The Clinton camp's rebuttal

Posted: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:32 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
Here's the Clinton campaign's memo arguing that Obama is holding up a re-vote in Michigan: "On February 8, 2008, Barack Obama stood in the aisle of his airplane and told reporters that he would be 'fine' with a new primary in Michigan if it could be done in a way that gave him and Senator Clinton time to make their respective cases and the DNC signed off. Since then, such a plan has garnered broad support from top Michigan lawmakers and the DNC has given its blessing.

"So Barack Obama is on board, right? Guess again. It turns out that his comments about being fine with a re-vote if the above conditions were met were just words."

Below is the entire memo...

To: Interested Parties
From: The Clinton Campaign
Date: March 19, 2008
RE: Obama’s Re-Vote Pledge: Just Words

On February 8, 2008, Barack Obama stood in the aisle of his airplane and told reporters that he would be “fine” with a new primary in Michigan if it could be done in a way that gave him and Senator Clinton time to make their respective cases and the DNC signed off. Since then, such a plan has garnered broad support from top Michigan lawmakers and the DNC has given its blessing.

So Barack Obama is on board, right? Guess again. It turns out that his comments about being fine with a re-vote if the above conditions were met were just words. As yesterday’s headline in the Detroit Free-Press made clear, Senator Obama is the lone standout: “Michigan do-over depends on Obama's backing, Senate leaders say.”

The Clinton campaign believes the right to vote is a bedrock principle of our country and that empowering the people of Michigan and Florida to make their voices heard must be a priority for any candidate running for the Democratic nomination. As such, we must either honor the original vote or hold a state-run primary that doesn’t leave the taxpayers footing the bill.

So why is the Obama campaign refusing to give the people of Michigan the chance to exercise their fundamental right to vote? Let’s take a quick look at what the Obama campaign is arguing and explore why those arguments are wrong:

False Excuse #1: Barack Obama Wasn’t on the Ballot. The Obama campaign argues that their candidate wasn’t on the January ballot because the Michigan primary wasn’t sanctioned by the DNC and they were trying to comply with the early state pledge. Let’s remember that the point of the early state pledge was to protect the role of the four states that held early nominating contests. Well the contests in those states were protected and the people in Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada got a chance to vote. Keep in mind that nearly twice as many people voted in Michigan and Florida than voted in the four early states combined.

Senator Clinton signed the pledge and kept it. Senator Obama signed the pledge and kept it in Michigan. But in so doing, Senator Obama decided to go further and made a voluntary decision to remove his name from the Michigan ballot. That was his right but it was also his decision. As a result, he denied Michigan the opportunity to vote for a slate of candidates. There aren’t many second chances in life but Senator Obama has one now and should ask the people of Michigan for their vote. Why is he refusing to do so?

False Excuse #2: Obama Voters Participated in GOP Primary. The Obama camp will argue that their supporters voted in the GOP primary because Barack Obama wasn’t on the Democratic ballot. They argue that the legislation’s effort to comply with the DNC rules is unfair since the bill would prohibit people who voted in the 2008 GOP primary in Michigan from voting a second time in the Democratic contest. On its face, you might think the Obama campaign is making a sound case. But two points render their argument inoperable:

First, the Obama campaign has repeatedly said that it would comply with DNC rules and DNC Rule 2.E prohibits cross-over voting. The draft legislation does not permit anyone who voted in Michigan’s Republican primary in January to now vote in the Democratic primary. Senator Obama has said that this is a key reason why he cannot support the legislation but that provision must be in the bill in order to comply with the DNC rules. So while Senator Obama’s campaign says he will follow the rules, he wants one of them to be ignored.

Second, the Obama campaign’s allies in Michigan organized an effort to get people in Michigan to vote for “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary, helping to bring the uncommitted share of vote to 40 percent. So the Obama camp can’t reasonably argue supporters participated in the GOP primary and didn’t vote in the Democratic contest.

False Excuse #3: Clinton Supporters Have Said They’d Raise Money For a Primary and They Back Clinton. The Obama campaign will argue that Clinton supporters have said they’d help raise money to finance the primary and that’s not fair. Last time we checked, the Obama campaign wasn’t hurting for donors. More to the point, Democrats are blessed this cycle with an energized grassroots. We believe that appealing to everyday people to finance this primary exemplifies what this election is about: giving a voice to the voiceless.

