Obama Disenfranchised Michigan Voters (Updated by Larry Johnson)
By SusanUnPC on March 29, 2008 at 12:20 PM in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Michigan
Yes, Howard Dean and the DNC f–ked up. But, ultimately, if Barack Obama had wanted the people of Michigan to vote, it would have happened. Barack Obama could have ordered his minions to make it happen. Watch the video.
Critical: The voters of Michigan will NOT forget. IN NOVEMBER. When it matters most.
Click on the TAG for Michigan for more. SEE ALSO: DCMediaGirl’s three stories yesterday on Howard Dean.
Thank you to C.S. for the video. You always come through, C.S. And our readers are grateful to you.
UPDATE FROM LARRY JOHNSON: What a difference 8 years makes. In November 2000, Democrats were furious that more than 19,000 votes were not being counted in Florida. Democrats then wanted every vote to be counted. And now? Several prominent folks, such as Howard Dean, want to ignore millions of voters. Let there be no doubt that Barack Obama is one of the enablers who is helping disenfranchise the voters in Florida or Michigan. Barack is hiding behind procedural rules and relying on clever lawyering to justify ignoring more than two million voters in two key states. Message to Michigan and Florida–fuck off.
Here is what I don’t understand. If Barack Obama was such a strong, viable and popular candidate, why does he fear letting Florida and Michigan voters decide who they want to be the Democratic nominee? The answer is very simple. Barack knows that he is a fraud. The myth of his invincibility would be destroyed if voters in Michigan get a shot at him. Hell, Florida voters already demonstrated that they liked Hillary more than Barack, and this was before the hate speech of Jeremiah Wright became common knowledge. That is why Barack is soiling himself. The man is a coward. A sniveling, weak-spined yellow belly.
A real leader stands up for the right thing, even when their life and reputation is on the line. Cowards crouch and hide. Barack Obama has become Mr. Duck-and-Cover. How is this for leadership? He is hiding behind DNC rules rather than give the Democrats in Michigan and Florida a chance to have their voice heard. Ronald Reagan had a moment during his run for the Presidency when someone in New Hampshire tried to shut his mike off. Reagan stood his ground and refused to be bullied by procedural gymnastics. Well Barack, you ain’t no Reagan. You are audacious. I’ll grant you that. You want Americans to believe you have the stones to face down enemies in Iran and North Korea? Hell, you can’t even face the voters in Michigan.
(small, medium and large sizes; for both dogs and cats)
+ 
Susan, do you honestly believe that the two Obama sentators could prevent the entire Michigan legislature or the Michigan dem party from revoting?
The dem legislators who support Hillary, and the voters would just accept this?
If BOTH presidential candidates work to make it happen, it will happen. Every single expert I ever heard on this subject agrees.
Obama fears a Michigan revote. His polls, I’ll bet you dinner at Le Cirque, tell him he would lose. Therefore, he made sure it couldn’t happen.
(Btw, I can’t afford dinner at Le Cirque, but since I know I’ll win the bet, I’ll let you pay.)
You would definitely win. He would get his butt kicked in Florida too. There is no mistake. Coward Dean is helping him steal this election by disinfranchising two states that would wipe him out. Pay now or pay later, is what I say.
I saw Cooper interview the two Michigan African American senators that blocked the bill for the revote. They were grinning like Chesire cats and one of them even had the audacity to say, “It’s good to be ahead”. Just looking at both of their grins tells me they should be indicted. But Dean condones it all. He condones the sexism, the race card, the free pass over Wright, Ayers, his ties to the middle east, the whole thing. I am glad Dean lost HIS presidency bid now that I see what a terrible “leader” he really is. I am done with this party. It doesn’t represent me.
Hillary she is the best for president!I saw mcnbs with Obama on there.oh my gosh..even the interview had a look on her face when Obama said on taking about the ecommy on his plans were, Tax hike on american’s pay checks.Tax hike on capital gain.She the interview look and said.Why tax hikes on when the ecommy is in such trouble.Obama said will if comsummers would stop useing their credit cards for food.What?put the blame on us I thought.
“Btw, I can’t afford dinner at Le Cirque, but since I know I’ll win the bet, I’ll let you pay.”
Anyway - agreed; both candidates and the party need to stop bickering and manuevering for advantange - put their individual needs/desires aside and agree to work towards the greater good. Assuring that all the votes mean something and tamping down if not ending this nasty internecine, faux Machiavellian crap.
To all the ultra liberals and blacks that voted for Obama ‘NEWS FLASH’ he is not all that.
At first Michigan politicians were complaining about a new re-vote because of the money factor. A rich Clinton supporter offered to put up all the money to see the new election happen, the Barack Hussein Obama team with help from several well placed Black Michigan politicians decided to play a racist card and block this from happening.
Obama and supporters think that he is all winning such a huge victory, for gods sake this man is running almost 50/50 with Hillary Clinton If they were to add in Florida and Michigan properly she would be most likely even with him or he would be 400 points away from any form of victory.
The black population in this country is roughly 13.5%, Obama has won roughly 25% of the popular vote so that makes what about 13.5% of the ultra white liberals that have voted for this man or the ultra stupid that have not did any research on just how crooked Obama really is( can we say Tony Rezko).
I would post this comment on the Barackobamadotcom site on youtube.com but guess what they have me blocked. Team Obama does not want anyone posting on their over 1000 videos saying anything that is derogratory to the golden child.
Obama has lied 4 times about how much money he got from the criminal Tony Rezko, about how close he was to the Rezkos. The slum lord Rezko owned 30 properties in Chicago and 11 were in Barack Hussein Obama’s Illinois Senate District, did Obama help get them fixed NO but the money to fix them was out there Rezko is now on trial for stealing approximately 200m.
