Race too close for Obama to give in on FL

Here's a simple, logical way to give Florida a voice in the Democratic presidential nomination: Barack Obama could join Hillary Rodham Clinton in calling for their national party to count the 1.75-million Democratic votes in Florida's disqualified Jan. 29 primary. Clinton would net 38 pledged delegates, but Obama would still maintain a solid overall lead. The Democratic frontrunner would put behind him a damaging issue in a critical swing state, take a line of attack away from Clinton and bolster his image as a politician inclined to take the high ground.

Why Obama won't do that — because it could cost him the nomination — underscores how volatile the marathon Democratic race remains and how resolving Florida's Democratic delegate debacle remains a major challenge. And it's not just Obama. Clinton, by many accounts, could be better off leaving Florida unresolved than agreeing to any compromise. More here.

Comments

Count Florida’s votes as votes, split Florida’s Delegates 50/50, discount Michigan’s inequitable votes completely, split Michigan’s Delegates 50/50, fire Howierd Dunce, kick Thurmadrunk (GOP Consultant) to the curb, and vote every incumbent out of office.

Problem Solved!

[Herb]

Rep. Wexler and Castor will never let the votes be counted.

[To all who want centralized control from DC with unelected bureaucrats writing and enforcing laws.]

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1:01 why should we split the delegates in a State that Hillary won by 27%?

They were both on the ballot, the both raised money here and Obama ran the only Democratic campaign ad in FL.

In Michigan Obama CHOSE to take his name off of the ballot. It was not required by the DNC or the 4 State pledge.

[Hot Air]

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=10028

[Myth Buster]

"MYTH: Florida and Michigan are victims and their votes don't count because of something Barack Obama did. This is a completely ridiculous lie.

- First of all, Florida and Michigan's votes don't count because they broke the rules.

- Second of all, Barack Obama has absolutely nothing to do with whether the states will hold new votes. Obama is a Senator from Illinois, nothing more. He has no power over entire states to determine whether they hold new voting contests or not. Neither does Clinton.

- Third, the notion that Clinton winning FL and MI's "votes" somehow means something is completely ridiculous. Clinton entered the race with a huge name advantage. Everyone knew her and Democrats associated her with the prosperity of the Clinton years. Thus, she automatically started out with an advantage in every state. That is where campaigning comes in. Obama was able to win Iowa because he was able to spend enough time there to level the playing field."

http://www.411mania.com/politics/columns/72879

1:57,

Both of them “Chose” to sign the pledge. One of them wants to “now” change their mind based on the numbers.

Changing the rules in order to serve one’s own interest… is one of the reasons our system is broken today. How can I expect a President to stand by their word and follow the rules tomorrow, when they don’t want to stand by their word and follow the rules today?

Rethink your strategy, Hillary… you’re dealing with voters who have been paying attention.

[John Hummel]

Or, Obama could do what he's been doing: support whatever Florida and the DNC support.

He, and Senator Clinton, have no other say than that. They both could sing Dixie while standing on teacups for all the good it would do them. If Florida comes up with something that is approved by the DNC, well and good. If it goes to the convention and the voting committee decides, all well and good.

So far, Obama seems to be waiting for Florida to get off its butt and make a decision that follows the rules both he, Senator Clinton, Florida, and the DNC agreed to before Florida moved up the primary date. And, that's all he can do.

The fact that either candidate can make the determination here is false.

The truth is, it's up to the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee. On paper, we should lose 50% of our delegates.

The RBC violated the rules when they increased the penalty. An appeal is underway and this should be behind us soon.

*ALERT: UNCOVERED-BARACK OBAMA'S FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH ADMITTED TERRORIST BILL AYERS.

(AYERS HELPED BOMBED THE U.S. CAPITOL & THE PENTAGON AND SHOULD BE IN THE U.S. SUPERMAX PRISON.)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8630.html

Check AYER'S mugshot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers

First Jeramiah Wright, now Bill Ayers.

Throw in Michelle Obama's first time proud to be American.

Florida & Michigan will go to McCain in November because Obama & Clinton chose to disenfranchise their voters.