False Excuse #4: Michigan Law Requires First-time Absentee Voters Must Vote In Person Before They Can Vote Absentee – Just Like in Illinois. The Obama camp will argue that they are at a disadvantage because a lot of their supporters are college students who vote absentee. But Michigan law says that a person voting absentee must cast a vote in person before they are eligible to vote absentee which will result in the exclusion of many Obama supporters, of whom many are first time voters. The Obama campaign should be familiar with that sort of system since it’s the rule in Illinois and we didn’t hear too much complaining in the run-up to February 5 primary there. More to the point, this rule will be in place in Michigan for the general election. So will the Obama campaign use this excuse to justify writing off Michigan in the general if Barack Obama is the nominee? We hope not.

The bottom line is that Michigan has all the problems and promise that we talk about in this country. Competing in Michigan sends a signal that Democrats care and understand the people there deserve the chance to make their voices heard and need someone in the White House who will hear their voices.

If Barack Obama doesn’t want to help make that happen, Hillary Clinton is ready to do so. We call on the Obama campaign to let the people of Michigan vote.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

The Democrats, once again, prove they can't get out of their own way.

Does anybody believe that the Clinton campaign would be so passionate about the disenfranchised voters in FL and MI if she hadn't lost so many other states? She, like Obama, signed a document last year that sealed the fate of voters in both states. To blame Obama for the current stalemate is embarrassing, underhanded and un-Presidential. Now I see that two super delegates have announced their support for the candidate with no shot at winning the delegate race. And these are the people who run one of two political parties in the most powerful country in the world? I wouldn't trust the Democratic Party elite to organize a softball tournament, much less coordinate a winning campaign against the Republican machine.

Dean, Norwalk, CT (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:40 AM)

LOL, the wheels are really falling off the clinton campaign these days

MIke, Scranton, Pa. (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:42 AM)

Of course Obama doesn't want a revote now after the Rev. Wright fiasco. It shows to me that Obama realizes that he didn't say enough to white voters. Obama, like all the rest, gave the usual excuses for Wright's anger and did not address enough how this has ruined his trust with white voters.

dianeremarx (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:43 AM)

Please HRC -- give it up! You are not going to win this one. Face the Mirror.

frankie (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:44 AM)

ALL is moot. OBAMAis toast. America will never vote for a WRIGHT OBAMA. The WH is full of hate as it is with the bush contamination.
FL and MI will vote for McCain in the GE, it is lost for the DEM'S.

HP Boston (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:45 AM)

Everyone is pissed off at the wrong people

Both Michigan and Florida broke DNC rules by moving thier primaries. People should be upset with the politicians that moved those dates. If this were to happen in California, I would be upset with the state government not the politicians running. Just another way for Hillary to spew her hate.

Sounds like acts of desperation to me.

Clinton is done, finished!

BACK YOUR BAGS HRC IT'S OVER!!!! (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:47 AM)

The Clinton's should give up on this. This is stupid. John Edwards wasn't on the Ballot either. And can anyone in the media please point out the fact that the reason why so many people turned out in the FLORIDA election is because they had to vote on some legislation that was important and not because they were so into the presidential primary!!! Can someone in the media STANDUP?

Dante (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:47 AM)

Senator Clinton agreed that the results from Michigan would not count. Now she is reversing that because it is in her interests to do so.

The reality is that the first primary should not have ever taken place. It did not count. The only way to have a fair re-vote is to have a clean slate: everyone can vote irrespective of what happened in the first primary.

TE (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:47 AM)

Have the re-votes and let the chips fall where they may. No candidate can claim to be the Democrat's candidate until all the Democrats speak.

Race may not matter but each vote does.

Campdog (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:48 AM)

In an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio last fall, Clinton explained why she was the only candidate who did not agree to New Hampshire's request that she take her name off the ballot in Michigan.

"It's clear: This election they're having is not going to count for anything." she said.

Harold Ickes, Senior Clinton Advisor, was one of the DNC members that voted to strip Michigan and Florida of their delegates.

The ONLY reason Clinton "respects" voters in Michigan and Florida, is because she desperately needs those votes. Otherwise she wouldn't give a crap about them, just as she doesn't give a crap about 40 other states in this country.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:48 AM)

Hillary and her Hubbie are ruining the democratic party, period. Why on Gods green earth would they do this? The rules were set, and actions wer taken. She will not overtake barack in pledged delegates,and now she will proceed to take him down.

These are clearly the politics of the past, and more aligned with republicans than anything else. Unless something major changes, the Republicans will win this prez. race.

Thanks Hillary, now my children are more likely to grow up with the cynical politics both you and I did.
Thanks a lot

john, pentwater, MI (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:48 AM)

I would like to hear Sen. Obama's response, but if a re-vote for Michigan and Florida can be done in a fair and equitable way, then lets go ahead, do it, and be done with it. GEEZ!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:50 AM)

Well, first of all, I'm not liking the language "the Obama camp will argue". Isn't that putting words in their mouth...nice to know you are inside the Obama campaign's heads (actually a little scary).

Hey, the Obama memo raised some good points, should we allow the Clintons to roll over us at this point (without actually LOOKING at what they are trying to do).

Obama has said he will abide by the DNC...if the Dem. legislature wants to give credence to the issues raised in his memo (which were legitimate issues), then they are enpowered to do so. But ultimately Obama is not the decider on this, right? Is the legislature trying to make him the fall guy for their failing (I'm not sure they are, maybe someone can interpret with more light, that's my first quick read on it).

I think the Clinton campaign looks desparate...look at the final line. Should Ickes disqualify himself now because he is the one (in part) who disenfranchised the Mich. voters entirely.

What a darned mess, what a darned mess...who made the mess. Not Barack Obama.

Now Clinton wants Mich. to vote...because its her won chance. Desparation does not wear well.

And how would Clinton feel if the shoe were on the other foot? Anyone care to speculate?

Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:52 AM)

Senator Clinton signed a pledge in October 2007 that Michigan and Florida would not be part of the nominating process. So she stands by that pledge, right?

Guess again. She'd rather throw stones at her opponent and accuse him of doing precisely what she's doing.

Reality check (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:54 AM)

Hillary's points are spot on!
I don't care that Michigan and Florida moved their primaries up, and I don't give a damn about any pledges not to participate in them, either.
When someone like Obama runs a campaign that's based on doing things differently, and including everybody in 'the process,' then they should also be in favor of making sure that everyone gets to participate in state Presidential Primaries.
Anything to the contrary is hypocritical.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:54 AM)

Senator Clinton is not a monster. She's simply a greedy opportunist who will say whatever she needs to say to get what she wants. She doesn't care about "the voters of Michigan." She cares about hijacking the election.

Just the facts (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:55 AM)

False Excuse #4:

This is a legitamate excuse because in June, school will be out and most students will be away. That is a key part of his constituency. I don't think there is nothing "false" about that.

Crystal (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:56 AM)

Wow. I can't believe how stark the differences are between the Obama campaign's memo re: the Michigan re-vote and the Clintons'. Obama's is calm, rational, and above all, based in the law and fact. The memo above is nothing but sound bytes and platitudes, and facile in its broad proclamations and assumptions.

Note that the Obama campaign never says they will not participate in a re-vote. They have said they will abide by the decision that's made by the relevant parties. What they won't do, apparently, is beg, lobby, and plead for something not every voter in Michigan wants.

It's called pride. Maybe HRC has lost hers somewhere in all of this.

Oh, and specifically regarding the absentee votes, pointing out that the first-time vote rule will be in place during the general election in November just makes the Clintons' desperation that much more transparent: both on the date of the original primary and on the date of the general election, college students were in the state. In June, many of them won't be. To feign ignorance on this point just makes the Clinton camp look, well, ignorant, at least to me.

Chris, MI (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:57 AM)

Senator Clinton:
We want to put OUR money toward defeating John McCAin, not to allowing you to steal an election.

Nobody wants to help you continue your back-alley assault on the rules and on the man who should be the nominee of the Democratic Party.

She'll Say Anything (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:57 AM)

They make claims on what they think he will argue, this is purely one sided and underhanded. This Memo is a joke. It is not up to Obama solely to make that decision. Michigan political leader said a few days ago, it was a slim chance of a revote. Then Hillarys camp puts out this bogus memo today.

She is tearing the party apart!

DeniseGA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:58 AM)

Your campiagn manager Harold Icky While on the board at the D.N.C.voted in favor of the delagates not being seated,thats bedrock baby, stop your whinning,the game is over .Or is your scorched earth tactic all you have.This is the worst bunch of sore losers i've ever seen.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:58 AM)

congrats Hillary on your Murthal endorsement. Looking forward to that one night fund raiserwith Sir Elton John. Any one interested it is on her site.hillaryclinton.com.Lots more too. I think you would be interested try it out.