Obama owns a house and was next door neighbors to Rita Rezko. (look up the story)!!
Had the media not report the venom spewed by Jeremiah Wright, Obama would have remained silent. Obama “I screwed you but you didnt know it, so its ok.”
This man wants the power the office will bring nothing more. He is a fraud and a fake.
Kevin
The Michigan legislature has to vote to approve the revote. Several well placed NAYs can stop that.
Could some of the members be a member of this organization..
The Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan was founded in 1985 by State Representative Alma G. Stallworth. She was inspired to create the Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan while serving as chair with the Congressional Black Caucus. It is chartered as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
Thank you for posting this video.
I think the phrase “It’s good to be in the lead” says it all.
Florida and Michigan will not forget.
Clearly, the 2 states will go red in November.
Sad, sad, sad.
Oh yeah Mary. Payback is a bitch and I truly think it will happen.
Yes, the last words do say it all.
“I guess it’s good to be in the lead…” wow, arrogance all around.
Obama may think that he is in the lead, but he had best make sure that the voters agree. He may be able to disenfranchise the delegates, but in November the voters will still be there … and they will be pissed.
Clearly, if Michigan and Florida primary voters do not participate in the selection of the Democratic nominee, the nominee will lack credibility.
They have gotten away with so much, they are IN YOUR FACE about it now.
Sadly yes. Total worship apparently corrupts just as badly as power. And nobody likes to be the guy who was wrong so denial comes along to steal away all the bad thoughts when they creep up on his flock of sheep.
Seriously, how could 2 senators control this issue? What am I missing? Also, do you understand the hatred he has caused and dis untiy amoung dems esp. HRC supporters? Are there any recent polls on what HRC voters will do in the GE?
I really think its all necessary (the pressure for Hillary to drop out) for Obama because the Rezko trial resumes on Monday. The trial by itself is going to be very revealing to Americans regarding the dirty politics of Illinois and a reminder that Obama created his seat in the Senate through nefarious tinkling with the “rules” and cronyism. That shouldn’t get im into the White House. The leader of this country is not an entitlement, it must be earned. Obama had definitely NOT earned our trust.
In addition, Taylor Marsh has pointed out the group of democratic elites behind Obama has never ever won a real contest (just like Obama). In particular, Pelosi, with a mandate, was unable to push her agenda through Congress.
So what hope does Obama have?
None, really.
Again, it’s important to remember who is behind Obama, the perennial democratic congressional losers.
And they will lose again, in the fall, if Obama becomes the nominee.
He’s still cheating, in terms of MI, and FL.
I LOVE the Update Larry. Wowzers… that is really setting the record straight.
This whole thing is going to explode in Obama’s face. I am very confident of that.
“Barack Obama could have ordered his minions to make it happen.”
I really have to disagree here.
Assuming that Obama the Svengali could wave his magic arm and command the minions, just simply concedes too much power. Let’s get used to the fact that he’s just human like the rest of us.
Being human brings weakness. My perception is that Obama himself is at least as surprised as others at his success. Another weakness is over-confidence. Don’t take my word for it, ask Gen. Custer.
Re-elections aren’t happening because no one wants to pay for them. States won’t pay because the legislatures can’t even get the funding out of the committees. The DNC won’t pay, because normally the states manage election funding, so the DNC has no existing mechanism to come up with the bucks.
The only ones who can fix this problem are the DNC. Through imcompetence, they failed to see this coming, and thereby allowed this to get out of control.
If the DNC wants to avoid long term disability, the Rules and Bylaws Committee damn well better get off their fucking asses and work weekends until they fix this delegate problem.
None of this is meant to imply that Obama has no influence. He certainly could have an effect on resolving this if he wanted to, which he obviously doesn’t, probably out of fear.
But as a Hillary supporter myself, I frankly don’t see Obama as the answer to the delegate problem any more than I see him as the answer to any other problem.
If he had pressured Dean and the DNC, they would have fought for the revotes.
You are totally, completely wrong. Hillary wants a revote. If Obama wanted a revote, that would mean the only two candidates for President want the same thing. Of course it would be done.
“IF…[pressure]…they would have fought for the revotes”
and
“If…the only two candidates for President want the same thing. Of course it would be done.”
Look, I have no argument whatsoever with the idea that Obama can and should stand up for the rights of MI and FL voters, and is shamefully not doing so due to his own selfish short sightedness.
Let’s suppose for arguments sake that miraculously he does, or at least claims he does; and further suppose that the DNC and the state govts claim they do too. Next question; how to make it happen? The voting infrastucture is not a self-powered apparatus that simply comes to life as the result of wanting it to.
While figuring out allocations of resources, the next likely event will be that DNC will ask the states to pay for re-votes because states broke the rules, and also because DNC is not in a position to march in and manage the states’ elections, or forward a bill payment on the state’s word that the cost is legitimate. Then the states will task DNC with the responsibility because the rules were moving targets, and not equally and fairly applied, probably with references to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Hidden behind these continuing arguments will be the personal career motivations of various people both at DNC and in the states. Even if DNC is not singularly at fault, they did play a leading role, and they are in fact the ones in the strongest position to be taking the lead in brokering a way out. As of now, DNC appears to be paying lip service, without actually doing any real action.
So the questions are now, is Obama’s willingness the only thing needed to get DNC to acknowledge their responsibility? Who at DNC is going to risk their personal DNC career in the interest of voters? Same question for the state leaders?
Assuming that Obama the Svengali could wave his magic arm and command the minions, just simply concedes too much power.
