<p>I live in MI & I thought the primaries this year were a farce. The democratic party in MI wanted to put MI in the forefront due to our overwhelming economic problems. From what I gather, the fact that a couple states always get to be first bugged the powers that be in our state. They insisted on an early primary & went ahead with it despite the fact that most of the frontrunners pulled out (Clinton was not the ONLY dem candidate, just the only one with a snowball’s chance). I’m sure there is more to it than my simple explanation, but basically the party (state & national both) p*$^ed off the voters in our fair state. Many dems voted republican, instead … which may have skewed the republican vote, if they did not really want a republican candidate. I don’t know how other states do it, but in MI we go to the polls on the same day for both parties, and we have to declare a party to get the ballot (we only get that party on the ballot). I can’t believe we paid good money for such a farce of a primary.</p>
<p>As for Clinton, she knew what would happen all along. Trying to change the rules because she needs the boost is not a good sign.</p>
<p>"If it is true that the Clinton campaign is trying to get those delegates seated (without holding a “do-over” election or caucus), "</p>
<p>It appears so. Morales be damned.</p>
<p>"Yet some Clinton donors and superdelegates worry that the focus on Mr. McCain is premature, and that other strategic decisions by the campaign like counting on Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated at the convention even though their status is in limbo show faulty thinking that suggests the Clinton campaign does not have a short-term game plan against Mr. Obama.</p>
You mean the sentence you wrote, “Obama and Edwards had done those too.”</p>
<p>Are you saying if they all have fund raising events, those events are not defined as campaigning? That argument does not make sense. If they all had fund raising event in Florida, it means they all campaigned in Florida. I don’t think you can support your statement that Clinton did not campaign in Florida simply by calling it fund raising.</p>
<p>Personally, I think it’s beyond bizarre that a political party thinks it can dictate election dates to the states. If the parties don’t like the primary dates, they (the parties) can pay for their own caucuses, like they do here in Washington. It’s not the responsibility of the several states* to kowtow to the parties.</p>
<ul>
<li>I’ve always like that wording from the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<p>Washdad: I agree with you on the concept. I also did not like the proportional representation thing. However, the rules were set and all players should play by the rules. </p>
<p>The way I see going is that without MI and FL none of them may have the 2,025 needed. Currently they each have about 1,140 (including superdelegates). They each need about 885. There are only 1,246 contested delegates + about 447 superdelegates left. For a total of 1,693 to go.</p>
<p>It’s interesting that 50 years after a civil rights struggle for equal voting rights it is a Black man who supports denying voting rights to the citizens of two states. it is unconstitutional to refuse to allow Michigan, U.S. citizens to participate in the democratic process of choosing their next party candidate for President of the United States regardless of what the state did. The state was penalized by the loss of revenue from campaigning. It hurt Michigan’s economy. The DNC had a right to penalize the state, not the voters. Hillary Clinton said the state should be penalized, not the people (voters); they should not be denied their constitutional rights and she and 3 other candidates stayed on the ballot. Barack OBama felt party rules were more important then the people who supported him. He CHOSE, to take their voice away and not appear on the ballot. He did not look for any other way to show support for the party and disagreement with the state’s decision. He didn’t give the people a 2nd thought. He still SUPPORTS not allowing our vote to count. OH, wait, unless there is a “do over” CAUCUS which he does better at. HILLARY CARED MORE FOR THE PEOPLE. OBAMA CARED FOR THE STATUS QUO…PARTY RULES.
And I have to tell you, I have never missed an election in my adult life, I take the responsiblity and privilege very seriously. I am sick to my stomach that my vote will not be counted. How do any of you out there justify taking my vote away? </p>
<p>It’s very simple to fix. RIGHT NOW the DNC can make a statement that they erred in attempting to punish the people and instead should have focused on the governmental unit. That in reflection, it is unconstitutional to deprive anyone of their right to participate in the process. That all candidates had a choice to stay on the ballot or remove themselves. 4 stayed on, therefore, they get the delegates. Those who pulled off have to go after the undesiginated delegates. Hillary won, it’s that simple, give her the delegates.</p>
<p>“it is unconstitutional to deprive anyone of their right to participate in the process”</p>
<p>Actually, it’s not. The party would be quite within its rights to just let the state party chairman pick its delegates, or choose them by some other entirely undemocratic means. There’s no constitutional right to vote in a party primary.</p>
<p>It would be unconstitutional for the party to restrict the universe of voters along some impermissible line – like the white primaries that used to be common in the South – but nothing requires the party to ask for voters’ input at all.</p>
<p>Jeanniemcc, how do you suppose the voters who took the candidates’ - including Clinton’s - word that the vote wouldn’t count and therefore didn’t vote would feel about that sort of bait-and-switch? </p>
<p>I note that this is the only post you have ever written on CC. Are you a ■■■■■?</p>
<p>If Hilary cared about the people of Michigan, she would actually have come here & campaigned. She did not. That speaks volumes to me. Apparently, we are only important if she needs us to beat Obama. Staying on & getting votes without bothering to come here to speak with the people of a state that is rapidly going down the toilet is not commendable in my book. As far as I am concerned, the democratic primary in this state was a farce that should not count for anything.</p>