Clinton: Legitimacy of nominee at stake

Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:45 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
TERRE HAUTE, IN -- Clinton kept the pressure on Obama for another day, urging him to sign on to a re-vote in Michigan and saying not re-doing primaries there and in Florida would call into question the legitimacy of the ultimate nominee.

"I went to Michigan yesterday because I feel so strongly that it is not in the best interests of our party or our chances for victory in November to deny the rights of the people of Florida and Michigan. I do not see how two of our largest and most significant states can be disenfranchised and left out of the process of picking our nominee without raising serious questions about the legitimacy of that nominee," she told reporters after a roundtable at a diner. "So again I would call on Sen. Obama to join me in supporting the rights of the people of Michigan and Florida to have their voices and their votes counted."

She said she would support finding a way to seat the two states' delegates regardless of the outcome. "I would be in favor of fixing this problem no matter what my position," she said. "I have been consistently in favor of it. Remember, I'm the one who kept my name on the ballot. I had no idea what the outcome would be. I did not run advertising in Florida. I abided by the rules and did not campaign in Florida. I didn't know what the outcome would be."

Clinton suggested Obama was afraid to have a re-vote. "For the life of me, I don't understand why Sen. Obama seems to be afraid of letting there be a re-vote in Michigan," she said.

The senator also restated her opposition to NAFTA, despite schedules released yesterday showing she attended at least one meeting on the trade deal during her time as first lady. She also restated her plans for reviewing the agreement.

For the second time this week, Clinton declined to talk about what steps she would take to halt the fall of the dollar, calling any intervention in terms of the value of the currency a "sensitive" topic.

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Comments

Oh please Barack let me cheat, just this once.

Hillary (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:08 PM)

they will be seated all right- after obama does the right thing and bows out.....we do not need another racist as our nominee we've all been through that already,...let's move on and nominate the one candidate that can win in November....Obama doesn't stand a chance against Carl Rove, they'll drop him like a bad habit!!!

seeingtheforestthroughthetrees (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:08 PM)

"I'm the one who kept my name on the ballot. I had no idea what the outcome would be."

That is too funny. She's so right...how could she have predicted that she would win against Sen. Dodd and Uncommitted?

Nick, Brooklyn (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:08 PM)

um, excuse me. i thought clinton's legitimacy was at stake.

what a load of hogwash.

obama's the real deal folks unless you would actually prefer more lies and more corruption, more of YOUR INTERESTS not being priority in washington.

colene, New York, New York (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:08 PM)

Hillary doesn't mind diss'ing the caucus states she lost, but suddenly has found religion on protecting the rights of voters in states she thinks she can win? Please see the hypocrisy in this woman before it's too late!

LB, Virginia (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:08 PM)

If I lived in MI or FL, I would be totally ticked off that my state and my vote would not be counted. Plenty of people in both states voted, in spite of the fact that it had been stated extensively in the news that the Democratic delegates would not be seated. I would have voted anyway, too, just in CASE there was a change of heart and the Dems decided to seat the delegates in line with the actual primary results. I figure I'm just an average Joe (like most other people), so I don't think my feelings are that much out of the mainstream. Obama does not want to have the delegates seated because he's afraid Clinton will then have an edge on the popular vote and, therefore, a good argument to make to the American people and the super delegates. What Obama isn't counting on is the fact that all of those disenfranchised voters will NOT cast their vote for him in a general election for the very fact that he didn't stand up for them in the primary. Obama won't have a chance in the world in either MI or FL in the general. And that means only one thing.....John McCain will be our next president.

Don, Dayton, OH (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:09 PM)

Legitimacy of the nominee? Is this woman for REAL?

Hmmmmmm.......

Knowing the rules and then trying to change them in the middle of the game, yeah that sounds REAL legitimate.

Lying about your "experience", yeah that sounds real legitimate.

Asking the super delegates to go against the will of the people and crown her queen, that sounds like disenfranchising the voters, and real legitimate.

This woman has NO dignity or respect.

