Obama Calls For Michigan, Florida To Be Seated
CHICAGO, Ill — Yes, you read that correctly. No, it’s not May.
The early-summer battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton — and some of their more vocal supporters — over how to deal with convention delegates from Michigan and Florida took a step towards resolution in Hillary Clinton’s favor today, as Obama’s campaign called on the DNC’s credentials committee to give every delegate a full vote.
Of course, it’s too late to do any good for Clinton, but it could go a long way towards ending any lingering bitterness in those two all-important swing states. If Obama gets his way, it will also prove that the DNC and its rules are, in the end, subject to the whims of the party’s nominee.
In a letter to the chairs of the committee, Obama writes “I believe Party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories. Accordingly, I ask that the Credentials Committee, when it meets on August 24 to approve the delegates for the National Convention, pass a resolution that would entitle each delegate from Florida and Michigan to cast a full vote.”
Michigan and Florida were initially stripped of all their delegates by the DNC for holding presidential primaries before February 5th. At a contentious meeting on May 31st, The Party’s rules committee voted to seat all of Florida’s delegates but give them each half a vote, while altering Michigan’s delegate total and halving those delegates’ votes as well.
At the time, Obama argued that states that break DNC rules should be held accountable, while Clinton and her supporters cried disenfranchisement. But Obama’s new stance doesn’t mean that he’s reversed his position that states should abide by DNC rules.
“As a candidate for the nomination, I supported the DNC’s efforts to establish and enforce a schedule for primaries and caucuses that would broaden the opportunity for Democrats from all regions of the country and all backgrounds and walks of life to have a meaningful voice,” he said
“As we prepare to come together in Denver, however, we must be – and will be – united in our determination to change the course of our nation. To that end, Democrats in Florida and Michigan must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington and lead our country in a new direction.”
The DNC indicated that they’re taking Obama’s suggestion seriously. “We deeply appreciate and value Senator Obama’s perspective on this important issue. This matter will be the top priority for the Credentials Committee when we meet on August 24th,” the credentials committee co-chairs wrote in a statement. “As always our goal is to ensure a fair process and a unified Democratic Party so that we can win in November.”
Tags: barack obama, convention, dnc, Florida, hillary clinton, Michigan
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just another OBAMA flip flop!!!!!!
Obama is the BIGGEST HYPOCRITE of all time.
Flrida and Michigan voters and delegates,
Let Obama know how you feel now that he will “allow” your delegate count!
VOTE NO OBAMA IN NOVEMBER!
Sounds like another flip flop for Obama. Always when he thinks it may be favorable to him. Why don’t Hillary and Bill just give Obama and the Dem’s as well as the media the FINGER. Tell Obama and his followers (media,etc) that they have decided to back off any commitments to support THE ONE. Instead of being post racial (as Obama claims he is) Bill and Hill can be post partisan.
Wow! What a concession! Certain to please those for whom the convenient timing is “just right” for America! Let’s all hear CHEERS for the O’Bama Campaign!
I wonder why Obama is so accomodating now…thinks there could be a fight….and the dems could pick someone else to the standardbearer…..the dems have better look at this guy very closely and they should all read The Obama Nation before they put him in as their “savior”…they may be very sorry and Hilliary is in the wings. By alas, the dems are so taken by Obama hype from the media frenzy and the placing him on such high position which is countered by his lack of experience they just might do themselves in.l
P.S. Just don’t put Hillary on the first ballot or they will cast their ballots for her.
You have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!! Oh, now he wants them seated! Now that Hillary is out of the picture! He sure knows how to play the political game! And he thinks he knows how to play people, but we all can see right through his “do anything to anyone to win” persona!
He should have agreed to have their votes seated months ago during the democratic primaries!
Why was he so afraid to give Mich. and Fla voters a full vote durring the primaries?
Could this possibly be another ……..REFINEMENT, ADJUSTMENT, OR FLIP FLOP? What ever Obama want’s to call it, he always does it at a time when the purpose it to benifit him!
Hell would have to freeze over before I or my family would ever vote for such a sleezy person.