What? No magic ponies? Awww….I’m deeply disappointed.
ybnormal,
What do you mean:”Re-elections aren’t happening because no one wants to pay for them”? The Governors of NJ and PA Corsine and Rendell wrote a letter to Gov. Granholm of MI and offered a legally binding guarantee to underwrite the new primary via privately raised funds for the MI Dem party. Obama’s campaign rejected “primary bought by Hillary’s supporters”. Audacity indeed
How about letting five respected pollsters poll the Democratic voters of FL and MI and then average the poll results to apportion delegates? Of course no one will agree to that; but it would show the crucial point: Clinton would have beaten Obama in these two states whether the earlier primaris “counted,” whether there is a revote today, tomorrow or next week. There are millions of voters in those two states who want to have their votes counted; and Clinton would win no matter when the vote were held. So the DNC can either count the earlier votes (btw,Obama gets NO votes in Michigan, because he deliberately took his name off the ballot, and “uncommitted” is not a vote for Obama); they can have a revote, in which Clinton would win again; or they can purposely disenfrancise all the Democratic voters of those two states. There are no other choices; no “deals” to be made. Count them as is, do it again, or you are in one fell swoop destroying the Democratic Party’s legacy of enfranchising everyone; of “one person, one vote.”
Obama’s supporters clearly are not about democracy, though they love to talk about fairness in a racial context. They are about gaming the political system to their advantage. The DNC agreed with the proposed Michigan revote plan, and Obama’s supporters (obviously under orders) stopped it. Obama lied as usual when he said “I’ll do whatever the DNC thinks is fair.” The bitterest of ironies is that the person who his wife says “will rebuild this country brick by brick” is, in his self-obsessed quest for personal aggrandizement, well on the way to destroying its most cherished principles, and turning it into an effective model of a banana republic, where might always makes right.
” Barack is soiling himself. The man is a coward. A sniveling, weak-spined yellow belly.” I love it when you talk like this; say it again, only next time, slowly.
I wonder what the guardians of the legacy of Camelot think about this? How about it, Teddy, Maria, Ted Sorenson et al.? What would JFK or Bobby have thought about this kind of cowardice? Answer: they would have had nothing but contempt for it and its practitioners– you know it.
And least we forget MLK? I am SURE he would not appreciate a black man denying ANYONE the right to vote for their candidate of choice . . . but what do I know? I am just a garlic nose typical white person . . .
It seems to me that James Carville already had enough mone4y to pay for the do over. Obama is just a chicken shit. He knows his momentum is gone and Hillary would cream him in Florida and Michigan. No excuses. He’s a weanie!
It seems to me that James Carville already had enough money to pay for the do over. Obama is just a chicken shit. He knows his momentum is gone and Hillary would cream him in Florida and Michigan. No excuses. He’s a weanie!
sorry for the double post.
Two reasons Obama does not want redo’s in Michigan and Florida!
NAFTA and Wright!
360 delegates up for grabs in the combined 2 States and if things remained as they are now, Clinton would grab about 22 more than Obama in Fla and Mich she’d grab about 85 more than Obama, thus a gap which after PA would eliminate Obama’s lead completely!
If there was a redo, Clinton would grab far more delegates because of Obama’s lies and associations!
This is the simple truth and the one thing that rings loud and clear is that Obama not allowing the redo’s proves he is not a Uniter, as the people of Fla and Mich want to be counted in the nomination process and not allowing according to their votes is doing as Obama has done his entire political career, in shutting out opponents!
Come November, if Obama is the nominee, those two States are a gift to the Republicans!
The call to Rendell exposed last night shows the lack of commitment Obama has in the voters, by Obama assuming he is the nominee, thus proving himself with his arrogance, contempt for the voters and his lies to achieve his own gains places Obama on a level only seen in recent years by one President, that being Bush! Except Bush only proved his slimey side after being elected, Obama is showing it now!
Senator McCain summed Obama up perfectly, which no doubt he will do even more so on the campaign trail!
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=a72aa248-ed25-4ec1-9c20-1386b3ee960c&Region_id=&Issue_id=
Check this out. Wright spoke in Chicago last night to “thunderous applause”
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/jeremiah.wright.obama.2.687336.html
He may very well have things to hide regarding his religion– I think Al Gore and Hillary Clinton and John Edwards need to have a summit soon, after watching the PBS documentary last night.
links are at my place, for those who want to follow:
vbonnaire.wordpress.com
I am really sick of the media’s treatment of Hillary Clinton, and Wright’s sermons and belief systems need to be unpacked fully for the American public.
ps—speaking of interesting– just yesterday a survey came from The Democratic National Committee—-what questions they want to know…Is this part of the Dean strategy?
Funny, a look at their website–
http://www.democrats.org shows they are using thing called “Party Builder” brainchild of Obama’s helpers
just look up or research Joe Rospars and Blue State Digital in the web for more info on that.
Taylor Marsh is correct today, on how many Democrats will go straight over to McCain. I guess Mr. Dean should realize this, shouldn’t he?
And yes, I plan to blog the questions live–that are on that questionaire– the 2008 Presidential Campaign Survey. How many other states Dems got it I wonder? It seems to be target marketed to white males. Wonder why? And, why are we asked to do a survey when we’ve already voted? Curious.
Barack Obama is afraid of Hillary Clinton and her supporters. It can’t be any clearer than that.
Obama sure is that’s why he is running scared in trying to make the rest of the states not count,Telling lies of Hillary has no chance.I see an email that came in my mail from Howard Dean wanting people to donate their money to this site.saying it was for Hillary and Obama.I didn’t clint on that site because in real it make be a vote to not let Floria andMichigan votes not count or another away of taking money that people would donate for Hillary for the cause and in real it’s going to Obama,
I have been a Hillary supporter since Edwards suspended his race. I have worked hard to stay objective while always being clear as to why I support Clinton. I have never said crappy things about Obama or Obama supporters though I have pointed out occassionally to a few that they are a little scary worshipful, seem to like to avoid certain truths, and can seem like zealots but once again I have always done what was needed to maintain objectivity and not let this get juvenile on my part even if others are up to their chins in juvenile. Objectivity out the window today, stick a fork in me I’m done. Obama sucks period! I will never vote for the piece of shit if he was last piece of anti democracy shit on earth. If I wanted to live with a “nice” dictatorlite like Hugo Chavez I’d move there!