This entire election is turning into the biggest joke of the century and the Clinton name is ALL OVER IT!!!

Give it up now, and try to save your Senate seat Billary.

No dignity (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:09 PM)

You can find all about it in a widely under-read article in the September 2007 issue of Mother Jones, in which Kathryn Joyce and Jeff Sharlet reported that "through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the "Fellowship," aka The Family. But it won't be a secret much longer. Jeff Sharlet's shocking exposé, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power will be published in May.

CB (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Can anyone please tell me what was so awful about the 90's?
Economy was stable....
401ks were holding up well....
people had money in their pockets...
WHAT was so awful about this? Clinton took a deficit and turned it into a surplus within 3 years...
WHAT WAS SO BAD ABOUT THIS ???
PA Voter (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:23 AM)
Dear PA Voter,

You are right the 90’s went bad, but only thanks to Bill Clinton. His wife was busy with the Travel Gate and getting herself into a lot of trouble. Do we really want another republican in the White House? That is what will happen if Hillary is the nominee; the republicans will have a field day with her because of her long history in DC. They know too much about her, and know a lot of her skeletons! Just remember It was her husbands presidency not hers, she only made trouble for herself and the republicans will remember that and will use it against her in the fall.

Anne from OHIO (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Maybe $12,000,000 just wasn't enough to buy you an election.

Noel, Hot Springs, AR (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Bye, Bye Hillary. It's over.

Banko (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

This is getting ridiculous. She continues to act as if America does not have a brain and does not compare one statement she makes to the next.

Hey Reporters: can you start doing your job and question this woman on her complete lack of consistency (I'm being nice here, the fact is she's lying)?

She has no shame (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Say how is that Peter Paul v Clinton lawsuit in CA coming along.

OBwan, IN (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Drop Out, Hillary! The game is over.

TT (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Hillary, that is a lie. You have not been consistently in favor of seating the delegates. Your interviews last October prove this.

Hillary, remember what happened to Pinocchio when he kept lying.

DC (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:11 PM)

I think Obama better get on top of this and make some loud, clear announcements asap. He'd better show his support for those voters, and I know he supports their rights -- but just wants to play by the rules.

Obama: get out there! Don't let her get away with it.

Voice of Reason, Anytown, USA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:11 PM)

Have the Clintons ever done or said anything that is not self-serving? A rhetorical question, the answer is NO. Their sense of entitlement has no bounds. Obama '08!

jeff in the Redwoods, Arcata, CA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

"I have been consistently in favor of it."

Is it just me or is the media not doing what it should be? Like pointing out to pretty well known fact that Clinton, talking on NPR before Iowa, that Michigan would "count for nothing." Unbelievable.

phi (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

Hillary Clinton is a real piece of work.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

please clintons just go home please you make sick now i vote for you in supertuesday now ill dont wanna hear you again even you win this nomination ill never vote for you again !

nomoreclinton (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

I find almost everyone I talk to that supports Obama knows very little about him! People need to really get to know a candidate before backing them. Obama is one of the best double talkers I have seen. says one thing a year ago and then says another just like any other political figure including Hillary.
But I do know what I get with Hillary, I have looked very hard at Obama and there is just way to much dirt that has not come out yet and McCain will eat him alive. Let Mich. and Fla. Have a do over.

Gary, Warren, Mi (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

The headline should read "Hillary Destroys Democratic Party." Barack Obama did not write the rules of the DNC that stripped FL and MI of their delegates. Barack Obama can not tell the legislatures of FL and MI whether or not to do re-votes.

The longer Hillary stays in the race the clearer it becomes that she is preparing another run in 2012. She would rather punish our country and help John McCain win in November than allow Barack the opportunity to get us out of the mess that George W. Bush has created.

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:12 PM)

Is she trying to drive her negatives into Bushian territory? Pretty soon, Bush will have the Christian Right and Hillary will have women over 60. The rest of the country will move on.