It’s funny.. you call it flip flopping! That’s hilarious. It actually makes a lot of political sense if you really think about it. There are a lot of hurt feelings in those states. Obama wasn’t even on the ballot in MI. It is highly unlikely that he was “afraid.” In your comments you are throwing around inexperienced, and cunning politician with reference to his playing the political game. An inexperienced politician can’t be good at playing the political game. It’s an oxymoron of sorts. I have yet to hear of a politician that doesn’t change his opinion from time to time, (including the allmighty John McCain) especially when digging in, in different parts of the country and hearing what the people are saying and listening to their concerns and needs. How could that not slightly sway your opinion sometimes when you get to see first hand how a particular policy is effecting a community? If you’re human and you listen, it’s going to have some impact. And you would rather vote for a candidate that gets confused and refers to the Chech Republic as Czechoslovakia… ahem.. and talks about securing the Iraq and Pakistan border…*cough* It might help if he could take a college refresher course in Geography. Maybe I’m alone here, but I think I would want someone a little bit more knowledgable to be at the helm of the big ship. Not to mention the sleazy ads that have come out using Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears to compare them to Obama as just another celebrity. Not only is it disgusting, but it holds no political merit whatsoever. It has nothing to do with politics or policy. Or if he really needed to make that stretch to say he is a huge celebrity, the McCain camp could have used the likeness of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt perhaps? Surely they are much bigger celebrities than Paris and Brittany, but that’s not the kind of celebrity that he wants to have Obama associated with as it’s not cheap enough, since Brad and Angie haven’t been harrassed by the media over the past year due to unhealthy lifestyle choices and instead championed for their humanitarian efforts. I mean it’s really silly, sleazy and immature.
It is very funny how the above comments refer to Obama’s position changing when McCain does the same. It’s called politics people! Every one wants to win. McCain all of a sudden became conservative so that he could win the GOP nomination. Now he’s trying to stay a Maverick while being a Reaganite. Seriously. Let’s all grow up. Every politician is a an ego maniac. And everyone of them are sleezy. So stop slinging mud and think about the crisis this country faces.
I am a Clinton supporter who will vote for McCain. Saying I should vote for Obama because of supreme court nominations is the politics of fear.
Will the DNC reaffirm its sexist bias by saying YES to “the man” after having spent months forcefully saying NO to the Woman-American candidate? Double standards indeed!!! But what do you expect from a country that doesn’t even pay Women-Americans the same money for the same work completed by men? Its Hillary or no Democrat for me!!!
Wow! This is so hilarious! I love the whole flip flopping thing. It’s really funny actually. Show me a politician that has not changed his/her opinion from time to time, and I might consider voting for them. That is if I don’t pass out first.. John McCain has “flip-flopped” plenty since this campaign started, not to mention the mud slinging politics with his most recent ads. It would be completely unrealistic to think that a person, yes, even a politician would never change their position on an issue, especially when canvassing across the country and getting to hear first hand what is on the minds of your fellow americans and learning about their worries and concerns. How could that not effect you in some way, and perhaps weigh on your conscience ultimately having an impact on your decision? You would have to be cold, cunning, and inhuman.
It makes perfect sense to consider allowing the delegates just from a pure political standpoint. I seriously doubt that Obama was scared at any point, he wasn’t even on the ballot in MI. So what would he be scared of? I think it is a pure unification tactic at best.
For Obama to be inexperienced and to say that he knows that well how to play the political game is an oxymoron.
The things that should be raising a flag are things such as John McCain calling the Czech Republic, “Czechoslovakia” … ahem… or stating with urgency that we must secure the Pakistan/Iraq border.. cough… (perhaps a geography 101 refresher course is in order?) or the whole birth control/viagra blunder, not to mention these horribly sleazy ads that his campaign has been running that have no actual political merit or content just mere mudslinging at best. No issues, nothing. Just trash. at a time when more Americans have lost their jobs, inflation is eating up our paychecks, and we aren’t earning more to make up for it. People are losing their homes, and are uninsured, and we are billions of dollars in the hole, the dollar is at an all time low, and we are at war. McCain better stop being bitter that Obama is “popular” and start focusing on our country and it’s many issues in a time of crisis!
Unbelievable! What a hypocrite! Shyster! This guy will sell his grandma to win the election.. Oh wait, he did trow her under the bus already! Is this guy for real? He thinks Americans are retarded? I know a several registered democrats in Nevada whom the party keeps calling to ask if they will vote for Obama. Every time they say no; that Hillary was their candidate and that she was ‘wronged’ by the party leadership, they get mad and call again a few days latter. This is happening in Nevada and probably on other battleground states. At this rate, Obama will end up on the wrong side of the election and by a landslide.
