Clinton: blame Florida GOP, not Ickes, Dems, me

Want to hear Hillary Clinton defend why she didn't speak up sooner when Florida Democrats had their delegates stripped away? Or Barack Obama explain why voters shouldn't be insulted that he would swoop into Florida to raise campaign money but not talk to voters?

Check out the audio of our interviews here.

Comments

I am a Democrat and I am so damn tired of hearing about this. I'm tired of the emails from the Ausmans, tired of the 49 different proposals to resolve this. It's old. The rules were violated, move on and stop whining like children.

[zenator]

The Clintons have never been shy about reinventing history so as to absolve themselves of blame.

[Omega83]

Typical Clinton, typical liberal.

It's never my fault...

Clinton's inner Goldwater girl is so obvious thru this. Her campaign team pushed for these rules before she was "official" candidate.

Republicans typically work to suppress votes. Hillary's crybaby fangs are showing.

Let's have a REAL Democratic candidate for a change. We need our Constitution back. That takes a Democrat who RESPECTS rule of law. Not a phony who failed the DC bar exam.

Clinton made huge campaign mistake after huge campaign mistake.

The truth is, she could've shown leadership by campaigning in Florida, she didn't. This problem could've been fixed a long time ago by a vote of the rules committee -- which is only happening on May 31.

No Democrat deserves Florida after the way we've been ignored. Will our state leaders be appointed to key positions? Will Florida receive our share of federal dollars for roads, jobs, education, etc. Apparently we don't rank up there with Iowa or New Hampshire.

What if we have more hurricanes? Will we be on our own then? The way the Democrats have treated us in the past, we can only assume that we would.

Why would anyone vote for those who have ignored us in the past with the promise of paying attention to us in the future?

Tell the folks in New Orleans how great the Republicans have taken care of Hurricanes since deliberately destroying FEMA.

All Republicans cared about was outsourcing and privatizing everything they could for their corporate cronies. Crist/Bush even want to give away our roads to foreigners. They can't figure out how to build and repair our own -- like we did for decades.

[Omega83]

8:46

The Democrats did such a great job managing Katrina that Louisiana turned around and elected a GOP Governor.

That is an idiot comment, Omega! Shame on you.

[Tallytowngal]

Did anyone posting here actually listen to the interviews linked at the bottom of the article?

Sen. Obama ADMITS that he held a Campaign Rally in Florida one week AFTER he signed the pledge to the early states! He also is the Only Candidate to run TV ads in the State prior to our Jan. 29th primary.

9:21 - no it's not, omega's spot on - the previous democrat LA governor did not even run for reelection because she did so poorly during Katrina - read some news that's not on moveone.org every once in a while

and more to the point on this post - typical clinton - it's not my fault, wah, vast right wing conspiracy - well now they've had to "blame" people in their own party - i'll vote for a woman to be presidnet one day, but sure as heck not this one

Tallytowngal,

Obama is not the one asking to seat the delegate.

Blah Blah Blah. I don't know why this is even an issue. Republican policy is an absolute failure across the board. No Republican even deserves to be in office after the last 8 years. Vote DEM and just get them the heck out of here!

11:16

care to share any recent Democratic policies that were a resounding success?

Offering change is easy - actually implementing it is a whole separate ballgame

WHERE WERE ALL YOU POLITICAL HACKS IN JANUARY; WHERE WERE YOUR PRESS CONFERENCES PROCLAIMING YOU LOVE FOR FLORIDA IN JANUARY, WHERE!, WHERE!, WHERE!…

Now; shut your damn partisan pie holes and get ready for November… bunch of damn diaperloads is what you are… freaking dinks!

11;18 is right... Dubya, Dickey... and Brownie have done a heckofajob! Everything is freaking peacy!

... freaking dopes

11:18 No, the last 8 years have been one failure after another. But they were all GOP failures. I can't point to any DEM successes, but then what DEM policies have we followed? On the other hand, we've already heard all the arguments in favor of the conservative agenda and we don't need to re-hash them in this election because we can see that they don't work, period.

Most Americans are not policy experts. Trust necessarily plays a big part in everyone's choice. I'd vote for Barack Obama on honesty alone. But I also think he's smart, and hasn't sold out to the corporate interests who own the GOP and are ruining this nation. We have only two choices in this election, and while not perfect, he's by far the best.

B.S.

She should have stood up and told her party that permanent preferences for enhanced voters in some states was not party business.

She should have stood up and said that disenfranchisements by party rules was a bad idea as soon as the idea was floated.

She should have decried the disenfranchisements for what they are--abandonment of democratic values in favor of party power and rules.

She should have told the Iowa Democrats that she wouldn't "sign the pledge" to insult and ignore Florida voters.

All in all, it is a picture of a pretty politically short sighted would be leader and someone who lacks core respect for democratic values.

And Obama's just as bad.

[Tallytowngal]

10:09

If Obama didn't think that the FL Primary would count eventually... Then why did he have a Campaign Rally in FL a week after signing the Pledge (which he admited to Adam Smith yesterday.)
And why then, if he didn't think the FL Primary would eventually count... did he run Campaign Ads on TV in FL, the entire week prior to our Jan. 29th Primary?

I can tell you why. Because he was well aware of the DNC rules pertaing to the fact that there would be a meeting of the Rules and Bylaws committee at the end of the Primary process, to decide how to seat the FL and MI delegations.

Why is it that Hillary NEVER wears a flag pin?

... and if you give credit to anything Adam Clinton says... you're a fool.

Tallytowngal,

When was the date on this rally?

lol the bill to move the election date was sponsored by a democrat

Hillary needs to get facts straight first. But I support counting the votes, all of them. BLAME DNC & HOWARD DEAN FOR THE PROBLEM.

[Tallytowngal]

2:15 sorry I just saw where you asked for the date of Obama's rally in FL one week after the pledge to the early states.

It is link in this forum topic. The one we are in right now.

Listen to the interviews. Listen to Obama very early on in the clip. He refers to coming to a campaign event one week after the pledge. He said he could not cancel at the late date... just like he couldn't suspend the media buy (tv ads.)

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/audio/052108Dems/

[Tallytowngal]

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/audio/052108Dems/

The lower audio clip by adam smith:
The exact time on the counter "7:57-8:10". Out of his own mouth. Saying he violated the pledge to the early states.

Listen to the clip starting at the beginning or at least around 4:00 min.

Obama sounds very slow and confused... Which is not what you see when he is giving a rehershed speech.

[Cerito]

Tallytowngal - If you listen Obama is obviously interviewed outdoors in a public place and Clinton is interviewed while seated in a studio somewhere. This is not a fair comparison, kinda like comparing aples to oranges!

Cerito, You did listen,to the part where he admited to coming to FL one week after the Pledge. For a full day of events?

And as far as him being outdoors. No he was actually inside the arena. He had no problem hearing the questions. He never once asked for Adam to repeat his questions.

All of his answers had many many Ummmm's. So,hean't think on his feet unless he is in a studio for an intrview?

[Amazed]

Amazing the dumbacrats want to blame everyone but themselves. Plus add blame for New Orleans too. Just dumb.
Ray Nagen is responsible for NO, the gov. refused fed help.
People in Mississippi aren't whining and they actually took the direct hit.

Your party messed up and you need to get over it. Your candidates are weak and want to make this a socialist country. They want $12 a gallon gas.
Wake up, your party wants to ruin the country.

Every Democrat but one in the 160 member Legislature voted to move the Florida primary up. One was the prime sponsor of the bill.

Blaming Republicans for this is beyond ludicrous.