I made this comment on a prior post on this subject.
I am an elected Party official who also works for an elected democrat. I will resign my post (hope I don’t lose my job) if the voices of MI and FL are silenced by Senator Elmer Gantry(obstructionist-IL).
Count the votes, Howie!
Lol!
The Hero of Democracy is now banking on the Dem Elite to bail him out of the mess he’s made by sliming Clinton out of the race. And to think I once liked the prevaricating doofus.
No saving for you, Howie.
There is no way that Obama will be considered a legitimate nominee if he does not count these votes or allow a re-vote. His candidacy will be stained beyond what the Rev. Wright revelation already has.
My question is where is Jimmy Carter on this issue? He and his wife travel all over the world monitoring for fair elections, and advocating that every vote is counted - and yet they are silent in their own country?
I’m also astonished the not every American is not outraged that in the year 2008 we are considering disenfranchising 2.5 million voters. This is one of our greatest constitutional rights. Where is the outrage from every American? This is absolutely appalling. I’m thinking something drastic needs to happen. I just went in my back yard and picked up the biggest stick I could find. How about your?
Carter will go for Obama. Carter is pro Palestine. Zbigniew Brezinsky who was foreign policy maven in Carter cabinet is avowed Obama man as Clinton would NEVER have any part of this arrogant bigot His daughter Nicky is a plant as co -anchor Am, on MSNBC and has her dad on saying disgusting things about Hillary.
Zbig was a total failure in attempting and failing in Carter’s failed bid in the hostage crisis that brought down the Carter regime.
Zbig is a known bellicose and angry left over from Carter. Carter will go Obama sooner than later.
Many Carterites on OB’s team.
Wow, what I wouldn’t give to be able to wipe that smug “it’s nice to be in the lead” smirk of Buzz’s face! Not allowing citizens to have their votes counted and that piece of crap is smiling about it.
I have long been afraid that because of the passion of the supporters of both candidate that the Democratic Party was headed for a train wreck. Since I left the party, after 39 years, to become an Independent I shouldn’t really care. Unfortunately I do. Too bad that Obama and his minions do not.
I started out this campaign season as an Edwards, then Biden, then Clinton supporter. I have, with time, become a solid Clinton supporter. She is the best of the bunch by a long shot.
And Obama? Well I won’t vote for McCain no matter what. But I won’t vote for Obama either.
The Democratic Leadership has been dumb enough to hand the White House to the Republicans for another 4 years.
It really is time, and long past time for a viable 3rd Party. The two we’ve got are absolutely worthless!
At this point I’m so pissed I would vote for McCain just because I only have to deal with him for four years. I have had everything under the sun shoved down my throat now as a military spouse for going on eight fucking years and nobody is shoving anything down my throat anymore. If the will of the people was followed I wouldn’t still be in this fucking Iraq War boat, but the will of people doesn’t have to be followed on that issue and now Obama wants to tell me that the will of the people won’t be deciding the next Commander in Chief? I’ve got one thing to say to him………then you just watch me fucker because I will do everything in my power to see to it that the will of the people does decide to keep your undemocratic ass out of the highest office in the land. At this point how is Obama a better choice for me than McCain? What higher ideal and standard would he bring to the disgraced oval office? The asshole is a sham………a total sham of a Democratic candidate and everybody who is following him so worshipfully……..don’t ever spew any shit in front of me ever again about Republicans drinking Koolaid!
You speak to a larger and scary point; both parties do not have the interests of the American people. For the life of me I cannot believe what I am witnessing. I understand your anger, believe me been there, I’m beyond mad now b/c it is clear what the intention is. I am just disheartened that the state of our union is such.
They are corporate lackies, with excpetion,I’m sure.
My belief was in Feingold, apparently, I was wrong. Obama was the litmus test, one way or the other.
If you claim ignorance, you dont deserve to be a legislator, you’re not capable of protecting the public, it’s your job to know who you’re dealing with, and if you KNOW about his crimes, but think he’s OK anyway, well, you’re in denial, a cripple, you only host a man, you aren’t one.
Hopefully, we’ll see better politicians emerge despite this dean engineered fiasco with MI and FL, and we can start to purge the democrats of the Pelosi’s, and Dean’s, Kerry’s and Kennedy’s.
And of course, the Cheney’s, and the Bush’s, Rove’s and Axelrod’s, too.
They’re all “Dick Morris” to me.
Moreover, who is a “good guy” anymore? you said it yourself with Feingold, I thought spitzer was the guy on the white horse investigating large fraud, sex, who cares but he was a hypocrite. my point is that almost all pols dissapoint, what to do??
A coward, indeed. I have used that word myself before with regard to Obama’s stance on FL and MI. It also calls into question his legitimacy if he is handed the nomination. I hope the SDs know better than to not consider the current results from FL and MI in their overall decision.
Obama my ass. The STATE committee is who you should bitch at but that does not work to bash Obama. Like I said, Michigan and Florida were Told they would lose their delegates if they moved their primaries up just to make more money from campaign spending. Well that bit you in the ass and now you pay. What do you think there are rules and penalties for. Who do you think you are, the Repubican Exectutive Branch. heh.
“Obama my ass.” Is that like pimping your ride?
