Rules committee reaches deal

Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:24 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Domenico Montanaro
The rules committee has come to an agreement on both Michigan and Florida, a rules committee member confirms to First Read. Florida was not a problem during the luncheon meeting, but Michigan was an all together different story.

It looked as if the agreement they were going to come to was going to pass by a razor-thin, one or two person, majority, but they went back because they didn't want that. They wanted a closer show of unaninimity. The rules member is confident 20 or 21 will vote in favor of the agreement, but pro-Clinton members will argue heavily in favor of a hard line regardless.

The deal reached, NBC NEWS has learned, is a 69-59 split with half votes in Michigan. Obama will be guaranteed the two add-on superdelegates. NBC NEWS has not confirmed if the superdelegates will get half or full votes.

Florida will be split by the primary vote and votes will count for half.

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Comments

Domenico,

Please post. Thank you!

As for Donna Brazille ("uncommitted" superdelegate - please, don't make me laugh0, who disingenuously told delegates that her "momma said always obey the rules", tell that to the late Rosa Parks. Truly a shameful moment in this less-than-noble saga ...
Harold, London, UK (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 3:22 PM)

*********************************************

Harold,

Your analogy comparing the great Rosa Park's heroism, in the face of centuries of oppresion, to Hillary's antics in defiance of reasonable, organisational rules, is deplorably inane, and asinine.

As a Brit, and decendant of the original oppressors, of America, I say to you, back off. Your nation's history is rife with tyranny, persecution, and shame.

India, Africa, Ireland, France, Scotland, Canada as well, know more than a little about England's greed, and conquer lust.

Mind your own doggone business.

Sheesh!

twin (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:32 PM)

SPLIT!! And it looks like a 7-10 split.

S. Ports Fann (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:33 PM)

This is Michigan's decision after long hard studies. So I respect their decision and can live with it. Any other decision by this committee would of been made with out the state of Michigan agreeing and probably covered in political slant.

hopefull, bluffton,indiana (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:34 PM)

where does this put the delegate counts and finish line?

bad@math b/c us schools fail children (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:34 PM)

Hats off to the committee and the Obama supporters on it. They made a huge concession by allowing her to net a majority of delegates from these "Alice in Wonderland" elections. With Ickes and his ridiculous demands, its clear who is truly out to unify the party, and who is in it for the power.

Rob Dood, Philadelphia (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:34 PM)

The party of inclusion indeed.

Dems Is Done (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:34 PM)

FINALLY.... Hopefully we will have an end to this long, drawn out process sometime this week. I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed. I'm hoping that Senator Clinton will go along with the decision of the committee and the agrieved states. UNITY NOW

azanido, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:34 PM)

If I were Hillary I would tell these Obama panderers NO DEAL!!! Take it to the convention Hillary.
Obama is toast in the GE without you on the ticket anyway. Create a third party for the working class & you'll win in the GE

Jay Link, Chicago, IL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:35 PM)

I'm glad to hear this. Watching the start of the motions, and watching Clinton supporters on the committee basically say "let's remove all sanctions and given 100% delegates, 100% vote" is ridiculous. Even a Clinton supporter said she knew it had no chance to pass...I don't know why it should sadden her, she agreed to the rules with the others. And this last speaker that "sometime we have to revisit the rules"...right, because your candidate is losing? If Hillary was winning, she wouldn't be fighting this.

Ken, Sterling, VA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:35 PM)

That is simply amazing on Michigan. Obama is not on the ballot, doesn't campaign in the state, doesn't get one vote, and he receives nearly half the delegates? What Democrat has all this wisdom to come to that conclusion? He/she should be King/Queen of the world with all that wisdom! Actually, it kind of looks like a chimp came up with the idea.

Ross Weathers, East Lansing MI (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:38 PM)

To court, to court, it's off to court we go. Hi ho, hi ho, to court, to court we go.

Sleepy (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:39 PM)

The Hillary spectator/supporters, are acting like heathens after the voting down of the full seating of Florida.

donna (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:39 PM)

The Co hairwomen should put the public out of the debate they keep destracting the proceedings...............No 100% re-seating of forida delegates is very fair......it should be 50-50

James Tn (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:39 PM)

yes this is what i was hoping

sensico.wordpress.com

sense (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:42 PM)

Clouds are forming over McCain.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:44 PM)

Unbelievable! So the Obama camp got everything they wanted and this is called a compromise! The DNC will get exactly what they asked for, and lose in November. Congradulations.

