Thou Shalt Not Steal (Updated)
By Alegre on May 31, 2008 at 11:25 PM in Barack Obama, DNC, Delegates, Democracy, Democrats, Disenfranchisement, Donna Brazile, Florida, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Michigan
Well as you might have guessed, I was at the protest in DC today as the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) met to decide what to do with the votes my family and some 600,000 others cast in Michigan, and those 1.7 million cast in Florida.
We turned up to make our voices heard in the hopes that the RBC would do the right thing and NOT punish the people for what their state party leaders – and those of the respective state republican party leaders did in moving up their primary dates. It’s always been my view that they were talking about punishing the wrong people but that doesn’t count for much as I’m not one of the 30 people on the RBC.
I didn’t even make it inside the meeting but others were there. Some were chanting when it was clear what was the RBC was doing with the delegates from Michigan, and Jane Hamsher at FireDogLake posted the following video of one of the women who were forcibly ejected from the meeting…
They manhandled and bruised a teacher and a Democrat of over 40 years for feck sake..
Harold Ickes – who serves on the RBC and is widely recognized as an expert on the DNC rules and their history – talked about Michigan’s delegates during yesterday’s press conference call when an AP reporter asked him if it’d be acceptable to Hillary’s campaign if BO got any delegates from Michigan’s primary. Here’s what he had to say…
AP – is it acceptable to you if BO gets any pledged delegates from MI?
Harold – Uncommitted status is considered as a presidential candidate. Closed in and given the same rights and protections as a named presidential candidate. There were 4 candidates who VOLUNTARILY took their names off the ballot. She [Hillary] didn’t – there was no requirement that she do so. Some 238,000 people voted for uncommitted – no way to discern the wishes of those voters. Our view is that while delegates who fill out those 55 slots have the absolute right to go and support whomever they want. They must be certified to the convention as uncommitted delegates. The RBC has no right to award those delegates to another candidate any more than they’d have the right to award any of her 73 delegates and give them to another candidate. Short answer – NO.
Giving away some of her delegates. How prophetic that one turned out to be.
I’m too pissed and disgusted to really go into all the ways in which the RBC screwed over 2.35 million people today. I’ll just let Harold Ickes sum up what I’m thinking right now. What follows are my notes, taken as he spoke prior to a vote on the motion to seat all 55 uncommitted delegates as Obama’s delegates (which is illegal according to the DNC’s rules that folks have been blathering on about for the past few months). On top of that injustice, the motion involved stealing 4 of Hillary’s delegates and giving them to Obama.
He spoke of the audacity (my word not his) of the RBC in thinking that the judgment of 30 people should take the place of the 600,000 voters in MI…
Was the process flawed?
You bet your ass it was flawed.
I’m stunned that we have the gall and the chutzpah to substitute our judgment for that of 600,000 voters.
…
You can not take delegates from one candidate and give them to another.
Not only will this motion hijack 4 delegates from Mrs. Clinton, it will take 55 uncommitted delegates and give them to Obama.
I submit that hijacking 4 delegates… is not the way to start down path to party unity.
Finally – one final word – we are … Mrs. Clinton has instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the Credentials Committee.
- Cheers –
Here’s what Hillary’s campaign manager – Maggie Williams – had to say a little while ago…
Decision on Florida and Michigan
Hillary has consistently stood up for the voters of Michigan and Florida. She, like you, has insisted that the voice of all Americans be heard. Today, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee announced their decision on seating Florida and Michigan’s delegations. In recent days, almost 350,000 of Hillary’s supporters wrote in to the committee to make clear what an important principle it is for our party to count every vote.
Our campaign has released an official statement about the results of the Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting and I’d like to share it with blogHillary readers. I know how passionate Hillary’s supporters are about the importance of counting every vote cast in Florida and Michigan and I hope that they continue to express their feelings with the respect and thoughtfulness they’ve shown during the course of this campaign.Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy made the following statement:
Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.
We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.
The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast.
The RBC, in their infinite ignorance, stole delegates from Hillary and gave them to her opponent – a guy who saw the polls in the lead-up to the MI primaries, knew he was going to get his ass handed to him, and took his name off the ballot in order to kiss up to the voters in IA.
And his little stunt worked.
IN other words – he told the voters of MI that their votes didn’t count and used his gigantic FU to them to win votes in another state.
And it worked.
Adding insult to injury… when the folks in Michigan tried to cure the problem (as seen by the DNC) by holding a new election – a plan that was signed off on by the DNC, the state leaders AND Hillary – BO told the voters in MI to eff off again by refusing to face the voters in that new primary.
There was even a plan in place to PAY for this new election AND – if memory serves – polls at the time were showing a much closer race in MI then than back in January. He stood a chance of it being a wash so what was he afraid of?
BO couldn’t be bothered to face the voters of Michigan not once – BUT TWICE!
And now he’s rewarded for his refusal to face those voters with FIFTY-NINE DELEGATES?