Just Wondering (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:13 PM)

HRC--"Sticks and stones may break his bones, but words will never hurt him!"

t, ny, ny (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:13 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Rules? Democrats don't need no stinking rules! If the illegals should just be able to walk into this country and get full benefits why shouldn't the Michiganders be able to vote even though they broke the rules? There is more then enough 'victim status' to around in this party.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:13 PM)

What A Freaking LIAR!

She left her name on the ballot because she an opportunity to get an unfair advantage. She said "That primary doesn't even matter" but now she claims that she has been in support of michigan from the beginning.

I know you woman shouting "You go girl" want to see a woman in the white house but look past that for a minute and ask yourself how you can believe anything she says

HillarLies (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:14 PM)

Hillary,

You should really stop talkin out of both sides of your mouth. This is really becoming tiresome.

Rog, Toledo, OH (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:15 PM)

Talk about legitimacy of the nominee - the entire premise of Hillary's "fight" is to convince the supers to circumvent the will of the voters. If the supers tip the balance to her favor despite an Obama lead in pledged delegates and the popular vote, I'm voting for McCain in the general. Not only will she lose legitimacy, but so will the DNC.

Dan K, Washington DC (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:15 PM)

Too bad Hillary and her rich doners that offered to pay for the election scared the Michigan Legislators and caused them to think the election would not be fair and proper. This is all a desperate show just like the one she put on when she went to Florida to celebrate her hollow victory in that primary. It's time for them to go! We've had enough!!!

M/G (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:16 PM)

If she were ahead she'd have no problem considering herself the "legitimate" candidate w/o Mich being counted.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:16 PM)

Sure she made sure her name didn't come off of the ballot, but only after her staff voted to remove Florida and Michigan delegates if they tried to move their primaries forward. And then only after everyone else had already removed theirs, as per their understanding of the agreement they signed.

Dan, Iowa (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:17 PM)

Hillary, my poor mother thinks the world of you. She loves her democratic party & her country. Why do you seem so intent on tearing them both apart?

Barb Reno NV (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:18 PM)

well another vedio out with Obama and his pastor. someone from mccain's camp suspended but its out there and it begins again.Ferrara stepped up and left Hillary and Obama still useing her in his speech to justify rants of anti american pastor unreal. She didnt sat anything near this pastor.she was still getting hate emails and threats . From these posts I can believe that. Obama should let these 2 states voices be heard. Just seat them in MI give Obama the undecided vote he tried to get people to do against hillary.Fl seat as is. Obama campaigned there when he said he wouldnt. He shouldnt even have a say.He broke his pledge.He so doesnt want these 2 to vote to hurt Hillary and hi jack this election.60% in peoples poll say if he wins it will be illegitimate win. Think they will vote for him?not!69% will be alienated in Nov/ He has so messed up but his own power is most important to him not us the people ,party or country. Another pastor has come to light too.It just wont end now till Nov. He might as well seat them.

ep-ny (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:18 PM)

Does she have any idea how transparent she is? Seriously, it is like she is on her own planet. When will the media stop trying to play this as if it is close? I know nobody wants to be seen as the one to force her out but the time has come.

How much more of this mischief and distraction do we need to see before we own up to the fact that THIS IS OVER!

With no Florida and Michigan re-votes it is clear that she can't win the popular vote (which incidentally isn't the point system in this race), she can't beat him in pledged delegates, and she has already lost the majority of states.

Do we let her continue to run on the premise that she will suddenly sway the super delegates despite her overwhelming and obvious failure to win over the country? It isn't gonna happen and we need to call her little temper tantrum to an end.

I know Obama is risky as a candidate in the general but the Democrats will not survive as a party if they give this one to her. The future of the party has spoken and even if it costs them this time it is simply suicidal to follow the wishes of the waning part of a wave at the expense of the wave that has yet to crest.

gordon, Portland, Or (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:19 PM)

This is not Obama's thing! Come on! Some of her supporters actually believe this? Yep Obama has the power to make the Michigan Legislature go through and vote on this and pass the bill. If he had that kind of power he would have won the nomination already. I'm with CK. If you really cared about it why didn't you voice your opinion to your supporter Granholm back in the fall when the DNC said the MI and FL delegates wouldn't be seated. Sen. Clinton had no plans for after Feb 5th because she was cocky enough to think she would have won it by then.

