Clinton Warns Fla. Voters of Repeat of 2000 Election

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Hillary Clinton warned the Democratic Party and Florida voters that not counting their Jan. 29 primary votes would be a repeat of what happened after the 2000 presidential election.

"We believe the popular vote is the truest expression of your will. We believe it today just as we did back in 2000 when right here in Florida, you learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren't counted and the candidate with the fewer votes is declared the winner," Clinton said.

"The lesson of 2000 here in Florida is crystal clear: if any votes aren't counted, the will of the people isn't realized and our democracy is diminished."

Clinton made her first trip back to the Sunshine State nearly 4 months after claiming victory in a state made up of people whose votes and delegates are not being recognized by the Democratic Party. Clinton said she believes that she and Obama have "an obligation as Democrats" to ensure that every vote is counted in this election.

But one argument posed by opponents of seating the delegates is that by signing the Democratic National Committee pledge neither candidate was allowed to campaign in the state, restricting any candidate at the time for pitching their campaign message to voters. Clinton argues that a variety of tools were available to voters - who turned out in record numbers on primary day - to make an informed decision.

"You watched the news, you went to the candidates' websites, you talked to friends and neighbors, you learned about our records and policies so you could make informed voting decisions. You didn't break a single rule, so you shouldn't be punished for matters beyond your control."

"The fact is the people of Florida voted back in January, you did your part, you showed up in record numbers, and you made informed choices, but today some months later you still don't know if these votes will help determine our party's nominee. You still don know if this great state will be represented at our convention in August. It is time you knew," she added.

As Clinton campaigns in parts of Florida today, the Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee is gearing up for a meeting at the end of the month to come to a solution over the delegates of Florida and Michigan.

At her first stop, Clinton seemed to be playing up a populist role in hopes of getting attention and support from voters in Florida who feel disenfranchised. Whether her attempts are too little too late, remain to be seen. One thing is certain, she seems unlikely to give up.

"The outcome of our election should be determined by the will of the people nothing more, nothing less!" Clinton said, "The people who voted did nothing wrong and it would be wrong to punish you."

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by txgrouch2004 May 22, 2008 8:22 PM EDT: Hmm.. 2000... 2000... what happened in 2000?

Oh, yes, I remember. That''s when Al "Sore Loser" Gore demanded recount after recount and LOST EVERY ONE. He didn''t win EVEN ONE of the recounts. Even after the Supreme Court ruling, a group went back and counted all the votes AGAIN the way he wanted yet ONE MORE recount. GORE LOST that count, too.

Gore said he wanted to count "all the votes." Then he tried to throw out the votes from ENTIRE COUNTIES that had voted Republican.

Hillary, shrillary - this is getting old. GIVE UP, YOU OLD HAG. You lost. Go put solar collectors on your roof and get a Nobel Prize. Just GO AWAY.; Reply to this comment


by gaypastor May 22, 2008 4:18 PM EDT: If the civil rights movement and the women''s movement has taught us anything, it is sometimes "THE RULES ARE UNJUST" You go Hillary! Let the voices of ALL Americans be heard and ignore those people who believe Jewish Floridians don''t count, and Applachian people don''t count and Michigan blue-collar workers don''t count! The ethical path often requires us to go against the status quo of the land. Some people talk about changing "old style Washington politics" while other people actually act upon those words. Do it Hillary! We''re behind you!!!!; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:37 PM EDT: ***If not Hillary, then McCain***; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:35 PM EDT: Regardless of the pretty words that anyone tells the American public.

There is one truth and it is that our great country was built on the right to have a say in what goes on politically and in every other aspect of our society.

Florida and Michigan should be counted because as Americans citizens they have the right to vote for who they decide is best suited to them.

The Obama camp should not be against Americans having this basic right to vote. In fact, I would say it''''s illegal to discount the voting voice of Florida and Michigan.

At least Hillary is tenaciously standing up for the rights of the American people. I don''''t hear Obama doing that and he''''s not even president.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mdisrael1 at 08:34; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:34 PM EDT: IF NOT HILLARY, THEN JOHN McCAIN!!!; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:34 PM EDT: IF NOT HILLARY, THEN JOHN McCAIN!!!; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:34 PM EDT: IF NOT HILLARY, THEN JOHN McCAIN!!!; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 22, 2008 3:33 PM EDT: In a recent picture of Obama, he''s walking with a book in his left hand with his finger in between two pages as if to mark the page. The book is by Fareed Zakaria, entitled The Post-American World.....Post-American?? Post????
The idea here seems to be that as America''s power diminishes, we should set back and do nothing in the hopes that the rest of the world will like us so much that they''ll still let us be a world leader....a pretty wild liberal dream. This seems to go along with a lot of Obama''s ideas...like destroying our Nuclear Arms and them asking the rest of the world to destroy theirs as he said in the last debate he had with Hillary. No wonder he doesn''t want to debate Hillary any more. Open mouth and insert foot disease is not unknown to him. Perhaps the title of his next book.

Obama''s liberalism will lose him and the Democrates the White House.

America wants nothing to do with a POST American candidate.

Vote for America!! Vote for Hillary!!

(if not Hillary, then McCain!!); Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 May 22, 2008 5:00 AM EDT: The Republican Party is attempting to continue to drive the price of oil to $200.00 per barrel. Is this what we want to vote for???; Reply to this comment


by davidsaia May 22, 2008 1:00 AM EDT: The Senator (from New York) should stop abusing history to shore up her own specious arguments. Jesse Jackson won the popular vote in the 1988 Democratic primary campaign, and yet Michael Dukakis was the nominee. Why? Because Dukakis had earned more delegates.

Who was that recent Democratic president who was so glib about "working hard and playing by the rules"?; Reply to this comment