This makes absolutely no sense. None whatsoever.
BO and his supporters on the RBC might be celebrating folks – but they’ve just handed Hillary a damn fine reason to keep fighting at least through to the meeting of the Credentials Committee.
If they’re so convinced that BO has this locked up – that there are scads of super delegates waiting in the wings to help him claim “victory” in a day or three then why couldn’t they have just followed their own rules and left Hillary’s delegates alone and sent those 55 delegates to the convention as uncommitted delegates?
The RBC has just violated their own rules here by stealing 4 delegates from Hillary and giving them to a guy who couldn’t be bothered to put his name on the ballot so please spare us any more talk about your precious rulz .
They’ve completely ignored their rules in giving BO any delegates from MI.
They’ve completely ignored the fact that people – in good faith tried to cure the situation by holding new primaries and that it was BO who stood in the way of that cure.
I’m beyond disgusted by this whole fiasco and I lay a lot of the blame at Dean’s feet for his complete and utter failure to lead us through this mess that he and Obama have created. The only people who are paying for their failure are my family back home, and the 600,000 voters of Michigan.
Florida voters didn’t fare so well either. Half a vote. Is that all Florida is worth to us in the general election?
Well I’ve got news for you guys – if the votes of my family are only worth half a vote, don’t be surprised if our party loses a lot of support over this come November. I’m already hearing a lot of Democrats talking about leaving our party over this shite.
This is NOT the way to bring a fractured party back together guys.
Not even close.
If you’re as pissed as I am over the way they’re railroading our party toward defeat in November, you know what to do dammit…
U P D A T E
Wow – I went poking around Jane Hamshire’s site a little more and found this other video she grabbed and posted of another women who’d been ejected from that RBC meeting. And boy is she PISSED
Seriously – the Credentials Committee had better find a way to clean up the mess the RBC made today. Donna Brazile and crew didn’t fix the problem – they threw gas on the flames.
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What happened with MI at the R&B today is unconscionable. Obama STOLE 4 delegates from Clinton and got 55 more for FREE. There is no way to forgive this. FL should have had all of its delegates and as another commenter pointed out there is something terribly ironic that a Black man has argued and settled for half votes from this delegation.
I and my husband just finished changing to “unaffiliated” and will mail the forms on Monday. I also am sending a copy of it to DNC with you know what? A Special Comment.
We will be voting for McCain in Nov and that will be 4 votes Obama has to steal from somewhere else.
If you go the extra step and donate to McCain, make sure you send the donation confirmation to the DNC.
I won’t go that far.
I’m changing registration too and yes, I will donate to mccain to make a point. the dnc will NEVER get my money with imbeciles like this running the show.
I’m going Independent.
The time for a a new party is now.
How about “New Wave Democrats”?
Deborah Foster is a hero.
God Bless all Americans who took the trouble to go to Washington DC and rally.
The bus from NYC left at 3 am. Must have been quite a pleasure trip.
How about THIRD WAY? A la Bill Clinton?
I’d support such an effort. I’d work for them, I’d donate, I’d bust my ass.
As for the Dumb Numbnutz Crooks (DNC), they are DEAD to me. I’m GONE from the party after almost FOUR decades.
Those videos are SOMETHING!!!
Hillary is not without options.
This same thing happened to Joe Lieberman in 2006. He survived it by running a third party campaign.
It worked for Joe. Why can’t it work for Hillary?
Yes, yes, yes! THIRD PARTY!
I know this is a long shot but I have been advocating this for a while now. I would be interested in seeing the polling. What would she need to do to win?
At the least, she would take the votes away from the Dem Party, which is now the Obama Party, and his control. That by itself is very important, and is the reason I will likely vote for McCain, who I think will be a terrible president, much like Bush, and will be terrible for the middle class economically and for the entire country. I am no under no illusions about him being a great man – he’s not, he’s nasty too, misogynist too – remember what he called his wife, what he said about Chelsea and Hillary. I think it’s very important not to forget this and idealize him. He’s a terrible choice.
It’s just that the alternative seems worse. Obama is a Republican in disguise. He talks about all of us sacrificing a lot. I think the people of this country have sacrificed too much already – as in over $4 gas, our loved ones dying in Iraq, thousands dying because of no health insurance, losing houses, the value of our homes, jobs, businesses, and money, our right to vote, etc.etc.
Enough, enough, enough.
No, we don’t need more sacrifice, we need someone to make our lives better. He has never indicated that he will, and even if he did say that now, it’s too late because he is a major liar.
So there’s no difference between him and McCain. But he is stealing MY party. He’s stealing the minds of fellow democrats and turning them into pods, Repubs, mindless thugs. And that is not acceptable. It is an invasion. Of the party snatchers. And that is not acceptable.
And I hate voting for either one of them.
Hillary is the only one who cares what happens to us, the people, of the country and the world.
I think it is time to start to start a movement. The third party movement. To them we are invisible and we don’t count.
