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I call shenanigans!!
I heard this as an aside on CNN and it turns out it's true. Florida and Michigan had their full votes reinstated. And Florida got front row seating (couldn't tell if Michigan also got princess treatment).
WTF?
Why did the DNC put us through all these shenanigans if they were going to just give them full-seating later? And, what does this say to the leaders of those states who created the shenanigans in the first place (especially since Michigan in particular has made primary-jumping a habit)? Hold out long enough and you'll get your way? What a crock!
And...in the interest of full-disclosure, I've been an Obama supporter since he was in the Illinois legislature. At the time, I thought the outcome of the DNC meeting earlier this summer was fair. But, right now I can't help but feel Sen. Clinton got screwed with her pants on. Why take away a chance to continue only to hand it back when it's too late? Does this open a back door for the Clintons?
Sorry for the rant...but, it's late, I haven't posted in nearly two months and I feel compelled to call SHENANIGANS!
I still like Obama...not sure about the Party, though.
WTF?
Why did the DNC put us through all these shenanigans if they were going to just give them full-seating later? And, what does this say to the leaders of those states who created the shenanigans in the first place (especially since Michigan in particular has made primary-jumping a habit)? Hold out long enough and you'll get your way? What a crock!
And...in the interest of full-disclosure, I've been an Obama supporter since he was in the Illinois legislature. At the time, I thought the outcome of the DNC meeting earlier this summer was fair. But, right now I can't help but feel Sen. Clinton got screwed with her pants on. Why take away a chance to continue only to hand it back when it's too late? Does this open a back door for the Clintons?
Sorry for the rant...but, it's late, I haven't posted in nearly two months and I feel compelled to call SHENANIGANS!
I still like Obama...not sure about the Party, though.
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It's not that bad. Changing the rules of the primary at the end in a way that would substantially alter the nature of the race as it was, is completely different from making amends and soothing bruised egos (for the sake of party unity and votes) AFTER the nominee was a foregone conclusion. Clinton didn't get ripped off. She got more than a fair deal a few months ago, and she still lost. Game over. The new game is beating McCain, and that requires unification of the party.
Remember, its all an illusion anyway. The party maketh the rules, the party changeth the rules. Welcome to politics.
August 25, 2008 6:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was never about principles. It was about ceding just enough so that Obama could close the deal and he still needed super dels to put him over the top. Political gamesmanship at its best. But privileged status for Florida with the front row seating? Nice touch Obama, Brazile and others! That really shows the DNC putting their foot down for the rules to "punish" the states.
August 25, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and they've reinstated the full votes now because Hillary has promised to release her delegates and encourage them to support Obama.
August 25, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know you're a big fan of Sen. Clinton's, so I sympathize with your views.
But this fight about primary scheduling goes way back. The fight often takes on stupid, childish, and embarrassing qualities, and this year's primaries brought the ridiculousness of it all into painfully sharp focus. And it's all because the race turned out to be an incredibly close one. Think of it -- had the primaries ended decisively in February or March (as they usually do), all the tantrums and empty threats that had become normal in the relationship between the DNC and state Democratic parties would have passed largely unnoticed by most of the voting public. Right?
My hope is that all future Presidential primaries will be as competitive as this last one, allowing all voters, from all 50 states, hope for having a chance to influence the outcome of the primaries.
If future primaries are truly competitive and last as long as the one this year, this fight between state Democratic parties and the DNC will end because it will be irrelevant!
The Obama campaign's internet-based, small-donor fundraising provided a real-life (no longer theoretical) example that "the little people," (i.e., small donors) can control the offering of primary candidates -- indeed, we've proven that we're a superior pool of donors to target -- and this should make all future campaigns more competitive. Good news, in my opinion.
This helps take power that's been concentrated in a few hands (the early primary states, the DLC, the DNC, etc.) and disperses it where it belongs: US!!
:-)
August 25, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink