Political Bandstand

As we get closer to the wrap of the Democratic nomination Hillary Clinton has begun to push harder and harder for the Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated. The issue has been scoured to reveal that all candidates were informed as early as September 2007 that the two states would be penalized by disqualifying their delegates from application in the nomination process. The Democratic National Committee discussed this with the candidates and all of them agreed, including Clinton. They even informed the state officials in Michigan and Florida, yet the two states decided to jump the gun, ignoring DNC warnings. Officials from neither Florida nor Michigan want to admit they made a mistake, much less, face the citizens of their state bearing the fact that they squandered taxpayer money on an impotent session at the polls. Instead, they’ve chosen to point the finger at the DNC and chairman Howard Dean.

Now, faced with the reality that losing is more than likely, Hillary Clinton has chosen to stoke renewed controversy over withheld delegates. The argument that Clinton has most most forcefully delivered hinges on the concept that Florida and Michigan voters will be cast out of the process if the delegates are not seated. This argument has come up countless times:

“I think that it would be a grave disservice to the voters of Florida and Michigan to adopt any process that would disenfranchise anyone,” Clinton said. “I’m still committed to seating their delegations and I know that they’re working with the Democratic party to determine how best to proceed.” - Clinton repeats calls to seat delegates, United Press International, March 7, 2008

“…the former first lady stated, ‘that principle is not currently being applied to the nearly 2.5 million people who voted in primaries in Florida and Michigan.’ She claimed that the eventual Democratic nominee `will be hamstrung in the general election if a fair and quick resolution is not reached that ensures that the voices of these voters are heard.’”- Clinton pushes Obama on Michigan, Fla. delegates, The Hill, 05/08/08

“There are approximately 2.5million reasons to count Florida and Michigan and they are the voters who turned out in record numbers in those primaries,” said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer. “They have the right to be included in this process and we think their voices will be heard when all is said and done.” - Democrats May Drag Out Fight; Decision Time on Florida, Michigan Votes, U.S. New & World Report, May 28, 2008

Harold Ickes, hatchet man for the Clinton campaign even went so far as to push for delegates to be seated as they were allocated in the two offending states.

“On a conference call this morning, Clinton senior adviser Harold Ickes argued not only that Michigan’s and Florida’s delegations should receive full votes at the convention, but that the Michigan’s 55 uncommitted delegates should be seated as such, not given to the Obama camp.” - Ickes: Zero Delegates For Obama In MI, Newsvine, May 22, 2008

Given that candidates did not campaign in either state, Clinton was the more known candidate, so without any campaigning a premature vote was biased toward Clinton.  Also, considering the fact that Obama’s name was not even on the ballot in Michigan, it’s impossible to say there was a fair contest in either state. Therefore seating the delegates as they are would be a total disregard for voters from states that followed party guidelines, acted accordingly, and casted their votes in good faith. By crying for the voice of 2.5 million illegitimate votes to be heard, Clinton is trying to starve the parasite by killing the host.

Moreover, Considering Hillary Clinton has repeatedly asserted that her former agreement with the other Democratic candidates and the Democratic National Committee holds no weight. If she is willing to back out of a commitment made during the primary process, how can we trust her to maintain her word on anything she claims to support? This isn’t by any means the first time she’s gone back on her word. Clinton has been known to change her mind any way the wind blows. The Bush campaign’s labeling of John Kerry a flip-flopper in the 2004 may have cost Kerry the election, but somehow, through it all, Clinton has been treated with the kid glove.