They will see us when we walk out of their convention. Over a thousand Hillary delegates. Marching out, two long lines, quietly, with dignity.
Saying no, this is not acceptable.
Let’s draft Hillary. Tell her we need to do this and we need her to lead us.
Otherwise, it will get worse. That’s how fascism works. They test us in small ways, then if they get away with it they go further. At this point the media is close to choosing our president. Obama tells them they can get away with it. Who will they push next time? My guess it will be Jeb Bush, after a failed Obama presidency. Or a failed McCain.
This is worse than Florida 2000 because this is the “good” party, the party for justice and fairness. Now it doesn’t exist any more. We have to stop it now or it will only get worse. We need to take back democracy. I hope it’s not too late.
Draft Hillary! Let’s fight.
Fucking bastards.
How pissed off what that senior. LOL! Get used to it Barky. You have a lot of pissed off people waiting to tank you, you bastard.
uppity in case you haven’t seen it Greta Van Sustren has a video of a Senior woman named Harriet Christian — she is so pissed off at the DNC. She is wonderful — not afraid of anybody.
Thankyou for the Post and Harriet is right. This thing is corrupt. I support Hillary but if she is not the nominee I am no longer a Democrat and will vote against Obama. He has destroyed the party built by FDR. I have been a voting deomocrat for 30 years. No More !
I love the fact that she was from NY. I’m on record as saying way back in February that Barky was going to have a tough time winning the blue state of NY.
McCain is definitely in play here!
The Dems are idiots!
So very disheartening. The phys ed teacher really got roughed up! Probably some Obama supporting security guards who got crazy. No Hillary supporting guards would have done that to her. This is ridiculous.
Or they borrowed them from the neo-cons.
Or NOI?
I listened to the result, when they said the 4 delegates will be allocated from HRC to BO, I couldn’t believe my ears. No! That’s not possible. This is America. Not Kenya.
Not yet.
Well maybe Barky wants to do what his cousin in Kenya is doing. Commit genocide on the people who won’t vote for you.
The Democrats get worse and worse everyday. Who manhandles an old woman like that? This meeting today was like the Polit Bureau meets Democracy and Democracy lost.
She was too law-abiding to fight back. She probably could have kicked them all to the curb.
IF Obama becomes the nominee the DNC has assured that he will have not be a legitimate candidate by their actions today. The Democratic Party has ceased to be a legitimate party and has self destructed.
No, I would not have guessed you were there. Why is it always about you? Do you ever write anything without referring to yourself?
Yeah, I went to the Maryland Voter Registration site tonight myself. I’m switching to Independent on Monday as well. I’ll still be able to vote for Hill come November either way, but I need for the DNC to know what they’ve done. We are very serious about this. They can disillusion themselves into believing that this is all going to go away in FIVE months if they want to, but as we all know, time flies. It will be November before you know it. If he had five YEARS to clean this up–maybe. But, this anger is going to be very fresh, especially considering the convention isn’t until the end of August! Then, that only gives BHO three months to try to make amends if he is the nominee. Still not enough time! Bottom line is this. It’s either Hillary or McCain.
DITTO.
I’m a Hillary Delegate, and I just signed an Affidavit sworn by Notary for Natl. Delegate that I would vote for Hillary, and that I will support the Democratic Party nominee. Well, read my words… if Hillary is NOT the nominee — I will LEAVE THIS PARTY AFTER 30 YEARS! If stealing votes as they did yesterday with MI is any foreshadowing of things to come, then TO HELL WITH THE DEM PARTY!
Yeah, I went to the Maryland Voter Registration site tonight myself. I’m switching to Independent on Monday as well. I’ll still be able to vote for Hill come November either way, but I need for the DNC to know what they’ve done. We are very serious about this. They can disillusion themselves into believing that this is all going to go away in FIVE months if they want to, but as we all know, time flies. It will be November before you know it. If he had five YEARS to clean this up–maybe. But, this anger is going to be very fresh, especially considering the convention isn’t until the end of August! Then, that only gives BHO two months to try to make amends if he is the nominee. Still not enough time! Bottom line is this. It’s either Hillary or McCain.
Cannot believe what they did to that woman’s arm. These people are savages just as I have been saying all along.
I wouldn’t let one of them near me without my dog.
But, we are supposed to just suck it up right? Screw that.
They said today the party is united. My foot.
They did achieve unity yesterday: they unified Hillary supporters to vote for McCain if they steal the nomination from Hillary. And handing over 4 delegates she rightfully won is stealing.
Amen!
What stupid fool said the party was unified. Talk about arrogant, delusional bullshit.
Saying unity and getting unity is separated by half a person ….
There is another video of an older woman from Manhattan. (Her name is Harriet Christian)….She was there today….great video…very heartwrenching. It’s on The Confluence website.
i sent Susan an email about it…
Scratch my first comment….it’s (video)on here already. Sorry, it’s late here in Texas.
the rules! the rules! that’s all they had to say when we said fl and mi should count.
now that fl and mi (sort of) count, they made sure that they “count” in a way that’s in complete violation of “the rules.”
course we all knew what they meant by “the rules” was – give obambi the nomination or else!
screw ‘em. they may get the nomination for obambi. but it’s illegitimate. as is he.
and if they do, my vote and my money go to mccain.
hillary or mccain. no other option.
I am in shock at what these Democratic Party “leaders” have done. This is no longer a party I can be a part of. I, too, have already filled out the paperwork to re-register as “belongs to no party”. How is it possible that these 30 members of the Rules Committee can carry more weight than the voters? This is not democracy. They are no better than the Republicans in Florida in 2000 that took away votes. How can they live with themselves? I will not vote for Obama. I actually believe he should be expelled from the party. He has campaigned dishonestly, unethically and brought racism into the mix in an unconscionable way. HE has created the disunity and has the gall to say he has compromised?
Ok I have offically left the democratic party and mailed in my new Ca voter registration as “declined to state”.
Sent a formal letter to Howard Dean telling him exactly what I think. Stopped my 25 year monthly contributions to the DNC. Sent back all survey’s and requests for money from the DNC and the DCC with a note telling them where to go and NO STAMP.
Maxed out my donations to Senator Clinton. Donated to countallthevotes.org, FDR, and helped pay for the ad’s in the USA today. Signed every darn petition I could get my hands on. Politely emailed superdelegates many who are in my opinion rude drunks. Even got yelled at in email by Big ole Donna Brazile herself after politely requesting her to NOT rig the election.
Monday I am calling the DNC and demanding my donations for 2008 to be refunded, if Sentaor Clinton manages the nomination I will vote for her, if not then I am going to work for Mc Cain. PERIOD I AM DONE. We police elections in other countries then take votes here in America that were cast for one person and give them to another?? At least if I vote for Mc Cain they cannot give that vote to Obama, the affirmative action candidate, what hypocrites the Democrats are!
Newbie question:
Do you neccesary have to change the voter registration status from Democrat to something else to vote for McCain?
absolutely not.
just go to vote and vote for mccain.
the registration thing only applies to primaries, and even then it depends on the state. in the general election, you can vote for any candidate you want.
Cool! I’m going independent too. Thanks for the info on countallthevotes.org
This is awful. I feel bad for that teacher that got manhandled.
But hallelujah, it sure is good to see women get angry and to fight for what’s right.
Thoses are two good women. I have been dem for 47 years. I’m outta there as soon as the local office of the county opens tomorrow. I think you’ll find that older women such as myself aren’t as afraid to speak out. When you reach a certain age, you bs tolerance level goes way down in all areas of life.
I can’t even begin to think what those peoples mothers, daughters and grandmothers must be thinking. How hurtful to find your children think you’re a piece of crap not worth listening to.
Is that how they treat their grandmothers, dragging by the arm?
I’m so angry right now. F*** the dems.
I have always been registered “independent.” So I will vote for whomever the heck I want to. Obama has never shown me a reason to vote for him, and a lot of reasons not to. Like this disgraceful performance by the RBC. Picking McCain over Obama would be picking the lesser of two evils.
Since the DNC is so “Rule” crazy, I’ll give ‘em a rule: “Ladies First”
How about THAT one?
As a New Yorker who fully knows those exactly where those two women get their voice from since I grew up the way they did – fighting for rights for ALL and speaking our minds all our lives to right the wrongs of society and living fully integrated lives in peace and support with people of every imaginable heritage as our friends and neighbors and schoolmates and bosses and landlords and babysitters…
We will not be called racist, we are the the embodiment of justice and equality and the role models for that our entire lives.
Those women and Harold Ickes speak for me.
Yes, we are pissed.
Count the votes and don’t you dare call us racist or sexist for backing Hillary Clinton – the only democrat in this contest who is admirable.
Obama is a horror show. Hillary is simply the best.
Steal her votes, give them all away to him why don’t you? Go ahead DNC take your 2 hour lunches and make your back room deals and cheat the process as you put on a few speeches designed to fool the voters into unity as you pillage the votes of millions.
We will be heard in the long run and we won’t forget.
Alegra, know that there were republicans who made it inside that meeting, while Dems. were kept out. These republicans are working for Obama and trying to take over the Party while they are at it. Obama didn’t campaign in Mi? His people were calling into the State!!!! I recieved one of the calls. This is in fact a takeover of the Democratic Party by the repubs. And few are wise enough to see it.
E Stoddard says: This is in fact a takeover of the Democratic Party by the Repubs. And few are wise enough to see it.
I agree indeed that it is a takeover of the Democratic party that Hillary is trying to thwart. But I think defining the bad guys as Repubicans is thinking too small. This is bigger than a political party. This is about pure power and greed, and a force that wants to control BOTH parties. They’ve had the Repubs for a good while, and now the Dems are “within their grasp.”
I changed my registration to unaffiliated yesterday.
I was a lifelong Republican from a Republican household, but found myself voting more and more for Democratic candidates, i.e. Gore and Kerry over Bush, and this year I wanted to vote for Senator Clinton in the PA primary, so I took the plunge and switched parties.
My Republican son said, “Mom, don’t, I’m telling you the Democrats will find some way to screw this up and you will be broken hearted because you have so much invested in your support for Hillary”.
Well, he was right, I am broken hearted at all that the DNC has done this primary season to push the inexperienced, unvetted Barack Obama down our throats, but I have also found an anger inside of me so deep that I am astounded. We are not a perfect country, this United States of America, but yesterday in DC I saw the subversion of all I hold dear, all I have believed in and treasured my entire life – government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
I will now do everything in my power to bring down this corrupt DNC and the likes of Dean and Brazile, who very simply disgust me. And of course that’s a vote for McCain and all the down ticket Repubs if Obama is the nominee. Enough is enough.
Babs
As I was sitting here this morning going over all that happened yesterday I felt dispair like I have never felt before. I love this country and have taught my children that love of God, family, and country were the foundation that we build our lives on. Yesterday is a day that has been seared into my heart and mind and makes me question the faith I had for the last 40 years in voting for the democratic party. I thought they were the party that stood up for “the little people”, the party that would guarantee my vote would be counted, the party that could be counted on to do what was right. Yesterday they threw that faith back in my face by the outrageous decisions made by the RBC to steal votes and give them to Obama. The farce that has been played out this primary season is the last straw for me. I have changed my party registration to Unaffiliated – along with my husband and son- and we will be voting for John McCain in November. That is the only way the democratic party will find out there “unity pony” was all talk. Hold firm, keep supporting Hillary, fight all the way to the convention, and if necessary start a new party, one that stands for what we thought the democratic party stood for.
Hi Babs.
I’ve been a lifelong Independent and switched my registration to Dem, so that I, too could vote for Hillary in the PA primary.
I so want to be part of the wave of voters leaving the DNC this week, but I want to make sure that they’re not going to find a way to disqualify me from being able to vote in November.
The DNC has proven that they have no integrity and if they can screw you over, they will.
I’ve already changed my registration once this year. To be on the safe side, I was thinking it might be safer to wait until after November to switch back. But then again, I’ve already replied to their fund-raising emails re my intention to vote for McCain, should they insist on putting up their unqualified candidate as the nominee (BO), so maybe they’ll find a way to block my vote if I don’t change.
This might sound silly to some, but I’m really torn on this. I can’t believe that I’m a US citizen and am having to worry about election officials blocking my vote. It happened in FL and MI – what’s stopping them from doing it elsewhere.
If Clinton is not the nominee, I will vote for the Old Man as a Democrat.
Then, the day after the election, I’ll switch to Indy.
It’s actually a good thing to stay a Dem through November. That way, you can tell the people who call you looking for money to go fuck themselves–and WHY.
In some jurisdictions, you can’t change. In Ohio, you can’t change until the next primary. So I’ll vote for JM as a Democrat. I think that will say it very nicely. I think I’ll chain a McCain lawn sign to a Hillary one and that should be enough of a message to my neighbors.
We were beaten by sock puppets.
Sock puppets are one guy who operates under hundreds of computer ids.
Say you go into Daily Kos and write a pro Clinton post. Within 2 minutes, you will answered with 70 catcalling, jeering posts.
You assume there are lots and lots of people, who think you are an idiot for supporting Clinton.
In fact, the posts are all made by one person, who is hired by the Obama camp.
While you write the DNC one angry email,
The Obama operative hits the DNC with hundreds of emails.
They do this to the media and to the delegates.
The power of fakery.
Look at the hatefulness going on at Americablog.
They have a similar video by Jane Hamsher showing another Clinton voter today.
It’s unbelievable…Some of these Obama people are far more evil than many Republicans!
http://www.americablog.com/2008/05/another-proud-white-woman-for-hillary.html
Many of them ARE Republicans.
Obama is the only way McCain could win.
I believe that Axelrod has cahoots with Republican operatives, because he has run a scorched earth blood war on democrats.
I’ve noticed something new and very frequent in the posts today: people stating that the republicans are trying to take over the dem. party. I believe that this is an Obama strategy to get us worried about the republicans while Obama continues on his merry road.
Lest we forget, the democrats basically rule congress and are winning seats. Many, so-called blue dog democrats are using part of the fiscally conservative republican platform to get elected in republican strongholds. Personally I think it’s a bait and switch. They are learning from a master chameleon. In any case a republican presdient will be checked by a democrat congress.
I prefer that to a one party rule system in which the candidate is wily but untested and has questionable past history and goal issues. That, plus the powers which Bush gave the presidency last year – allowing the president to invoke martial law give me pause.
McCain loves this country too much to abuse those powers. After reading Obama’s books and hearing what the pastors of his church, from which he split, but whose philosophy he did not repudiate, I am not so sure about him.