What do you think there are rules and penalties for
In case you missed it, the “you” in your post is referring to 2.5 million people.
Florida 4 times, Ohio 1 time, Michigan 1 time. Your state next?
“Obama my ass.” Is that like pimping your ride?
ROFL - good one
Not sure who you are pointing to when you say, “YOU”. But, none the less….
You have missed a huge point here, the average democratic voter has no voice in the STATE COMMITTEE. You’d be a fool to believe so. And most voters don’t self-assign until primary time. Your comment assumes that people are sitting around to be party members and this isn’t so.
In my state, many supporters of Dennis Kucinich were furious that the state party disallowed him to be on the primary ballot. They did so over an oath, a fucking loyalty oath, that would have made him promise to support the inevitable nominee, and he balked. They denied him.
Those who objected to this tried to pound the state party to change their rules…and to what avail?
I watched the primary move up debates go on last October and nobody at the time knew Clinton would take Florida (though one might have guessed), and it would be good to go back to those reports and see what the arguments were instead of only relying upon hindsight. These states felt they were being given second tier status to New Hampshire, Iowa and the other states who are always the leading caucus and primary states. Their reasoning was clear. The DNC rejected their desire to be more prevalent
But now, whether you agree or not, Barack Obama and his supporters are enjoying the loss of these voters because it benefits their cause, and this undermines all the bullshit he’s laid down about ‘bringing out the voters’. When caught in this ironic bind. The man in the clip above clearly states: “its lucky to be ahead”.
I used to race, and most of them were 3 day stage races. We often had riders who would get ahead by a certain time and then sit and hold that time instead of working to increase it. While this was probably good strategy to win, there were many times that the lead came as a result of a penalty to someone else. In the end the validity of the winner would be put in question because, “What is the measure of a winner who simply enjoyed the luck of someone else’s misfortune?”
Since the purpose of our competition was to show who was strongest, we often found weaker winners who got lucky with some call or other. And to the credit of some of them, they would be very humble at their win. Some didn’t though. Some bragged as if they were the crème de la crème and it didn’t take long to hate them.
This is the same for the sour winner attitude of Barack Obama’s campaign who point to the “rules” over inclusion. It is sad that they do not see the implications of their actions and comments. The problem for them though is that the tide always turns and when they are underneath it, they’ll hate the consequences.
I put them in the same category as those who support Waterboarding. Those who support Waterboarding come up with lots of reasons, all self serving, that waterboard is good to destroy the enemy. They forget that when our troops are captured we don’t want them waterboarded, but that doesn’t matter because they are speaking from a position of assumed supremacy. They enjoy the benefit, for now, of being a mighty power. But with the tables turned, would they support the same action, I think or hope not.
It is a damn shame that Obama has not been a leader and said, “Look, while it may or may not benefit my competator, I will not stand by and let Michigan and Florida be ignored.” That would be the voice of a leader, which he is not. He loves the convenient gains, and he is too arrogant and lazy to do anything else. Lord forgive him on day, show him the errors of his ways.
If Obama were a true leader he would want to see that all states were franchised, but because he benefits, he is taking advantage and proves he’s an arrogant piece of work and getting the nomination at any cost, is what he’s opted for.
If elected, he’ll make a crappy example and a worse than worse leader of Hope and Change. Yeah.
What a two faced pol.
The delema appears to be that when the DNC decided to penalize Fla and Mich for their not following the rules as set out, no one ever expected the race to be so close and that shortly after Super Tuesday no clear nominee would have been picked!
Had one have been a clear nominee, the Fla and Mich delegate matter would have been a cakewalk!
The DNC created so many failures instead of fail-safes this campaign season that every possible bomb that could go off has and there are plenty more to come!
A prime example is the caucus’s and proven in Texas as being monumental failures as Axelrod found a weak link and exploited it by stacking the caucus’s!
Another weak link is leaving open the abuse of the Democratic Party to allow non-Democrats to control the race, which they have done successfully!
So the fault lays solely on the DNC as they left open loop-holes which were exploited, some say fairly some say not fairly, doesn’t matter which way, the end result is that this hot contested race will not have a clear winner chosen by Democrats, which isn’t this what it is all about?
Anyone in Obama’s shoes would be acting the same way for the most part, but this isn’t about Obama, it is about the Democratic Party and the country! It is about the Democratic Party leadership which falls into Dean’s lap and proof of him being a very inaffective leader! The DNP is made up of Democrats from every State, but its leadership is placing itself above the voters they claim to represent and are proving they are not the party of the people, but of those in power!
The time has come for the DNP to be leaders and resolve the issue now by either counting the real Democrats who voted in Fla and Mich or have a redo and pay for the goof caused by not thinking this through where every scenerio of outcomes was thoroughly thought out so to not ignore any Democratic voter by the failings of the Democratic elites blunders!
Fabulously put! Mel absolutely “gets it!”
Dean is Obama’s lapdog…Yehaww!
Well said Mel.
Why didn’t Nevada and South Carolina get penalized? Didn’t they vote BEFORE Super Tuesday?
Mel, a great post, but believe me, the votes won’t be counted as this is a hit job. Dean has failed miserably and has proven to be not only inept, but a corrupt leader of the Democratic Party.
He is caving to pressure from Kennedy and the other elites who want the House of Clinton to fade away. Power and pressure are being exerted shamelessly and these political gangsters are all hoping it will all fade away by convention time.
Their justification, “that’s politics”. This an ugly thing to watch as the party applies hit tactics to disenfranchise voters, as it is now taking orders from Obama.
The party fears the Black vote and the backlash and implications the black power politics involve. It also fits into the short sighted power plans of Leahy,Richardson,Dodd,Kerry,Kennedy,Dean, and the whole rotten rest, including Lewis and all of the “supposed” Clinton loyalists.