Hillary08 (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:58 AM)

Alexis Herman is one of three chairs on the DNC's credentials committee who is a Hillary supporter. So, hers is not an objective opinion. The problem in Michigan is that Democrats and Independents who voted in the Republican primary because they thought the Democratic primary didn't count (according to the rules, it did not count) cannot vote in a re-do, which disenfranchises. Hillary seems to have contempt for the voters because she dissembles in plain view. She signed a pledge to NOT COUNT the Michigan and Florida primaries, yet last week, she stood before a microphone with a straight face and said she thought the Michigan primary should could count, that it was fair. How can she twist the truth like that to suit herself and believe that the voters don't see through it? Is she that contemptuous of us? Doesn't Hillary understand that half of the Democrats do not want her as the nominee, which is why her plan to win by Super Tuesday went awry? Can't she accept that her negatives are even higher among Republicans? One pundit said it well, the Clintons will burn the village and everyone in it order to help themselves. The DNC should divide the Michigan and Florida delegates 50/50 and seat them. That way the delegations will be seated--fairly. Hillary does not own the Democratic Party--she and her cronies set some of the rules in order to favor her--and they backfired. She should think of Icarus who flew so high, his wings melted and of Narcissus, who fell in love with himself and drowned looking at his own reflection in a stream. She's headed in the same direction. There seem to be three parties, the Democrats, the Republicans and the Clinton Party--because Hillary has betrayed the Democratic Party.

denise, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:59 AM)

SLAM her back Barack. This is your chance to prove you're tough to the SuperDelegates.

No more Mr. Nice Guy (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:59 AM)

So...

The Obama Campaign has concerns about fairness and legality.

The Clinton Campaign just wants the votes.

Seems to me that one side is just a little more interested in what's best for themselves.

You Can't Change The Rules (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:59 AM)

DeniseGA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:59 AM)

This memo by Hillary's campaign is negative in the extreme. Compare it to the Obama campaign memo you just read. That memo lays out it's legal reasoning as to why it may not be possible.

But Hillary's memo... yikes. Let's assume for a moment that Obama gets the primary nod... just assume (we know that anything is possible at this point)... Isn't Hillary's campaign guaranteeing that Michigan goes red by putting Obama at odds with the state in memos like this? I know this memo is SpinCity, but even I would be feeling alienated by Obama after reading it. Any gullible voter in Michigan (hopefully there aren't that many, but...) will be swayed by statements like this into thinking Obama's horrible for leaving them, when he was simply going along with a sanction.

Fact: Michigan was sanctioned.
Fact: At the time, NO CANDIDATE had a problem with it (there is NO spin that can reasonably counteract that).
Fact: Hillary was one of those people.
Fact: She is now changing from that position BECAUSE it will suit her.

I am more than willing to listen to arguments on the above facts... but I have yet to read one that convinces me that they aren't true.

Pat, UC Davis, CA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:00 AM)

Obama sounds more than willing to me to let the people of Michigan vote.

But he is rightly concerned about fairness in voting. I'm sure Clinton doesn't mind all that much, equality and fairness has never really been her thing, but fairness in voting is a pretty serious issue. What's the point of a revote if it equally disenfranchises a number of voters?

The Award for Clinton's Most Absurd Comment: "Senator Clinton signed the pledge and kept it. Senator Obama signed the pledge and kept it in Michigan. But in so doing, Senator Obama decided to go further and made a voluntary decision to remove his name from the Michigan ballot. That was his right but it was also his decision. As a result, he denied Michigan the opportunity to vote for a slate of candidates."

Yes! There you have it folks! Obama denied the people of Michigan a fair chance to vote for everyone! ... in the primary that didn't count and wasn't supposed to matter.

Ron, TX (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:01 AM)

It is all posturing.

OBwan, IN (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:01 AM)

HE IS ALL ABOUT PRETTY WORDS.

NO ACTION-JUST WORDS!!!

HE READS HIS WORDS WELL, BETTER THAN GEORGE BUSH DID.

LETS HOPE HIS PROMISES ARE NOT AS EASY FOR HIM TO FORGET AS BUSHES WERE.