One additional interesting thought. Obama’s dislike of whites, and others are evident in his books, and his wife’s paper and statements. The church he has been with for 20 years preaches this and believes in it. Although not discussed prominently in overseas publications and by overseas governments, this is on the mind of many leaders. On the one hand a US under Obama will not be stable. His policies are unclear and since he changes position on a weekly basis, not predictable. This makes the US weak which can be an advantage to other powers. It’s not a coincidence that the BRIC countries have met to form an alliance. On the other hand, a president in modern times, whose prejudices are so public, and not repudiated, will be used as an example to other groups to incite violence against whomever they feel is due it.
I am at this moment at a loss for adequate words. But I agree fully with the last words coming out of Harriet Christian’s mouth.
And Harriet C. probably hates what the GOP has done to this country. That’s why she is so angry.
In Nevada she won but more delegates went to Obama. How come you can win but you still lose? This is madness.
DNC should stand for Dems Not Counted!!
And when was it that Dean was bragging about his 50 state strategy? Last year? And he was asking Republicans for their vote?
Yeah, theirs, not the loyal, hard working Democrats!
dean is a spiteful horrible little man. Think Rumplstiltskin.
I think that yesterday was just a little preview of what’s going to happen in Denver, and I’m glad that it was televised—twice—by CSpan, so the whole country could see it.
Did anyone catch the little exchange between the co-chairs at the end of the meeting? Jim Roosevelt chuckled and said, “We’ll make our next meeting a phone [conference] call.” Alexis Herman laughed and said, “Yes, we’ll certainly endeavor to do that.” What a crock of @#$% these people are.
Later, FoxNews (of course) were the only ones accurately reporting what happened. CNN rounded up all of the Obama supporters they could find from Florida. I counted 10 people, and asked them if they were still going to vote Democratic in the fall. A girl who didn’t even look like she was old enough to vote said that she was supporting Obama and very happy with what the committee decided. The reporter closed by saying, “Well, there you have it. Most of the people we’ve talked to are happy with the results and aren’t leaving the Democratic party.” I repeat, what a crock of @#$% these people are.
To think a guy named Roosevelt would be party to this travesty. May he rot in Hell for what he has helped do to the Democratic Party. Hope he enjoys the legacy he is leaving. Think FDR would recognize Jimmy’s new “improved” party?
I guess barky should have pulled his name off all the ballots . The DNC could have given him the nomination in January.
Obama O8
The Affirmative Action Candidate
there yiu go. he could have just stayed home and they’d steal the election anyway.
Why not make our actions more forcefull by starting a new party. Individual actions will not be loud enough to affect anything. Right now more than ever not next week our voices has to come out.
The time is now.
There is a HUGE block of democrats without a party.
Remember everyone…
Serious things are coming up for Obama.
I follow a group of professional Astrologers who are saying that Obama’s got some very stressful aspects coming up in June. If things become so serious for Obama…the Dems will inevitably turn to Hillary.
We have to hope and pray that the truth will come out and Hillary will be there save America.
Are u kidding me
I just sent democraticparty@democrats.org this letter:
As a MI voter I am outraged by your decision. Harold Ickes was completely correct and summed up my sentiments. We voted in good faith – now we are told that (1) our vote is only worth 1/2 and (2) our delegate representatives will not represent the voters. How else can you explain giving Senator Clinton’s delegates to someone who wasn’t even on the ballot?
It is simply outrageous. Do not believe for a single moment that Clinton supporters in MI and FL will forget what the DNC did in 5 months. We will and in November we will either stay home or will vote for Senator McCain.
I have given the maximum to Hillary and I will continue to support her and the DNC if she is the Democratic nominee. If she is not, I will donate to Senator McCain.
I will not support Obama under any circumstances. He is an untrustworthy unknown politician with no experience and no core values. He does not represent me or my country.
Sincerely,
I have 2 suggestions for people as disgusted by the democratic Party as I am should the pre-ordained nomination go to Obama:
1) While it may be too late for Hillary Clinton to run as an Independent in some states, please don’t forget that there are other parties that may already have filed for space on your state’s ticket (ie: Liberal, Working Families, Green, etc.). Find one and figure out what it will take to have Senator Clinton as their nominee, then let everyone in your state know how they can still vote for her in November. They will be thrilled to have wide-spread support and publicity for their party.
2) When voting for down-line candidates, DO NOT ever vote for them as a democrat; select them on any other party line. In most states, the party with the most votes gets placement at the top of the ballot so let’s be sure the the “New” democrats never get that placement again. If you support a state/local candidate, make sure they know you will not vote for them on the dem line so they ask for the support of another legit party and you can vote them in. BTW – this strategy also will work for Republicans who are unhappy with their party’s behavior of late…
Please feel free to share/post these suggestions with anyone and everyone. The America we love is disappearing right before our eyes. This fight is over more than a candidate – it is about our way of life and the Constitutional right to vote. Do not let your voice be silenced!