Kris from NH (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:45 PM)

Clinton supporters:

Even IF you got every delegate you are asking for out of Michigan and Florida you would STILL be behind Obama in delegates. Even if you by some miracle managed to flip every Michigan "uncommitted" delegate you would STILL be behind Obama in delegates.

GIVE IT UP!!!!!!

Douglas, Evanston, IL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:45 PM)

Yeah!
Ding Dong the witch is dead!

Kimberly in Texas (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:46 PM)

IT's Official....

OBAMA/ CLINTON ticket!!!!!!

See the party is working together....

BJ, CA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:52 PM)

Okay, sorry for the earlier remark. We need unity....so,my sincere apologies.

Kimberly in Texas (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:53 PM)

Let's unite and heal this party. No more talk of division. It's time to UNITE and BEAT John McSame!!!

Wanakee, Mandeville, LA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:03 PM)

Everyone loves a good fight and likewise no one wants to lose a long fought battle, but it is over for the Hillery camp now... If they try to fight this further, the party will be hurt and I will never forgive Bill for that; he’s behind all of this. I voted for him twice and loved him as a president; that feeling is totally gone for me now!!!

Don, Davis, CA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:06 PM)

How about that, the DNC just told thousands upon thousands of people that their votes don't count.
How would a republican feel if their right as an American to vote was taken away?
I am ashamed to be a part of a party that refuses to count the votes of all citizens, irregardless of when their votes were cast! What in the heck is wrong with you? Do you think that this decision in any way will bring the democratic party together? It will not! How dare you take away our votes! How dare you!
I guarantee that those who voted to take away FL and MI votes will not be re-elected come that time. You will not get away with taking our rights as citizens away one by one, Bush has been doing it for eight long years, now we have to put up with our own party taking our right to have our votes counted away!
This democratic party will never again be united, I can say that with full confidence. BO has caused a split in our party wider than the Grand Canyon, we will not come together. If you hear nothing else hear this: WE WILL NOT COME TOGETHER AS A UNITED PARTY IN NOVEMBER OR EVER AGAIN!!!
I will write-in Hillary's name in November if it does not appear on the ballot, and millions of Americans will do the same. I guarantee that those good people of MI and FL will be out in force for Hillary!!! You might take away their voices once, but they wont let you get away with it again!!!
Hillary Clinton 2008!!!

DaddysDarlin, Cedar City, Utah (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:12 PM)

I do not understand how delegates won by Clinton in Michigan can be taken away from her and given to Obama. There is nothing democratic about a Party that would do something like that. It is an insult, a slap in the face to every person who went out and voted, not just in Michigan but anywhere. I will be voting for McCain in the general.

C. L. Green, Opelika, AL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:13 PM)

So Harold Ickes, as authorized by Senator Clinton, wants to take it to Denver. Knew that all along. Guess she can kiss her standing in the party goodbye if she does.

Ian (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:22 PM)

MARK MY WORDS...!
Our economy is really going to to be on the dung pile, if Senator Obama wins? He directly told the general public that he becomes president, he will sign into law a new AMNESTY. Although none of the Presidential contenders can be really trusted, Obama will be true to his word. That means if Democrats don't get to gut the border fence, as they are right now? The raw truth is it will not matter? As taxpayers will be forced by federal law to support the 15 to 38 million illegal immigrants already here. That means big business has won and they just collect the profits.

While the man or women in the street will have a giant financial yoke around their neck, to pay billions in even more welfare programs. Senator Obama will have condemned America to a bleak future, for not only subsidizing millions of poor, non-English speaking, uneducated foreign nationals. Our government skims quietly of your wage packet 356 billion dollars, to support illegal low income workers annually and appease big business and that cost will become a pittance.

The compounding effect is millions of more itinerant labor and families, will breach the border and no patrol, or army will be able to stop the momentum. Thats why we must stop OBAMA with the Federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) Tell your Democratic representative to sponsor it now. January 2009 will be far too late!

Dave F (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:29 PM)

what a bunch of crap this commitee. how in the world do you take something from someone and give to someone else that's called STEALING.they gave him all the other votes
which was bad enough this guy name was not on the ballot
they went by the exit polls thats a bunch of crap by exit polls now i see why the media picks the candidates.

RAPHAEL RUIZ HACKENSACK NEW JERSEY (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:29 PM)

Fair, Fair, Fair! Good job Committee, but Hillary and some of her supporters are going to try to tear this party apart. They are BLIND to the fact that she lost this election on her own. She was suppose to walk in the White House without a wrinkle. If she has a better chance against John McSame then why Can't she Beat BARACK OBAMA? Did B. Obama cheat or something? Did he run a viciously negative campaign? Did he PANDER to every state he visited? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! So keep your EYES WIDE SHUT, and don't worry about how stupid you sound theatening to vote for a discacful 4 years of McBush. Obviously fair and square does not translate well for some people.