Obama also despises Hillary, as does Michelle
Belle.
Forget this party.
I think the DNC and others knew exactly what they were doing when they punished Florida and Michigan EARLY in this primary season. I disagreed vehemently with their decision to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates at the time. I also disagree completely, and always have, with having the primaries scheduled so that most states have NO say in who becomes the nominee. Could it be that this was all predetermined by the Democratic Elite?
Think about it… Obama was given the coveted 2004 address at the Convention, though he was a political neophyte. Then, the DNC and others push hard to make sure that Iowa and New Hampshire keep their preferred status by disenfranchising Florida and Michigan. The DNC and the Dem Elite see Obama as a vehicle to expand the Democratic Party base, and seem to care little that they’re alienating and villifying Clinton and her supporters (even though Hillary and Bill have done more in $$ and time than most other Democrats in helping the Party and the other candidates.)
In my opinion the elite dems planned this knowingly when Fla and Mi gave them the opportunity to ban the delegates, as they broke the “rules”.
This has happened before in the GOP when the punishment was to cut delegate votes in half for the states involved.
An easy solution could have been reached, but these guys knew that Clinton’s popularity lay in big states, and what better way to rid the Party of Clinton Power? The elites want it for THEIR GUY and a piece of THEIR GUY’s GOODIES.
So, Dean stubbornly refused to bend the rules, and made the rules the “LAW”. These rules are all as outdated as the caucus votes, but they haven’t changed in years. But Dean’s phoniness is obvious here, as he went for a “50 state” strategy to energize the party. NOW he takes 48 states??
This is a Clinton Hit from the party insiders, and since they don’t want the world to see this, they are pressuring and arm twisting Clinton and Supers to cave so all will be rosy for the convention.
I hope at least for a rousing floor fight from delegates representing millions of disenfranchised voters. The party doesn’t give a damn as they feel so sure of getting elected regardless of Clinton defectors. And frankly the way McCain is sounding about his draconian reaction to the subprime disaster, and speeches right out of Bush’s palybook, that any democrat can probably win.
The Democratic Party is in on this fix all the way, and do not forget that House Kingmaker from Chicago, Rep Rahm Emannuel…an Obama biggie and heavy power player and enforcer from Chicago fix it up political scene. He was in Clinton admin too. but has been working the “crowd” for a number of years from Chicago.
Even Chuck Hagel on Charlie Rose said he felt Obama was inordinately talented as a politician and that he liked him. Hagel is not running again. Do we hear something? What a mess.
This video disgusted me. I will vote for Nader because neither party speaks for me. Kennedy, Kerry, Dodd, Leahy deserve some egg on their faces for allowing this fiasco. We have no right to monitor or criticize other countries’ elections after what we have condoned here in the good old USA.
Absolutely!
I will likely be voting for Nader too, and have no qualms about it. I am still satisifed with my 2000 vote and have become more and more clear why that was the appropriate vote for me then. The corruption of arrogance in the DNC in 2000 is back. They assume they have you, they have silently conscripted your support and it will be important that they show up to their front lines without you.
You have to appreciate the irony of watching black politicians arguing for disenfranchising voters.
or going where no AA has gone before.
it might actually be a good sign when you can do so, no? That opportunity to be a smug arrogant prick has arrived? Viva la oportunidad!
Sorta OT here, but I’ll add my fresh experience at why Dem’s don’t have a f.ing clue.
I’m in Texas and I just left my county convention early (where they are supposed to seat the precinct delegates, and then vote toward the state delegates).
I was supposed to be an alternate Clinton delegate for my precinct. The precinct had gone 11 delegates for Obama, and 3 for Clinton.
After 4 1/2 hours of sitting around waiting to find out if the three regular Clinton delegates had even shown up, I started calling them. (I should have called earlier!) There was no way to check to see if they had showed up and signed in. And you weren’t allowed in the delegate rooms where you precinct was (and those weren’t even labeled at all). The first one had been called by the Obama campaign just this morning and was told that the whole thing had been cancelled. She didn’t bother to show up or call those of us on the alternate list. So now, ‘we’ were down one delegate. The other one I called was here but was in some committee and couldn’t help me find out where our precinct was sitting in the building or how to get elevated to a full delegate.
I finally just went into one of the rooms where delegates where seated and found the people from my precinct but was told to leave because I was still only an alternate.
So again, after nearly five hours at this point, I go to get elevated to full delegate. A couple of ladies in full Obama gear told me I needed some form signed by the original delegate saying I would take her place. Without that, I couldn’t do anything.
And my precinct chair, a big O supporter, was supposed to have been counting the delegates, was also the district chairman or whatever, and he was up on stage talking the whole time. So I wasn’t even allowed in his room to talk to him about having him elevated to delegate.
But here’s the kicker. After all that sitting around, raging head cold and all, my vote wouldn’t have counted for s. anyway. Why not? Because there’s no split appointments of the county delegates; it’s all or nothing. So for my precinct, those 11 Obama folk’s vote cancel out Clinton’s vote completely.
I sat and stood around from 10:30am to 3:30pm for absolutely no reason.
Further,
-there were no signs telling you in which room your precinct was sitting.
-there were no information about how the convention runs.
-in fact, the people who showed up at 9am (2 1/2 hours early, because delegate sign-in was supposed to start at 10:30am) were asked if they wanted to be on the rules committee that would come up with the rules for the convention being held today! The Democratic party can’t make rules beforehand so people know what the hell we’re doing?!
-There were only five tables being used for signing in delegate, despite the lines reaching several hundred feet long. They tried to make things by last name, even though each table had the full list. But no effort was made to tell people what was going on. We just had enthusiastic Obama people plastered with buttons and stickers going up to other Obama supporters to try to get them to the front, or get them organized.