This is good. It should be made into an article.
A lot of democrats are in a stupor. Not knowing what to do.
A of plan of action will be tremendous comfort.
I was registered independent before Lou Dobbs made it fashionable. I switched to Dems largely as a protest against Bush and cronies, but I will be switching back to Independent come Monday. In addition to the hearings yesterday, the bruises on this woman’s arm are graphic evidence that the DNC is now the Party of Voter Abuse. This is despicable.
I had sent a letter to democraticparty@democrats.org but the message bounced.
Here is the URL for contact:
http://www.democrats.org/contact.html
Does anyone know of an actual email address?
Here Here for Harold Ickes!!
What a disgusting show by these feudalistic scum, the impotent mule party.
Hillary Clinton and this cause is not hurt by this, rather we have a great victory as now it is a fact that what we are up against is an agenda which will further destroy the United States just as it is doing a good job within the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party has been a dysfunctional wreck since Truman, and now the Weather Underground, left- CIA factions reamerging to threaten chaos should Chairman Dean Whitter’s MSNBC country club coup fail.
Rather than jump ship to go with MCCain. Hillary should well quit the Party which has quit itself and get on the ballot under the “Truth Democrat” ballot line and kick ass.
If Hillary does not do this, one only needs to here
Ralph Nader’s I told you so about the Democratic Party… The Party that has done a great job of protecting Bush and Cheney…0f going along with the charade of 9/11 because they are part of the deal…
Leahy, Pelosi and the gang of traitors…
May I suggest you call DNC toll free number for contributions 1-877-336-7200 and request your contributions back…they do not represent you or your vote. Share with them how you feel.
I commend each person who made the effort to go to the RBC meeting. That some were physically abused is reprehensible – follows a pattern of BO situations.
This is a coup d’etat by what was formerly the Democratic Party. Do not think for a minute they are going to play by the rules or be honest.
The nightmare we are watching seems to be in s l o w m o t i o n but it is really happening and it is horrendous.
BO is truly a grotesque candidate in every way – do not let the nightmare of the last 7.5 years harden you to what your brain and intelligence is telling you. Yes, the Democratic Party is dead. And they think you are brain dead too.
Fight back. Turn off the Baghdad Bob media, cancel all mags that use the Baghdad Bob commentaters, do not contribute to their screed, ratings etc.
This situation is not deep thinking – it is insulting it is so clearly a fix. Let’m know you will not accept it.
This maybe the time to call upon the UN to get International Election Observers to oversee the nomination- and election. LOL, I’m off to cook banana bread now!
I’m so pissed about this. The way they apportioned MI on exit polls? Total and complete piece of crap. If I had been in Michigan at the time or the primary, I would have voted John Edwards and my vote would then have been given to BO???!!!!! This is insanity. If they want party unity they couldn’t have done anything stupider than take 4 of Hillary’s delegates, that’s way beyond. It’s almost like they are saying FU and giving the middle finger to each and every Hillary supporter. In no universe would any Hillary supporter think that it was somehow far to take her delegates. I think I’m just going to sit this year out and not vote for anyone. I was going to vote downticket dem, but I don’t think I’m going to get over this anytime soon.
I think we ought to start a huge campaign and blanket the MSM, letters to the editors, etc. about the inequity of this. We aren’t going to take this crap! I’m so mad.
THanks Algere for all you do and have done.
I think it’s important for DNC to know that we’re rejecting them because of Obama. That’s why I intend to vote for downticket Dems – although I would probably vote for them if on another party if they’re on two party lines.
But it will be make a stronger point if they see millions of Dems voting downticket and then voting McCain. That’s a gesture they can’t ignore.
And I don’t want Repubs controlling Congress, too.
Only hardcore Repubs would want that.
We can’t survive eight years of all Repub rule.
Is the DNC going to call this farce the 1/2 compromise?
ot, we had a judge in our district that always made a compromise decision. we called him the 1/2 a hanging judge. That he’d hang ya but not till you were dead.
I just got a feeling yesterday when looking at the way things were going at the RBC meeting that Hillary was going to get shafted and my feelings were correct.
It is still beyond me to understand how you can take someone delegates and give it to another, and what is sad the media is not asking why and how this can be done or if in fact it is legal at all.
The media is more interested in Obama’s church and who feelings were hurt with him leaving, maybe it was a well designed plan by Obama to throw up the church thing to get the media off asking what went on yesterday, could be but am not sure because the media sure does not care what happens to Hillary supporters that is for sure, still I was hoping that at least it would of been covered and asked.
This entire mess has left me drained, I wish Hillary could just tell all of them *F’ OFF* and just get out of this mess completely, let them crown Obama, as it is on the ABC blogs last night there was some of his supporters claiming that the black rising, and they and now going to be in charge, we will all have to bow to Obama.
This is the kind of nonsense being put out there, by persons, and to me its genuine because I feel that is how some of his supporters do really feel, but it just that some of them will never announce it.