Tim, South Lyon, MI (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:19 PM)

I'm sure at times Senator Obama, especially early in his career, has had to maneuver as a traditional politician, in order to build a base. I won't hold that against him.

How sad would it be if we, as a country, would reject the most hopeful, potentially great president in generations, simply because his pastor has serious issues to work out?

I'm a 48 yr old white male from MI. I have some college and earn around 50k yr. I am not naive and do not drink kool-aid. Please don't insult my intelligence by accusing me of being brain washed. I can assure you, I am not.

I think MI should not have a re-vote. After Senator Obama has secured the nomination, I'm certain a reasonable solution to seating MI and FL delegates will be reached. You can not change the rules once the contest has begun. PERIOD

I do not hate Hillary or Bill. I try not to hate anyone. I could not bear it if she were to steal the nomination and if she were to pull it off I would vote for someone else.

We as a country have a once in a lifetime opportunity to take this great country, that I served honorably, to a place we could only dream of. Please give this man a chance. If history teaches us anything, Hill or McCain will be more of the same.

I appreciate all of the intelligent opinions here but not the thoughtless words of hate and intolerance.

Obama/Webb 08'

Chris, Dorr, MI (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:19 PM)

Isn't there a rule that independents and dems who voted in Rep primary cannot vote in this new primary? Many crossed over because they were told that their votes wouldn't count. How is that fair?

csmith (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:20 PM)

Why won't Hillary give up on this issue? She must be really desperate.

At this point, it's not up to her or Obama to reinstate Michigan's primary election. Right now it's the Michigan legislature holding up authorizing such election. And it's not likely to happen.

I wish Hillary would stop blaming Obama for this too. She knows better.

Furthermore, I wish she would stop playing the martyr over the Michigan primary. She signed a pledge ensuring her (or any candidate's) vote wouldn't count. Why the sudden flip-flop?

sg, michigan (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:20 PM)

Balogna Hillary! Everything YOU do is self-serving.

jeanie, saint inigoes, md (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:21 PM)

Hillary, it is time leave the race so we can get on with the fight against McCain. You are continuing to hurt the Democratic Party.

Those delegates will be seated based on the popular vote nation-wide, mark my words.

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com/

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:21 PM)

Hillary Clinton words doesn't hold water any more. If she says white, it is definitely black.

Bee, NH (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:22 PM)

The super delegates will soon have a caucas. I hope they go with public sentiment. Obama will lose a general election. Not only because the $250,000 he had to give to charity because given by Rezko, but silently approving of Rev. Wrights inappropriate statements but also his assocaition with Willaim Ayers. WHAT DOES THIS SPELL!

We need to come toegther behind one candidate to stop the bleeding George Bush is causing like a 1 trillion dollar war.

People - Read My Lips - No more republicans!

Write your the superdelegates in your state to support Senator Clinton!

Black American, Texas (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:24 PM)

does anyone remember the speech given by Arafat's wife that accused the government of Israel of practicing "daily genocide" on the children of Palestine? Hillary Clinton, in her role of first lady, was present at that speech, and gave Arafat a hug and a kiss afterward. The picture of the kiss and passive stance of Clinton created a real furor in the world's press.
Clinton's behavior was appalling, and Arafat's words were much worse than anything Obama's pastor said.
I wonder if any bloggers out there can google the speech and picture of Clinton and Arafat and get it up on the web?
Clinton spent a lot of time during her senate run in 2000 trying to blame this away. Is this the smoking gun that Clinton has been worried about? Perhaps. But if that story and associated picture make it up on the mainstream internet, CLinton is going to have a world of trouble.

r taylor (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:25 PM)