I have absolutely no problem voting for moderate John McCain

Reality check time!

Florida & Michigan will not go to McSame in November dispite the efforts of a Republican Governor, a Republican Legislature, a moron for a National Dem Chair, and a Republican consultant for a State Dem Chair.

However, some people will have absolutely no problem voting for John McSame... because the smoke crack!

New poll says John McCain will beat Barack Obama in New York.

Wow, that is big news. If Obama can't even hold NY, it's all over

http://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/nyspolls/GV080409.htm

Ohio & Florida look like will go McCain too.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/ohio/election_2008_ohio_presidential_election

Honestly, Obama is becoming easy to beat now. I am not as worried as I once was. Let the D's claw each others eyes out a bit longer, finish HRC once and for all, and give us a wounded and susceptible Obama

New poll says John McSame will beat Barack Obama in New York.... in a pie eating contest.

Ohio & Florida look like will go for Obama too.

Honestly, Obama is becoming harder to beat now. I am not as worried as I once was. Let the R's hold up McSame a little longer, thier racism will kill the in the end.

"You can have you Tiger Woods (R code word for n_ger, we've got Senator McCain (R code word for old, fat, rich, white, closet perv)"

[Gone Baby Gone]

Tickets to Barack Obama's Terre Haute visit gone in 3 1/2 hours

The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — "Tickets to see Sen. Barack Obama speak Friday at Terre Haute North Vigo High School have all been given out.

The last ticket was handed out at 12:25 p.m. today at The Meadows shopping center.

The senators presidential campaign issued 2,000 tickets offering a maximum of two tickets per person.

The campaign had stated that the tickets were to be offered from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today but tickets were gone in almost 3 1/2 hours due to a large turnout."

[Jen]

They would sell out pretty quick in Florida too :)

If John McCain picks Condi Rice as his running mate, Obama-Clinton may lose big.

http://donklephant.com/2008/04/10/mccainrice-could-win-big/

What this may say is that, if you put a smart African-American next to Obama, he becomes just an average liberal candidate

[Kristen]

Hillary's campaign is using this issue as a redherring. And as it stands, Hillary would rather see McSame as President in 2009 so she could run in 2012.

Pathetic. She has put herself before the nation, it's people, and the Democratic party. Get busy lady and come to a negotiate compromise and let's start focussing on turning Florida BLUE.

PA voters can easily end the controversy on April 22 - make sure Obama wins the PA primary and Clinton will just about have to drop out.

Oh, and its early. Once people see Obama debating Grampa McSame, Obama will crush him!

GOBAMA!!!!

[John Donson]

I laugh in the Dems direction because they have had voting issues in FL for 8 years now and still can't get it straight. What makes you think your party can lead when you can't even get your votes to count? Come on now Dems! Shake yourselves and look to the Libertarian party.

I laugh in the Republicons direction because they have had theft-of-vote issues in FL for 8 years now and still can't spin out of it. What makes you think your party can lead when you can't even get your electronic corporate appointment system...errr... electronic voting system to cover you theft? Come on now Repugnants! Shake yourselves and look to integrity.

**ALERT: MORE OBAMA PREJUDICE?

Link:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Obama_on_smalltown_PA_Clinging_religion_guns_xenophobia.html

Counting the votes 50/50 is changing from not counting our votes to counting them but saying how we voted.

Did I wake up in the Soviet Union?

Candidates should not be deciding what voters to count or how they will be counted as voting. Voters are supposed to decide on the candidates, not the other way around.

The Democratic Party most certainly isn't democratic--it is an institution filled with insiders all in a scrum for personal self-promotion and the voters be damned.

After all this, who believes these self-servers really believe in anything besides their own personal advancement?

1:26 PM has my sentiments toward the DNC, Clinton and Obama--all of them, expressed perfectly. Thank you. I couldn't have said it better.

I can't wait for my chance to vote against those presidential cretins and all the Florida elected officials who are still holding their hands like they never really urinated all over us.

It isn't like THE VOTE is supposed to be important to Americans.