Another Flip Flob by Obama…
Now Flordia and Michigan important to count now…. Not this time, once a Democratic is now a Republican for sure this NOV….. Never saw a Obama camp use the race card and the power of the media high jack this election…..
I am so mad I dont even know where to start
Hillary get back in the race!
Sorry, but it’s too little, too late. Funny how Obama wants the delegates seated NOW…when it doesn’t matter. HYPOCRITE.
PUMA! PUMA! PUMA!
Unbelievable..I cant believe this guy..first with lawyers to block all kinds of action for them not to reinstate the votes and now this..I am seriously annoyed, frustrated and disillusioned beyond belief..I have always voted and volunteered for the Democratic party..NOW THIS!!
Sorry, but it’s too little, too late. Funny how Mr Obama wants the delegates seated NOW when it doesn’t matter. HYPOCRITE! Obama, Dean, Brazille, and the whole corrupt bunch can go to Hell.
PUMA PUMA PUMA!
What a phoney! Its no way our Democratic Household will vote for Obama!
This is disappointing. As a Hillary supporter turned Obama supporter, I’m back on the Hillary bandwagon.
Obama should have thought about the consequences of his decision before subjecting Florida and Michigan to less votes.
The media reports on Independents, Republicans and Democrats but what about the Democrats that don’t know whether to vote or NOT? Obama is evoked a new trend in registered voters: Those who may not vote.
Oh wow. Isn’t obama just the hero now?! Count them now that YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE RUNNING. Not when they could have changed the result.
I’m not at all suprised by this to be honeset. Its politics at its best. Anything that is benificial to the nominee. Don’t count them when its against him, but wants them counted after the fact is done and he can’t lose the nomination. I don’t support what he’s doing, but anyone in politics would do it.
ok gang heres the bottom line
BO and his band want to look like he is creating Unity by bringing these states into full vote fruition (now that there has been enough time to pass when these votes would have mattered and vitually tied the primary race for HRC and BO)… and it theoretically is brilliant because now he can go either way and say - 1. we did this for Unity of the Party (not pick HRC as veep) but talk sideways out of his mouth and say he is trying to provide a bridge to bring the clinton 18 million along… OR… 2. we did this for Unity of the Party (realising that he is virtually dead even in the polls with MCain select the only way he can win for sure and bring Hillary as veep and say ‘this shows all along he was going to pick her’ and get her 18 million votes
wow he is truly genius … let me just say this for sure as an independent voter (voted for Reagan - Reagan - Perot - Clinton - Gore - Kerry) there is only ONE candidate I will vote for this year and I am calling on all independants as well as dems and reps to write in HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON if her name is not on the ballot. that is a decision already made on this end… I am sure many will be doing the same. if this means that the dems lose because of Unity then having a Maverick like McCain will be just fine by me (anyone who knows McCain’s history knows that he is not truly GOP and many dems will be fine with him for President because he is a true independant running on only one of possible two tickets.
write in HRC
Hillary is not out of the picture. This could be the moment that we have waiting for. Hillary only suspended her campaign. If they reinstate all the delegates then Hillary has more delegates than obama. There will be a vote on the convention floor and Hillary will be the next nominee.
We can still have Hillary on the role call at the convention. Just email your representatives. Obama thinks he has it all wrapped up and that we will all fall in line. He is wrong. If Hillary is not the nominee then we vote for McCain.
Puma for McCain 08
This is so funny, only when it beneifts him. He just recently stated that he will compromise with the republicans on some sort of offshore drilling, this is the same guy who stated a few weeks ago that he is aganist offshore drilling. What are his positons and where does he stands? He seems to agrees with whatever is popular at the moment. Polls show that americans are favoring offshore drilling, therefore it also benefits him. He is not interested in chosing HRC as his VP but will have her delegrates counts. This is the same guy I taught about voting for when HRC lost. I am a shame of the Democratic party and call myself an independant. Country first.
Obama is a Chicago Politician.
How dare he want to hear the voices of Florida and Michigan.
Does he really think that the Democrats in these two states forgot how he stole votes from Senator Clinton?
He should step down. He’s embarrassing to the party.
Now he is proposing this? Perhaps he is thinking of the Super Delegates. Their votes don’t count until the time of the convention. The SD’s have a lot of power, more than the regular delegates(RD’s), and they have changed their minds before during this campaign.
Obama was kicking and screaming not to let these votes count during the primary; when Hillary could have actually won. He said the party rules dictated they were not counted in the convention. Now he is pandering to these people who lost their primary votes and want to say now they should vote for him.