HILLARY IS THE BEST ONE FOR THIS JOB!!!

SHIRLEY NW,AR. (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:01 AM)

Yawn... get this monkey off my back.

Matt, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:02 AM)

We should not and cannot appease a liar like Hillary. She once said in Jan. that the votes in Mich. won't count, but now she is racing to change the direction of the political process there because she is unhappy with the outcome. Once she said she'd abide by the rules, she'll overrule herself and self-contradict herself at all costs if that emans satisfying her urge for power.
Instead of appeasing Hillary for her arrogance and rule breaking, I'd be willing to vote for John McCain. Because I feel reminded of how the prime Ministers of Britain and France appeased Hitler and, in return, Hitler invaded other nations. I am not trying to compare Hillary with this twisted, retarded man, but enough of the scandals and lies.

Ron Hussein Allen (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:02 AM)

"There aren’t many second chances in life but Senator Obama has one now and should ask the people of Michigan for their vote. Why is he refusing to do so?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There aren't many 2nd chances in life... but isn't that exactly what Hillary wants?

"irst, the Obama campaign has repeatedly said that it would comply with DNC rules and DNC Rule 2.E prohibits cross-over voting."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Umm... wasn't there also a rule that said Michigan didn't count? A rule that Hillary SIGNED!!!

"So while Senator Obama’s campaign says he will follow the rules, he wants one of them to be ignored."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kinda like the Clinton campaign, right?

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:02 AM)

Hillary, 47% of the American public DOES NOT LIKE YOU, and will never vote for you no matter what election.

Your bitter sarcasm, repugnant and divise campaign are so far from Presidential that it is a wonder that the DNC hasn't asked you to walk. In any other race for the nomination 11 (or 12) straight state losses would exceed the grounds for party pressure to withdraw. Do your part and improve your public image of creating a scorched earth policy towards the White house, and withdraw for the good of the party and of the country.

Obama is the ideal Candidate (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:02 AM)

Another of the politics as usual with Obama. He will do and say anything to win.He uses his grandmother in that speech and she would certainly not be one to sit there and listen to the talk Obama now says he heard.He wouldnt take questions instead does a speech cause we all know he is quite th eorator and his writers are good.Questions he has to think of ans, on his own.
Not a good reason to vote Obama he cannt keep his word. His judgement isnt very good this pastor thing.(Remember that every time you hear about that vote Hillary made yrs ago. He has trouble with figureing out a plan and sticjing to it, Writes amendment for write in voteing than says no i think to many proplems. Darn one of th ethings he actually did now no good. Nope say no to Obama.

no to Obama (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:04 AM)

False Excuse #3:

I wish they would use that money to help people that are in housing crisis, or those that need healthcare. The whole thing is at the end of the day, that is just wasted money. She will not win by a huge margin, and even if she does it is not enough to make the argument that she should be the nominee. This is really ridiculous. Bow out gracefully, Senator Clinton!!

Dante (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:04 AM)

Clintons are at it again. Of course he will disagree. Here they are trying to rig the game as always. So you want Obama to be the fool, that you claim he is and when he does fall for you try to say ah ha. Give me a break. You talk to your enemy without condidtions but you don't go into agreements with your opponents without condidtions.

d syracuse ny (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:04 AM)

There is no end to the attack, scorched earth policy of HRC. This is the time where anyone who truly respects her should be asking her to stop and get on board with Barak. He has all the tools that this country needs at this time to lead us in a wonderful new direction.
HRC, who doesn't respect the laws that do not help her cause, still hasn't been honest with the American people about her tax returns and experience. There is a reason the republicans want to run against her and not Obama. Now that he has given his speech, wait for the new Clinton attack. It will be ugly.

flow, Asheville North Carolina (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:07 AM)

I think the MI voters should vote, however, it should be fair and once again Hillary is trying to do whatever it takes to stack the deck in her favor...spin, spin and more spin. Hillary, your house of cards is about ready to fall! .... and yes, you are indeed transparent and that is terrifying.

gary d, new hampshire (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:07 AM)

Wow...this is nonsense and a way to steal the election. No wonder they did not intervene when Bush stole the election in 2000.

I was always told,
IF YOU AIN'T CHEATIN', YOU AIN'T TRYIN'!

She is definitely trying to get back in that White House. Although, I am not voting for her at this point, you have to admire her will power and her cunning way of looking at the American people with a straight face and carrying on in this manner.

Michelle Zee (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:09 AM)

This is so beyond frustrating because the argument over this is so black and white. We live in the UNITED States of America which encompases FIFTY states, not 48. When it comes to electing our Democratic nominee the voices and opinions of all populations from all 50 states should be heard and that's the final word. The millions of residents of both Michigan and Florida should not be punished because a select handful of higher-ups decided to move a date.

And this whole argument over a revote should not be based on the merit of giving Clinton an edge over Obama, as much as I would love for Hillary to win, if Obama were in the same situation where he could stand to gain from doing revotes in both states I would STILL want revotes done both states.

It is the constitutional and right thing to do. And please stop giving us the pathetic excuse and whining of "Oh noes but who is gonna pay for the revotes" make the idiots who moved the primary dates up in the first place pay for it for their stupidity.

JP Cruz, Orlando FL (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:11 AM)

Shirley, If you truly believe in the vote, ask Hillary to pay for it. She is not going to do it for two reasons. One this is just a political ploy to try to make Obama seem like he is somehow repressing the vote. Two, Michigan is very much an Obama state. A lot of legislatures from Detroit, and other locations in Michigan want the vote, because they feel like the state would go to Obama in a huge fashion. She never really wanted Michigan, she only wanted Florida, as is. Not going to happen Shirley.

flow, Asheville North Carolina (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:12 AM)

HP Boston ---> ALL is moot. OBAMAis toast. America will never vote for a WRIGHT OBAMA. The WH is full of hate as it is with the bush contamination.
FL and MI will vote for McCain in the GE, it is lost for the DEM'S. <---

HP has it right. MI, FL, OH, PA, and maybe NY and NJ swung to the Republican column if Obama is the Democratic nominee. No way the blue-collar lunch-bucket crowd votes for Obama after that sorry excuse of a speech he gave yesterday.

Lance Phillips, NY (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:13 AM)

flow, Asheville North Carolina (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:14 AM)

I hope the people in Michigan realize the Hillary only wants this revote for her benefit. If she were ahead she would not care at all about Michigan voters having a voice in this election. She was all for Michigan's and Florida's voters to be left out of the campaigns choice when she thought she was already had the nomination. I think that Michigan and Florida should be able to revote, but their superdelegates should not have a vote. They did wrong and should not be given everything back, but the people (all the Michigan and Florida voters, democrats and republicans alike) should be allowed to RE-VOTE.

New-America (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:15 AM)

Rules are to be respected, not circumvented. Nuff Said.

Blaine (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:16 AM)

All I needed to read was their call to count the existing vote and so-called false excuse #1.

turnip (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:17 AM)

What a bunch of garbage. How can the HRC campaign send this stuff out with a straight face. I live in Michigan and can tell you that the Obama campaign did not try to have us vote uncommitted. It was the democratic committee that urged us to vote this way to protest the DNC's removal of MI delegates. Clinton could have helped by not having her name on the ballot to show she disagreed with MI breaking the rules. Instead she wants to use breaking the rules as a mean to seat her delegates. The campaign ahs said that it thinks the votes should be counted from the first primary. To everyone, except members of her campaign, this is laughable. OBAMA'S NAME WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT!! Any sane person can see that is not a fair vote.

The real issue is the logistics of ensuring another fair election in the short time frame that is left. Michigan had well over a year to prepare for the primary vote and the Clinton camp expects us to be able to do a legitimate re-vote in less than three months. Elections take more than money. It also takes up goverment and civilian worker's time. Everyone knows MI is having economic problems and to ask us to divert much needed resources to another election is selfish. If she really cared about MI voters she would be asking people to raise money to help our economy instead of hurting it by asking it to hold another election.

Billy, MI (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:18 AM)

Hillary's playing more political games. The Obama campaign is NOT the Michigan legislature. Does Hillary really think that we're going to fall for this? The blame lies not with the Obama campaign, but with those that broke that party rules by moving up the primary in the first place.

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:19 AM)

Thats the problem with Obama. ALL HE IS GOOD AT IS WORDS. IS HE AFRAID TO HAVE A NEW PRIMARY IN MICHIGAN? WHAT IS HE AFRAID OF? WHY IS HE MAKING HIMSELF MORE OF A LIAR THAN HE ALREADY IS?

ge``pa~ (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:20 AM)

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