Such hyprocisy by the Clinton campaign. I myself would love to see the delegates of Flordia & Michigan seated, however, rules are rules. You CAN NOT change the rules in the middle of the game. BOTH candidates agreed (and signed affadavits) that the delegates would NOT be seated. Where was this outrage a 1 1/2 years ago? Where was this outrage when Clinton was winning? Where was this outrage when she was stating her agreement to the terms on national tv & radio.
To now do her best to PUNK & ACCUSE the Obama campaign seems a bit desperate and very fraudulent. I am tired of all of the childish antics of this campaign. I feel no sympathy for the candidate only for the voters. I feel these delegates should be seated in a way that won't cost the taxpayers $ and that will also be fair. I say split them down the middle and call it a day. It saves money & everyone should be happy. To suggest seating the delegates based on the votes cast in January would be a farce. And to blame Obama for this mess is epitome of hypocrisy!

Tiffany (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:26 PM)

Black American, Texas (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:27 PM)

So, in the Clinton World an candidate who changes the rules and calls for a privatized election paid for by her donors is legit?

adam/nyc (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:27 PM)

Hillary is quoted in her interview with New Hampshire public radio saying that she understood the votes there would not count and that it was the states fault for going against DNC rules:

"NHPR's Laura Knoy: "So, if you value the DNC calendar, why not just pull out of Michigan? Why not just say, Hey Michigan, I'm off the ballot?"

Hillary Clinton: "Well, you know, It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything"

The audio is here: http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=zydzt

Don, detroit, mi (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:27 PM)

I grew up near Terre Haute. Unfortunately due to the tar and RR tie factories, the smell was pretty bad. Between the normal background smell and the upcoming fertilizer in the corn fields, they may not recognize the additional smell from what the HRC is spreading today!

Farmer Brown, former IN resident (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:27 PM)

Check out the RCP site. It has a number of state-by-state polls from around 3/16. I know these are pretty meaningless at this point but the shocker for me was that in a McCain/Obama match-up MA is tied!

In MO McCain is beating Obama by 14, in OH McCain leads by 7, in MN McCain leads by 1. In the McCain/Clinton match she is only losing to McCain in MO by 2 points...she is ahead in the others.

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:27 PM)

HOW CAN THE AMERICAN TAX PAYERS AFFORD 12 MILLION DOLLARS AN HOUR TO BRING DEMOCRACY TO IRAQ ----EVERY HOUR, EVERY DAY, FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, GOING ON 6 NOW---YET WE CANNOT AFFORD 12 MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN ELECTION IN MICHIGAN?

HOW MANY ELECTIONS DID WE PAY FOR IN IRAQ?

I AM AN OBAMA FAN. EVERY NIGHT I READ THE OCT 2, 2002 SPEECH AND WEEP, BUT IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE MICHIGAN VOTERS, IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE FLORIDA VOTERS.
I AM DATING MYSELF, "BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE." THE DNC AND THE STATE LEGISLATURES IN FL AND MI DID NOT LET THE VOTERS KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. MY FRIENDS EARN ABOUT 300,000 A YEAR FOR THE UNIV OF MICH AND THEY DIDNT KNOW.
OH YEAH, THE RULES. THE DNC NEEDS TO ADMIT THEIR ROLE IN SCREWING THINGS UP FOR THE POOR VOTERS INSTEAD OF ACTING ALL HOLIER THAN THOU AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THEY CREATED THIS MESSED UP SYSTEM, FAVORING WHITE VOTERS IN NH AND IOWA 200 X AS MUCH AS A BLACK VOTER IN DETROIT OR A CUBAN IN MIAMI.

EVERY VOTER SHOULD COUNT. THE VOTERS IN MICH AND FLOR SHOULD BE VALUED AT LEAST AS MUCH AS THE VOTERS IN IRAQ. HOW MUCH DID WE PAY FOR THEIR VOTE?

BUT HILLARY SAYING THE ELECTION WAS FAIR?
BARACK TOOK HIS NAME OFF BECAUSE HE DIDNT CARE ABOUT MICHIGAN?
SHE FORGOT SHE PROMISED TO TAKE HERS OFF?
I'M ASHAMED SHE USED TO BE MY SENATOR.

kathleen (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:28 PM)

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