The Michigan Democrats have a large part to play in that MI compromise. The Democrats there also really DID defy the DNC and move their primary forward.
I read today that behind the scenes, NOBODY wanted to reinstate their delegates, not even Hillary’s camp. They were stinkers. However, everyone wanted to reinstate FL because it was a Republican move.
Obama should have accepted the Clinton compromise for goodwill. He apparently needs those delegates to close this out, however.
Watching the news this morning (breaking a rule of my own ) I found myself getting angry all over again, not one person said anything about OBAMA getting votes from the undecided. WHY?
We are going off cable if HRC isn’t the nominee.
No news on the news channels.
Nothing but commercials, and propaganda.
(Though I am starting to like Bill O’Reilly)
CNN hardly showed the activists outside of the meeting yesterday. C-Span completely ignored them.
Even Hillary’s supporters on the board voted to support the Florida resolution yesterday. It was unanimous. They just didn’t vote unanimously on Michigan.
what was the reasoning for their support of the FL resolution?
Arlen Specter stated the other week that he supported an investigation into the DNC issue. Given what happened yesterday, an investigation is warranted and may change things.
All disenfrachised Dem’s should contact Specter and state their support for an investigation.
The DNC have shown their willing to commit a crime to anoint Obama The News Should Be The RBC Committed Election Fraud:
Election Fraud: misrepresentation or alteration of the true results of an election intentional deception resulting in injury to another person..They alter the results and stole Hillary’s votes they commit election fraud in front of MILLIONS
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/election+fraud
They all looked so happy – I knew what was going to happen when I saw Donna Brazile she was smiling and happy. I better not say how I feel about Donna Brazile – it is getting worse by the day.
Donna stated on CNN that they don’t need women, white, middle class, blue collar votes they have a new coalition.
Well, I say you can stick your new coalition up your ass.
New Coalition = UNDEMOCRATIC PARTY
The Communist States of America (Either stand up and fight against the Obama and the DNC or this will be our new name)
Apparently Donna doesn’t know the entire scope of Hillary’s supporters: Black, Asian, Latino, White, Young, Old, Upper income, educated men and women are in there as well. She doesn’t need any of us either?
You know, my husband won’t like me saying this but he was crying this morning. He is a fellow New Yorker and seeing those two women and their treatment really upset him – Democracy is being deformed. I should also mention that he is mixed (B&W).
He mentioned something else that struck me too…
He went on a school trip (I should say many many years ago) to Chicago and they wandered into the South Side and police came and told them that they should not be in that area as it isn’t safe for them.
With this in mind, imagine the rich & the richer (Obama, Oprah) people in your city and ask if and why they would travel to a church in one of the worst parts of the city? They don’t live in that area I don’t think. Makes you wonder.
I am an old Chicagoan and a few years ago went back to visit the old home town. It is the only place I’ve ever visited where police told me what areas not to go in, even in daytime and where a bus driver (I took the bus to a museum on a Sunday morning)told me to hold my purse with both hands and keep it to my side. Most of the places where I lived back then are in ruins. If I ever go there again I will stay only on Michigan Ave and take a car service places.
John over at Liberal Rapture wants his free Michigan delegate also. Check out his post and call the DNC Monday morning to request your free Michigan delegate. I’m calling first thing tomorrow morning.
http://www.liberalrapture.com/labels/Let’s%20all%20get%20free%20delegates.html
BTW:
I”m sure the majority of the 30,000 write-in votes in Michigan were for me. There isn’t any way to verify that but I’m sure most of them were for me.
OOPs! Here is link corrected
http://www.liberalrapture.com/labels/Let’s%20all%20get%20free%20delegates.html
I tried to fix the link but no luck. Just copy and paste it.
It is obvious that they are not listening at the DNC. I sent an email to Governor Strickland because he obviously supported Hillary and as a state with a Democratic governor and majority, needs my vote to keep it that way.
I sent a very candid and respectful email. I told him that the end of the one person one vote history of the Democratic party was my line in the sand and that yesterday — on a pass/fail test, the party failed. I told him that I was voting and working for John McCain and no longer voting straight ticket. I asked him to please make sure that there was reach out to educate the people leaving the party so that we could help maintain the majority here in Ohio.
I don’t know whether that helps Hillary or if it gets seen by anyone else, but it sure felt good to say it to someone who probably understands how we feel.
Alegre,
I’m glad you were there for the protest. I managed to get a ticket so I got to witness the atrocity from the inside. I now have first-hand, in person experience with the Obamanation, and I can report that their bullying and abuse doesn’t stop online — they work it in person as well. I was so angry I was shaking as I left the meeting. To call it a travesty would be an understatement.
I blogged about it over at correntewire, links are here and here if you’re interested.
[...] the DNC stuck to its decision to strip both states of all delegates. At the end of May, the DNC decided to award half-votes to both delegations. Now that the “selection process” seems sealed, they are now [...]