Clinton camp statement on DNC rulings

Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:37 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
Clinton supporters Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy released this statement; "Today's results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our party's nominee, and will see its delegates seated at our party's convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast the people of Florida, and allocates the delegates accordingly.

"We strongly object to the committee's decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan's delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan. The committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our party.

"We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the credentials committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan's delegates as they were cast."

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Comments

Yes people in MI voted, but the state party broke the rules. Period. There's a penalty for this. It's funny a couple of weeks ago how Terry McAullife was showing signs of a willingness to compromise (I believe it was on MSNBC or CBS). He specifically said that a 50% compromise would be OK with him, especially since HE was in charge of the Democratic Party 4 years ago and knows how these rules are supposed to be applied in situations such as this one. Harold Ickes has a different approach to this apparently. Either he and Mrs. Clinton get what they want, or they'll sink the ship and everyone goes down with them. Yeah... that's what I call democracy.

Steven Vallas (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:43 PM)

Idiot yells at mirror....

Jon, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:45 PM)

It's over. Let it go.

Bill, Seattle, WA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:45 PM)

How very, very sad. Yes, we need unity. But who are they to say they KNOW absolutely what the will of the Michigan voters was more than the Michigan delegation who studied this in depth. Just because Hillary did not get 100% and Obama nothing, they are disappointed. Are you kidding me? If Clinton thinks she can take this to the convention, win the nomination and then have a prayer of getting support in the GE, she is a really, really silly lady.

Hello - it's over, Land O Lakes, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:46 PM)

Again Florida democrats will control the election, by either not voting or voting McCain. This could be the end of the Democratic Party. For sure the end of Howard Dean.

KEN KRONOWITZ (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:46 PM)

As if 4 delegates is going to matter for Clinton. After the elections in Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota and the addition of add-on superdelegates from the states Obama won, he will seal the nomination. Not to mention that almost certainly a flood of superdelegates will be coming his way based on having all states resolved by June 4th. Hillary - FACE REALITY ALREADY!

Jason (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:47 PM)

Stop Lying....Barak Doesn't Get Four Og Hillary's Delegates. Be Honest Here, She Lost And That Is Final
Move On To The New Sheriff In Town. BARAK OBAMA

Leslie Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:47 PM)

bluff

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

ATTN: Clinton camp:

YOU LOST - QUIT YOUR BITCHIN!!!!

Sincerely,
AMERICA

GIVE IT UP! (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

Four delegateds halved will not make or break this election's decision as the the winner, Barack Obama. Time for the desperate ones to stop splitting hairs and get with the unity theme. The RBC has made a good compromise for both Florida and Michigan and now it's time to move on.

The Michigan proposal was crafted by the Michigan Democratic Party and it should be respected by all. If "Desperate" Hillary wants to show us all her committment to patry unity over selfish desires then she needs to accept the committee's decision without reservation. Even Fowler, one of her more vocal supporters, has decided that these compromises are fair and just.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

These people are determined to keep the faux drama going indefinitely. They obviously couldn't care less about the party (or the nation) and seem to only want to ensure Clinton has another run in 2012.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

Just want to make sure I've got this straight:

Ickes voted to remove 100% of the votes way back when.

Clinton - challenged in New Hampshire over leaving her name on the ballot when others had taken theirs off reassured angry voters saying that Michigan "wouldn't count".

What gall!

I will say this though: they may have gotten less than they wanted but they sure got more than they deserve.

Gary, Toronto, ON (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:48 PM)

Let her have them.
Will it make her the nominee??

OBAMA 08/12/16/20

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

Yawn, c'mon Harold - in 4 days your candidate won't even merit 30 sec. in the news cycle. . . . . Didn't Ickes notice that a good number of the vosts cast for the Michigan compromise came from committee members who had been Clinton supporters? (Key term: had been) Now the exodus away from hillary can begin in earnest. YAY!!!!!!!!

Linda S. Albuquerque, NM (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

I would gladly give Clinton back her 4 delegates, it would make absolutly no difference in the outcome. Hillary simply does not have the delegates to win this nomination. Someone is always the loser but i have never seen one who is so unable to accept it as she and her supporters are. Willing to give up the chance for a Democrat in the White House if it cannot be her.

Kathy (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

I am and shall forever remain an Obama supporter, but I can't understand the 69-59 split the RBC decided upon. Having watched the entire meeting, I understand it was the proposal from the Michigan state democratic party, not one the RBC concocted on the spot, yet it makes no sense.

Why not a 73-55 split, which would be the closest we could come to recognizing the actual vote? The state party said the 69-59 split was based on exit polls, but there's simply no rationale for using exit polls to decide delegates when we have actual votes to do the same job.

Shame on the DNC for giving the Clinton camp something else to whine about. Yes, it's only four votes, and won't make the slighest difference in the end, but that won't stop team Clinton from taking this to the floor of the convention ... and they have a point.

Gene, Worcester, MA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

look you cant have your cake and eat it to. you cant sit there and say that they went against the rules when YOU wanted them to go against their rules!! if they were to truly hold up the rules then nothing for florida or michigan should count!; so what would you wrather have something or nothing..... move on and get a wardrobe!!!

fed up with the clinton games (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

Puhleez--Hijacked? All other Dem. candidates followed THE RULES and withdrew from the ballot. At this point, I would not vote for Hillary, or any Clinton, for Dog Catcher.
Former Clinton supporter, now simply embarassed in FL

Ellen, St. Petersburg, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:49 PM)

Give it up already! Things didn't go your way, deal with it. These people are acting like 2 year olds...

Rachel, New Bedford, MA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:50 PM)

To the Clinton supporters:
Be glad you got that much and please spare us the agony of an appeal. Enough is enough already!

lori Indiana (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:51 PM)

Shut up already!!!
If you knew anything about party unity you would keep your mouth shut.
The only thing your remarks will do is make Clinton supporters resent Obama and make it harder to bring the Democratic party together.

Angie for Obama (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:52 PM)

What a mess! Not only do we have the worst party in history in office now! We can't even get our
act together for the up and comming election.

A decision is now made stick with it! NO more
challanges or appeals.

Why don't we just HAND the election to another
four years to the same idiots we have in office
now

John Linehan (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:52 PM)

i say they need to get over his name wasnt even on the ballot in michigan and why do they think a split decision on florida isnt disenfranchising voters but a split decision on michigan is disenfranchising. they should just give up and work on unifying the country.

bri (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:52 PM)

If a voter lived in Michigan and wanted to vote for Barack Obama, how could he or she do so?

It was impossible. Impossible.

So much for hijacking the election, Harold Ickes. You can whine, but you can't hide!

Kate, Boise, Idaho (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:53 PM)

the end days
are coming Hillary is the Anti Christ, the car caravan is a dionysian event, only
Apollo ca resurect us now

gene eagle bear,tombstone az (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:53 PM)

The DNC undercut the rights of all Democratic Party members in Florida and Michigan. Floridians will remember this farce when it's time to make contributions in coming elections. It would be fair to donate nothing to the party, and half of what one would usually donate to individual candidates. What's fair in war is fair to all. The DNC has denigrated all Florida Democrats with their punitive ignorance.

Linda Smith, Orlando, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:54 PM)

These people have no honor. Pledges mean nothing to them.

Obama, once again, comes away with the victory!

(Sing to Willie Nelson's Hit):

Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be cheaters,

Don't let them lie, and go back on their trusts,

Make 'em be honest, and know that like such,

That someday, they're success will be just as much!

As team Obama's today!!

donna (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:54 PM)

Oh no..Just stop this nonsense, HRC campaign. Let it go so the REAL campaign can begin--beating John McCain..Should you divide the party more for your intended 2012 run, it's not going to work because we, the voters, will remember this BS..If the nomination is stolen from Obama in this matter and not earned, I can pretty much guarantee Obama supporters will not vote for Hillary. Who would want to? We won't vote for McCain--we just won't vote!!

Kim W Va Beach (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:55 PM)

We might as well live in Myanmar for all our votes are worth in light of the DNC decision. They failed to see that it was not about protecting the candidates or the pride of IA, NH SC and NV politicos. The DNC's decision assures that large numbers of normally Democratic voters will not cast ballots for President in Nov., or will vote for John McCain (I'll be the former). The DNC's arrogance and Sen. Obama's sell out of the right to vote is so disgusting I think it may be the end of the Democratic Party (and probably for the better-considering what it has come to represent).

Brian, PA (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:55 PM)

For God's sake stop whining Clinton.

Barb Gardner Miami Fl (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

I get Florida but Michigan should be all Clintons. HOW hard was that decision? Punish the idiots who ran the voting in those states...not the voters. Idiots all of them!!!!!!!!

Lisa Crane Las Vegas, Nevada (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

Always admired Harold. A lot.

A cold-eyed killer for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

A man you want on your side.

Sad to see him today licking Hillary's toes.

Just a cold-eyed killer without a cause.

Mark (former FOH) Thieme (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

Interesting development...the plot thickens. Obviously Ickes is disappointed. When the dust settles, I hope they don't decide to fight this all the way to the convention. This would likely spell doom for the Dems in November.

Jules (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

Sen.Clinton and her chief advisor Harold Ickes are willing to put her personal ambitions over service to their party and country. The louder and more obnoxious he is, the more she alienates democrats like me who used to hold her in high esteem. She is such an intelligent woman. I only hope she moves strongly towards party unity for the sake of our party and the country we all love.

julyn (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

Sore losers.

Freddie Mac, Orlando, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

What??? Bedrock principles of Clintonian democracy? Michigan's primary was UNDEMOCRATIC and DICTATORIAL because Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot and only a power hungry and self-centered Hillary won it handily just like Saddam won the Iraqi votes without an opponent cause he threatened anyone voting "no".
That is your definition of democracy, Harold?

Jon, TX (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

It won't matter by the time the committee convenes Obama will already have enough SD to override any changes that could be made. Face it Hilary, it's OVER.

Kim Maine (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:57 PM)

The DNC has abrogated Democracy. One can't just make up a number and say "all's good." Hillary crushed Obama in Florida and Michigan, and Hillary has the popular vote by more than 52,000. Obama has alienated more than half of the Democratic Party and arrogantly assumed that we will automatically support him in November.

Everett, Miami, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:58 PM)

Ickes doesn't have any idea what democracy is. There will be no more cult here. There are plenty of good options for the future of both the Clintons and those who have supported them. I wish them the very best. For Ickes, I am not sure this is his line of work.

Best wishes to all, and God bless America.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:58 PM)

there is no other way to settle this no matter what Ickes says. This is not kindergarten, no temper tantrums, no threats. Accept the ruling and let us move on, if the HRC campaign cannot accept this, then they do not have the Party and especially the country's best interest at heart.

Michigan was a flawed primary from the gitgo and wasn't a concern until she was loosing, take what you get, its a gift and in the interest of fairness, accept it. Take responsibility Hillary, that your campaign was not as well run and you were ill served by your advisors.

gma, Jupiter, FL (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:59 PM)

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