It was a certifiable A1 C.F. with a capital C. It’s as if the Democrats WANT to lose in November.
I’ll be making sure my affiliation is Independent on Monday.
And if the National Democratic party do not fully seat MI and FL and do not count their votes, I will not be voting for the senator from Illinois. I’ll wait til the midterms to balance out the Republican presidency.
Sorry bout your head cold and you having to wait for the FUBAR. I am confused. If it was 11 to 3, are you say in the end, all the squiggly things were in the majority and the 3 Clinton delegates were dis’ed? And your story needs to be forwarded to Senator Clinton?
What a can of worms. I wish you had a video of this.
Well, the fact that ‘majority rules’ is, I guess, state party rules. It wasn’t so much that the Clinton delegates were disenfranchised as much as it’s a stupid system in the first place.
I mean, why the hell make such a big deal about the apportioned delegates, only to have it winner-take-all later in the process? It truly is FUBAR.
So yeah, even if 7 of those 11 didn’t show, that would leave them with 4, but that’s still more than ‘our’ 3. Thus, they get the full delegate count going forward. Needless to say, they had their support there. I had to bug the Obama supportin’ precinct caption a week after the primary just to get contact info. Even then, he didn’t give me the when and where info. Had to ask for that too!
And oh yeah, get this. You had to have a photo ID. Yes, that’s right. For a primary caucus/convention for the Democratic party, you had to show photo ID. My voter registration card was not enough. Why is that all the s. we’ve been fighting against for 8+ years all of a sudden shows up being used by ‘our own party’?
Then THEN!!! My info ended up being given to the Obama campaign as if I were a full delegate for them! I have received robocalls from the Anointed One himself and spam email. The only way they would have gotten it was from my precinct chair who sent out a spreadsheet with all the delegate’s contact info (from both BO and HC). Oh yeah, I even got a freakin’ bulk mail letter from Obama, too. Lovely.
What really got my goat was seeing all these smug 20 something people carry signs around. I couldn’t help but thing they had never voted before, and don’t have a clue as to what kind of responsibility comes with doing so.
UPDATE: I just got an email from one of the other Clinton delegates from my precinct.
Apparently,
- they could have gotten me in as a delegate (but not sure how)
- the votes actually were proportional, that “I didn’t have to vote for Obama”
- and this other person is running for an at-large seat for the state convention.
So questions still persist:
- could I have been a full delegate without some stupid form?
- was my precinct chair negligent (purposefully or not) by not counting his precinct’s votes and being available to ‘elevate’ me into a full delegate?
- how were the precinct level votes divided or not up to the state level?
If I could have been elevated, but my precinct chair wasn’t around to do his job, I’m going to raise holy hell to the county and state people.
Ces you take chris up on his request?
Thanks for the update. Wish you could get this on the wire…I’m rootin for ya! and all the other people who ran into the wrong side of this steer.
Yes, I’ll get on the horn tomorrow and find out what happened and then follow up.
Yes, contact me at mizyongyi7@hotmail.com
I want to put you in contact with the attorneys working on this Texas case. Thank you.
it been several hours now and I am still cooked about you report ces.
Thank you chris. What ces experienced describes someones civil rights being violated and unmitigated bullshit. BULLSHIT!
I’ve already signed an affidavit about the precinct mess: the part where there wasn’t any verification of IDs or voter reg. cards on the caucus sign-in sheets.
The local paper said they had over 2000 complaints from the primary caucus/conventions, and had asked the state D party to delay today’s county conventions. But the state party refused.
With this and trying to force honest people like Kucinich to sign loyalty oaths, it’s absolutely no wonder Texass has been firmly in the Red these past years. They can’t see the pastor for the people.
sorry, it’s late. That should have read the Clinton campaign asked the state party to delay today’s conventions, but the state party elite said no.
I hope you feel better and thanks for doing what you did. My respect and thoughts to you and yours.
Ces, what part of Russia did you say you were from?
My wife is from Odessa (Texas)….does that count?
yes, that counts, and it would be important to be in contact with the attorneys in Austin as they have been compiling these incidents related to the March 4th caucus and now the delegate caucus.
One thing that seems to be overlooked in this whole mess created by the DNP leadership is that America is chanting freedom to the world and the rights of the people in the middle east and afganistan, yet at home America projects itself as a country that has no freedoms, by alienating millions of voters, 2.5 million who already cast their votes!
What right does America have to say to the people of Iraq to settle their differences and get their act together when it doesn’t even happen by those who are preaching it?
The only thing being seen in the world is America is not allowing millions of voices to be heard so what gives America the right to push any form of Democracy to any other part of the world?
From Palistine to China, why should they listen to America over Hammas or the Dalhi Lama, or any other country with a population that is blocked out of any decission making and having their voices heard?
Dean has allowed America to be shown to the world as hypocrits and Obama will not be seen as a real President if Fla and Mich are not heard freely! Clinton will suffer as well if President, not as much, but definately it will hurt!
The outcome will only hurt America if this is not resolved and the Republicans will definately enjoy speaking loudly that the nominee, whichever it is, is not a truly elected nominee and it won’t be just Fla and Mich that will go Republican, it will be many swing States as well!
Is this Clinton`s fault, Obama willl claim it to be, but reality is that it is Dean`s fault for not being a leader!
I would not expect anything other than this of Obama? He has done something like this in almost every campaign for elected office he has run for.
He got Alice Palmers and three others off the ballot when he first ran for the IL Senate by challenging signatures on their nominating petitions. When asked about this his answer was he was simply “…abiding by the rules…” Sound familiar.
He is using the same campaign play book this election as well.