I hope eveyone sees that he is just using anyone that he can to get elected. He uses people until they are no longer of value then discards them. I hope people in Florida, Michigan and the rest of the people that were considering voting for him see him for what he is and reject him.
VOTE MCCAIN ‘08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You lose Obama; you didn’t respect the people of Florida and Michigan when it benefited Hillary and now that it could benefit you, you want them to count. You can’t have it both ways and I hope those people remember when they go to vote. I saw through you a year ago when you made your fist lie by saying you were “a new kind of politician” running “a new kind of campaign”. Liar!
Obama takes the meaning of “crooked politician” to a new, all-time low…
But I agree with him: Let’s make all of Michigan and Florida’s votes count, retroactively. Obama can then step down, and Hillary take his place as the Democratic nominee for President!
How stupid does The One really think voters are?
How in the hell does he have the nerve? This is exactly how Hillary lost but now it is ok for him to get the full vote. This makes me sick.
Once again I’m left scratching my head, more than a little confused by the increased flip-flopping antics of the Obama campaign…Now Obama wants to count Florida and Michigan delegates? Does this mean Hillary’s votes will still count as the democratic nominee for President? Wasn’t it Obama who accused Senator Hillary Clinton of ‘back-peddling’ after initially agreeing to the proposed punishment prior to understanding the impact of such a close democratic party race?
Shame on you Obama! If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, I don’t know what is…perjaps tomorrow Obama will ‘change’ the dollar bill to reflect an image more likened to his own? Or maybe America can look forward to Obama changing his mind more often (or at least every time he senses the downslope of his own backpeddles), afterall, that IS the typical celebrity-American way.
Michelle/Illinois
Now that it’s convienent for Obama and the DNC, they want Florida and Michigan fully seated at the convention. I will write in Hillary Clinton, she deserved it before the DNC took it from her. No way as a Black male would I vote Obama. Stop the flip-flop Obama, stand for something and hold your position.
Write-in Hillary Clinton, the democrats are nuts
If Hillary not on the ticket I will vote for McCain. I have never before in all my 50 years of voting voted any thing but Democratic. But Obama can not be trusted. Where is our SD. Why don’t they step up tp the plate and do something to stop this man.
If you don’t know by now, all politicians are crooked. In order cast our vote we have to examine the canadiates on the basis of which candidate is less corrupt. John McCain has been in the game many more years and has committed many more “flip-flops”.
So now, when, as Obama thinks, he doesn’t need more delegates to be a nominee, he says that the MI & FL delegations should be seated in full and with full voting rights. So he acknowledges that the popular vote is clearly on Hillary’s side - better later than never.
It’s easy to tell now why is this rush - the polls show clearly that Florida is leaning towards McCain more and more, and Michigan is again a on a table. And in this heat I believe Clinton should use the situation without much hesitation and urge for a roll call during the convention. Let’s see who will get more delegates at the finish.
……” Stupid is as stupid does…” - Forest Gump
This guy must really think people are stupid. This is an insult to give Mi and Fl a voice now that he’s the nominee. We will remember in November, you can put these two states in Mccains column. I would be quite surprised if Obama even comes within 10 percentage points in November.
Obama does think people are stupid. He is not alone though. The media feels the same way. They have shoved him down the throats of the American people like no other candidate in our history. In spite of all that Obama is still only even with Mccain in the polls. This must be driving the Media crazy. How can the chosen one be even after all this? The answer is simple. The American people are not stupid and have minds of their own. God Bless America
I find it disturbing that Barack Obama doesn’t stand for anything. He has no principles. He just says or does whatever he needs to do to win.
First he says to hold the delegates accountable for not following the rules, then he flip-flops and says to give them their full vote (now that Hillary is not a threat). He clearly is kissing up to the Michigan and Florida voters, who I believe will not be fooled.
What a gasbag this bozo is.
I don’t think he believes the people are stupid, only his most ardent supporters.
What a Jerk, I am so fed up with his games. Remeber before, it was the principal of the rules setforth by the DNC and he intended to abide by them. What a hypocryt, he stold the election in a crooked way, just like he did for the Senate race in Chicago.
I cant wait to vote for McCain!
OH YEA..!!!!!
O-BUM-A is going to need these people now… LETS SEAT THEM….!!
