they didn't follow the rules but since she is now losing she want those delegates from Michigan and Florida even though Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan, what a joke

A lot of people didn't vote in Michigan and a lot of people were mad because Obama's name wasn't on the ballot.

[SoulSistah]

This is a decision for the DNC. And why do you play the race card? Anyone who has attended or watched an Obama rally knows that his appeal goes well beyond the African-American voter. Hillary's desperation is embrassing to witness.

..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.....
RIP - HRC Presidential Aspirations

[Mormondude]

But the argument has been made that the Republican legislature decided to have the state primaries before the deadline, not Democrats. So why punish Democrat primary voters that were forced to break the DNC rule by Republicans?

[SoulSistah]

Dems in FL supported earlier date then tried to change it and Republicans blocked them by including voting language that the Dems couldn't swallow. FL Dems has known there was a BIG problem in FL since 2000. We support our brothers and sisters in FL but they need to step up to the plate and fix their problem in FL.

[Jey]

He needs to follow the rules or the republicons will tear him apart on it. When Karl Rove is advising him to do this you know it can't be good.

[S1m0n]

Calling for the delegates to be seated violates no known rule.

[mamamay]

This March 2008. We dont have to wait for Rep to beat anyone up. Grow up and realize it wont matter who gets there, Rep are waiting. It wont be only McC. Carl Rove went on Cspan this week end blasting all. Stop blaming the candidates. We have had enough of the Hil drama. The DNC should not leave off any candidates's name off the ballot in any state. Hil could not win every vote in Mi or Fla, regardless, because folks dont vote for only one in anything. The DNC needs to divide those delegates , evenly in both states,by only these rules, THEN seat the delegates. Stop acting like Rep. If this RULE cant be obeyed by either state, then that State will not be seated. ;STOP this drama. Why put your business in the hands of the REP's? It is time to act like some one can lead this march to the Convention without anymore Brokerage Damage.

[dsigeorge]

Yes, and give the republican's another talking point as to the inability of the democrats to follow the rules and make rule-breakers accountable. If they must be seated they could possibly be seated without voting priviledge (assigned weight given to their delegations based on final declared delegate percentages?).

[genmalia]

I'm sorry, but how exactly is Obama going to be awarded delegates in Michigan when his name was not on the ballot? And how can Florida be considered an honest election when he never campaigned there?

And what of the people who didn't vote because they knew their votes didn't count? The Clintons claim the Obama campaign is disenfranchising voters in Michigan and Florida, they are guilty of the same thing because they AGREED to it! It wasn't until AFTER Hillary was losing that she cried foul, which is essentially changing the game in the 9th inning.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am an Obama supporter, and I really want to include MI and FL because they should be counted. Splitting them half and half is more than fair based on how the country is split between the two candidates thus far (especially since Obama is winning). For Hillary to claim "wins" in these states is ridiculous because there was to be no campaign and no delegates. The dissonance is startling!

[KELLI2L]

Let me just state the obvious to you - Clinton won the POPULAR VOTE in those two states that Obama doesn't want her to get credit for. She didn't campaign in either state either. And don't kid yourself we all knew who Obama was, so his excuse that Hillary only won because she had name recognition is bull. Michigan and Florida voted for Hillary because she is THE BETTER PERSON and would make the BEST PRESIDENT. Hope that answers your question.

[Daniel8168]

How on earth does the popular vote count in Michigan when you're the only name on the ballot? Can you imagine how many people went to vote and scratched their heads wondering why the ballot had two boxes (Hillary Clinton) and (Uncommitted)?

"THE BETTER PERSON"?! How do you become the better person by not disclosing your earmarks that didn't make it into legislation? How do you become the better person by not disclosing your taxes? How do you become the better person by lying about Bosnia, Ireland and NAFTA? How do you become the better person by then going to Canada and telling their government officials not to worry about your anti-NAFTA rhetoric while giving them a wink and a nod?

Please, go ahead and explain your better person theory. Please also explain how you can know for sure that the results in FL and MI wouldn't have been different had they been held when they were supposed to? Look at almost every other state in which Obama either overtook Clinton entirely or nearly closed enormous gaps.

Wishful thinking and telling yourself lies will only get you so far. You might want to try a different route.

[mamamay]

He should be part of the decision. All votes should be divided evenly like in any of the participating states that Obama or Hil won in. This does not take rocket science. We need to act like grown up responsible adults and do the right thing instead of blaming folks. We are pitiful. After the properly divided delegates for Obama and Hil, We need to SEAT these states. We need to be accountable for our DEM party if the Governors and DNC will not lead. Al Gore does not want to be a Broker.. Come Dem's lets keep our tone to the DEM's and stop acting like children for the REP's. We can BEAT this time if some can just grow up in time to lead..

[ndnndpendent]

If the DNC made these rules and asked the campaigns to abide by them, why is this even an issue now? No one is treating HRC unfairly--­----------­--shes just mad because she's losing. Its like asking to change the rules of the game when your two down with ten seconds on the clock. Its BS.

[indc]

Obama should do what he is doing, stick up for the rules as agreed to and, if there is to be a change, stick up for a fair and equitable process to bring about any mutally agreed upon change.

your suggestion is nonsensical at best... he doesn't have anything to prove except that rules are rules, and changes to them have to come about in a way that is not prejudicial to the anyone's interests.

[WilliamL]

If Obama is trully about speaking on behalf of the disenfranchised, it would seem he would WANT FL to receive the delegates they have coming according to DNC bi-laws. HIs nomination is tainted by that standard. And it will likely be what keeps him out of the white house-Florida's 27 electoral votes. I remember the over confidence in 2000 as well.

[KELLI2L]

Your right, Obama does have an annoying aire of overconfidence about him (when he's winning) but have you ever nothiced that when things are going bad for him he pouts like a child (he may be a very sore looser). Those extremes in personality do not make a good president, IMO.

[gnoice]

Sounds like you're describing Ms. Clinton. Are you sure you're not a troll?