He also essentially ran unoposed for U.S. Senate when his first challenger had to drop out due to spousal abuse charges. Some members of the Chicago media have stated that Obama operatives were urging them to make the charges public.
As the title of the Chicago Tribune story (link below) says it all, “Obama Knoes His Around a Ballot.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,57567.story
He is totally and completely shameless.
Buzz Thomas reminds me of Markos.
Obama would prefer not to have a revote because Clinton was ahead in those states, and tha ONLY reason Clinton cares about the “voters” of those states is because she can’t win without them. You can be sure that if the circumstances were reversed, Clinton would be doing her best to make sure they didn’t get counted. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving either of these candidates more credit than they deserve. They both want to win and if it were reversed, Obama’s backers would be just as loudly that it was all Clinton’s fault. Bottom line this is the fault of the elected officials in MI and FL…and the DNC for not having a better way of “punishing” states who didn’t play by the rules. By Clinton backers demonize Obama, and Obama backers demonize Clinton. You’re both kidding yourselves that either candidate is wouldn’t do the same thing in the other candidate’s position, and the demonization of candidates during this campaign has gotten quite ridiculous. The one thing that REALLY matters is that we don’t end up with a president McCain, who has said himself several times that he’s clueless about economics, and doesn’t seem to really care about anything about the war, and starting more wars! You may really prefer one candidate over the other, but when it comes right down to the ISSUES, either democratic candidate’s agenda is far better than McCain’s.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1390897382
Ces -
Just read your description of the Texas delegates meeting today. I couldn’t believe it. Except I could unfortunately, because it just like many reports I heard of theft of Iowa caucus by Obamas.
This is outrageous and must be stopped!!!
Winning an election by force, cheating and stealing, is the same as a coup in a banana republic.
They changed the rules saying winner takes all in a precinct. That is not how it works in the Dem Party. Repubs do that in each state but Dem method is to apportion delegates. There are strict and also complicated mathematical formulas for apportionment. Actually not that complicated but Obamas are exploiting some people’s lack of knowledge about it and cheating.
THEY LIED. That is not how it works.
This is even more serious than Michigan and Florida at this point. Also, BULLYING, intimidation and STEALING has been Obama’s strategy since Iowa caucus. In fact, after reading many reports of Edwards voters in Iowa I believe he stole Iowa. Many people were bussed in from Illinois, said they were local students, but had no ID (ID was not required), and hundreds of people were not recognized by people in small neighborhoods who knew almost all their neighbors by sight after years of living there.
I hear that is being investigated too, but not fast enough that I can see.
Ces, don’t drop out now - notify Clinton quickly. Important to fight this. I think Obamas will do this throughout country, thereby stealing most of Clinton’s delegates and making it look as if he’s winning delegates by a landslide.
Frankly, I am angry at Clinton campaign about this too. Why are they not on top on this?
We need more outrage on this. They are stealing the election and they have to be stopped.
Ces, please write more about it and don’t give up. We are behind you.
Thanks. I’ll have to make a couple calls on Monday to see what the real deal was. It wasn’t so much that people were out to set aside us HC people. It’s just how the system is set up down here.
XME
Puhleeze! That is pure total bullshit!
It is not all right to steal elections.
Obamas have been doing it since the beginning.
What has happened to this country that so many people can rationalize Fascism?
There is nothing to indicate that Clinton would do the same thing. I do not believe she would - if I did I would not vote for her either.
The point is not to win at all costs. Never.
By accepting a revote Clinton is showing she is on the side of Democracy for voters, since there is not a guarantee she would win in Michigan. Although now she is much more likely.
Funny then that Clinton didn’t care about fighting to have their votes count until she needed them. If you don’t think she’d pull the same thing if the tables were turned, you’re kidding yourself. And people call Obama backers “kool-Aid” drinkers. I am not stating this as an argument FOR Obama. I agree that their votes SHOULD count. I’m simply stating that you’ve got Hillary Clinton up on an imaginary pedestal if you don’t think she’d do the same in his position. And you want to talk about trying to steal an election? She’s talked about trying to get Obama’s PLEDGED delegates to back out of their pledge and vote for her…exactly what she said she wouldn’t do. Not mention that if she doesn’t win, she’ll probably attempt to sue the DNC for anything she can think of…no doubt she’ll try to win at any cost herself. If you think otherwise, you don’t know a thing about politics.
I’ve posted on this blog seveal times already about how disgusted Florida Dems are about he way Obama, Dean and the other party elites have treated us. It won’t be forgotten. It is worse than Bush v. Gore.
However, if Florida’s primary results are counted now, the DNC achieved its goal of not letting Florida have an early say in the primary process. By counting the votes now, no one can say that Florida exercised undue influence in the process - which is what the DNC feared by letting big states like Florida and Michigan come before Iowa, NH and SC. By counting the votes now, the DNC will have won the essential issue - the issue of WHEN Florida votes - and the DNC gets to act democratic, for a change.
Any progressive who thinks that disenfranchising us is ok has become a jihadist - sacrifice all things decent to get your way. It is surreal. Obama, you have no honor. Dean, you are coward.
There are some (elite) people inside the Democratic Party who don’t care if a Republican is president. You can tell who they are because they pay an inordinate amount of time blathering about bipartisanship.
Also, I suspect that some rabid Obamaites will abandon Bambi should he get the nomination. Same dynamic.
There’s a reason why Big Media is gaming the Democratic nomination: Obama is a perfect solution their Bush at 25% problem. The Obama Cult is in for a big shock, big time.
[...] looks like Michigan voters are pretty steamed with Obama sitting on a [...]
black jack
Volta how to play craps gioco baccarat gratis free online blackjack game american roulette unbegrenztes freispiel