WHAT a JOKE this guy is…
PLEASE People of FL and MI.. Pay note.. NO SEAT when he dont need you… NOW he needs you in NOV… OH LETS KISS AND MAKE UP…
Write all your delegates and super delegates and tell them that if their district voted for Clinton that they MUST do the same. Write the DNC and demand that she is on the ballot. I think the DNC has already decided that Clinton will not be on the ballot. Otherwise, Clinton could win with a vote on the floor since she also carried the popular vote.
I know that money talks…and here is a list of people who got money from Obama or Clinton but because he paid more the support went to Obama - even though their districts and states voted for Clinton:
1. Re. Carol Shea-Porter endorsed Obama………….New Hampshire voted for Clinton 39 - 37%
2. Rep. Baron Hill endorsed Obama…………………..Indiana Voted for Clinton 51 - 49%
3. Sen. Jerry Bingaman endorsed Obama……………New Mexico voted for Clinton 49-48%
4. Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Obama………New Mexico voted for Clinton 49-48%
5. Sen. Frank Lautenberg endorsed Obama…………New Jersey voted for Clinton 54-44%
6. Rep. Ron Klein endorsed Obama……………………Florida voted for CLinton 50-33%
7. Rep. Gerald McNerney endorsed Obama………….California voted for Clinton 52-43%
8. REp. Jason Altmire endorsed Obama………………Pennsylvania voted for Clinton 55-45%
9. Niki Tsongas endorsed Obama………………………Massachusetts voted for Clinton 56-41%
10. Rep. Dennis Cordoza endorsed Obama………….California voted for Clinton 52-43%
11. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords endorsed Obama………..Arizona voted for Clinton 51-42%
12. Rep. Jim Coster endorsed Obama…………………California voted for Clinton 52-43%
13. Rep. Zack Space endorsed Obama………………..Ohio voted for Clinton 54-44%
14. Rep. Charles Wilson endorsed Obama……………Ohio voted for Clinton 54-44%
15. Sen. J. Rockefella endorsed Obama……………….West Virginia voted for Clinton 67-26%
All these people should be voted out next time they are up for re-election since they are not representing what the voters in their states have said. They should all be contacted and let them know that we the people will not forget that they felt that our wishes, our votes did not matter to them! Elect someone else in their place - someone who will represent the wishes of the people!
Happy days may be here again. Count the votes in Florida & Michigan retroactively & say good bye to the greatest phony in the USA. We are all sick of you . Go home Obummer. Your needed in Chicago. Do your flip flopping there.
This is typical Obama’s MO. He will do anything to get elected. I love his gasoline prize solution, he is really very smart. Do you want to know? His solution, “PUMP MORE AIR IN YOUR TIRES”. Isn’t he very smart? He-he-he
Hilarie, great post. Its amazing how some people just don’t get it. It’s politics!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, some people are so misguided and mis-informed. I noticed on several FOX blog threads that many of the bloggers make post contradictory statements.
I SEE SEN OBAMA IS NOW WILLING TO REQUEST THAT ALL DELIGATES BE SEATED AT THE CONVENTION FROM BOTH FLORIDA&MICHIGAN, BUT WHEN ASKED TO COUNT THEM FULLY IN THE PRIMARIES HE CALLED THE IDEA UNFAIR SINCE BOTH HAD VIOLATED THE RULES, SO I ASK THIS QUESTION WHY NOW DOES HE FEELS THE RULES SHOULD BE YET AGAIN, AND THAT ANSWER IS HE FEELS HE’S DESTINED TO BE THE DEM’S HOPE FOR A BETTER AMERICA, BUT BEING A BLACK AMERICAN MYSELF, IF I AM THAT ONE VOTE HE NEEDS TO GET OVER THE TOP, THEN HE WILL NOT MAKE IT, I KNOW NOW ITS ALL ABOUT HIM, HE’S NOT A CHANGE AGENT HE’S A PERSON THAT SAYS WHAT HE FEELS PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR, BUT IF THIS COUNTRY LETS THE MEDIA’S CNN/MSNBC PROMOTE HIM AS A CANIDATE AND EX-PRESIDENT CLINTON NEED NOT SAY YES OR NO AS TO OBAMA BEING QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT. EVERY MR.CLINTON ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BY THE MEDIA THEY’VE READ HIS MIND AND ALWAYS KNOW WHAT HE’S SAYING, THIS ELECTION IS A REAL JOKE, BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THE MEDIA TO GET BARAK OBAMA ELECTED.