P.S. He probably won't need you anyway, we'll get enough of the Republican vote! LOL

Can'tHaveItYourWayAllTheTimeClinton's (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:36 PM)

thank God its over

Joe Caligiuri paradise Montana (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:41 PM)

A surprisingly fair deal after all the heat and noise from Ickes, Lanny Davis etc. Now on to fight the general elections and defeat the Republicans.

Followme (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:42 PM)

This may "look" like it is over, but I expect both Clinton and Obama to have victory celebrations on Tuesday AND then both of them to start campaigning for the GE.
Stay tuned this may get very interesting.

Jean (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:42 PM)

Too little,too late.
Damage is already done,trust is gone.

Vince Russo,Bluffton,S.C. (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:47 PM)

Now we can elect Senator Obama as our next President. YEA.

Larry (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

I watched the proceedings, and I have to say that the boobs cheering and booing really destroyed the novelty of watching such inside politics, and degraded the experience to something of a junior high school meeting. While I sympathized with Florida's situation (the process having been manipulated by the Republican led state legislature), I felt the committee should have made an example of Michigan and not seated their delegates. It sets a terrible precedent to overturn the rules set last year, not to mention legitimizing a completely flawed primary.

Brian Field - Tucson, AZ (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:50 PM)

I cannot believe it, the RBC showed fairness and Obama showed magnanimity in agreeing. Still Ickes is crying foul along with Hillary. What a bunch of sore heads.

Barb Gardner Miami Fl (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:55 PM)

Chuck Todd states that the Democrats in Florida could always blame the Republicans of that state for moving up the primary. If he views this link at youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OVuqHW7hZo
I think he will see that this is not true.

Brianna Reese (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:00 PM)

The Democratic Party had this election won but,they continue to act as if they are on another planet.
They continue to vascillate on subjects that mean nothing and have not made one statement on how any of them are going to get this country back on its feet.
Our bridges,roads,railroads and airlines are all in
dire need of repair and direction,our medical plan is the most expensive on earth and it does not work(except for those who wrote it and continue to gain from it)we have a Secret Energy Policy and oil continues to climb with not one sole in Washington with guts enough to challenge the Oil Cartel!
Isn't it amazing 300million people in this country and we cannot find one that understands its people or its problems.
Maybe 2009 is the year to vote for a dead president.

Vince Russo,Bluffton,S.C. (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:04 PM)

Hillary isn't satisfied. Super Dels shut her up.

BobE, Buffalo Grove, Illinois (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:07 PM)

Harold Ickes is an unmitigated ass. I don't give a damn what his reputation is (aside from the fact that he made his name in the Clinton administration and it shows)! Why does the Clinton campaign always, always only favors her viewpoint,nothing else matters, they've twisted the rules, the metrics, the votes (which are counted, which aren't), the states which should count(hers)....and Ickes has the gall to say that the committee "hi-jacked" FOUR delegates from Hillary Clinton and had the nerve to give Obama 59 delegates.....He was willing to say that Clinton received X amounts of v otes, but that no one oin the entire state of Michigan would have chosen to vote for Obama....all consideration should go to Hillary, none to anyone else......I think this party through the Rules and By-Laws Committee, finally told the Clinton's and Mr. Ickes that their stunts are over, the attempted hi-jacking of nomination (much less 4 delegates) by the Clinton's is OVER....and by next Tuesday when the primaries are finished and pledged delegates supported over whelmingly by the super delegates have made their votes known.....the threat of the Credentials Committe review of Michigan will be as impotent as the dead Clinton's Campaign....and perhaps this will be the last we'll ever see of that horse's ass Ickes.....

TJB, Scottsdale (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:11 PM)

Michigan was certainly a flawed election. There was no RIGHT way to settle it. They really did the best they could and also sent a message to the Clintons that they are no longer in charge of the democratic party. For them to say not to count any delegates in favor of Obama is just plain crazy. Clinton 50, Obama 0. Talk about nerve!!

Elaine LaMagna, Manchester, NJ (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:14 PM)

Too Little Too Late ! And he's been a member how many years? I will NEVER vote for Osama because of this !
The Democrats are handing the White House to the Rupublicans on a silver platter.

Kevin (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:17 PM)

After watching the FL and MI debacle today, I have decided against voting for Hillary Clinton. It is obvious that she will go to great lengths to break the unity of the party. She refuses to accept anything that is not wholly satisfiable to her. Added to this, her supporters were disruptive and rude most of the time. It is absolutely disgraceful! I don't understand how they can break the rules and now want the country to recognize their votes. These voters knew beforehand that their votes were not going to be counted and now with all the concessions from the state's democratic party and the Rules Committee, they are still advocating that ALL their votes must be counted! I wish they had done this on their election day! I have lost all respect for the Clinton campaign and they way her supporters behaved made me turn away from casting my vote and many of my friends for her. I have a strong feeling that no matter what she gets, Senator Clinton is still not willing to accept the decisions if she can't claim victory. This is very sad, as I once had great respect for her when only a year ago, so many democrats thought she was a divider and did not like her. Now people have decided to give her a chance, but she has chosen to bring disunity within her party. I have finally seen the true colors of senator Clinton and I am glad I've seen it now.

Nicole Thomas, VA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:54 PM)

I don't understand why Clinton did not get all of the votes from Florida since Obama pulled his name from the ticket because he felt that the votes would not be counted. How can you fairly give him any votes, unless they were written in...and that goes for Michigan....does the DNC want to be fair, or have they themselves chosen the candidate and are making the rules for themselves as they go along? Something stinks in the DNC.

Ginger Lymbery, Texas (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:58 PM)

It was not pretty and it took ALL of my day--but maybe it was worth it to have these states represented and penalized at the same time. Overall, it was a good process and should benefit the democrats in the fall general.

Senator Obama for President (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:58 PM)

I guess I will be the first to make a note on this topic and then LET IT REST!

Obama has done everything to make the country know he does not want any part of this so called "preaching/beliefs".

Obama is a christian and loves ALL even his enemies. Isn't that what Christianity is?????

We can spend all this time beating this topic to the ground but can not pursue the DISHONESTY and DIRTY POLITICS of the CLINTONS.

NO MORE!

Susan Santoro, Brentwood, TN (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:41 PM)

To All Obama Supporters:

Just reading your hate for Hillary Clinton in this blog alone has changed my opinion. I voted for Hillary in Texas and I am gay. I will now vote for McCain rather than Obama. How pitiful is this you hateful, vengeful people? Feel good now? Now what about the other millions who support Hillary? Want to piss them off also? Good luck in Nov.

George (Sent Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:01 AM)

It is about time Obama did this. I find it very hard to believe that a Christian could sit in a church for 20 years and listen to the filth spewing from the pulpit as we have heard over the media,a Christian , in my opinion, would have left and NEVER RETURNED after the first such message. I do not trust Obama, he is a Chicago trained politician, and as an ex-Chicagoan myself, I can that is nothing to be proud of. We are trying to elect a President for our country, not a cloak room monitor. MY only vote will go for Clinton, if she is not on the ballot, oh well, it will be McCain, we at least know we will get only what we have been getting.Obama is inexperienced not totally honest. I am scared of him.1 year in the Senate, he's only gotten his feet wet. He can't and does'nt respond without a prepared speech. We need somone who can think on his feet.

Doris Bianchi, Bartow, Florida (Sent Sunday, June 01, 2008 1:20 AM)

Alot of this bloodletting could have been avoided if the "super delegates" had a backbone and cast their vote earlier. After 40 years...I have become throughly disgusted with our so-called Democrat leaders. They're a bunch of wimps. Barack Obama is the most refreshing thing I've seen in 20 years. Thank goodness because I'm SICK of the Clintons. I'm REALLY SICK of the Clinton supporters threatening to vote for McCain or stay home. PLEASE do the world a favor and stay home, vote for McCain, picket...whatever...but stay out of the face of real Democrats because we are getting tired of trying to accomodate your being a sore loser.

SICKOFCLINTONISTAS (Sent Sunday, June 01, 2008 1:51 AM)

Hill supporters won't be happy until it's all given to them. In other words, they'll never be happy.

Chris, Portland OR (Sent Sunday, June 01, 2008 2:14 AM)

Chuck, you are the man! I actually, watched the DNC meeting on MSNBC, yesterday. Now, I don't know if this makes me a political junkie or I was just too tired to do anything else. Haha! I have to say that the process was, engaging, heated, and even entertaining and as Chris Matthews relayed, democracy in action. You bet your ass it was! It's not something we get to see, too often, so thanks for airing it and for all the informative, lively and funny commentary by you, Andrea, Chris, Pat, Rachel and Nora, with that laugh of hers. She just cracks me up! Thanks!

Theresa M. Kane, Delran, New Jersey (Sent Sunday, June 01, 2008 7:41 AM)

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