Judge: Michigan Primary Law Unconstitutional
A federal judge today ruled that the Michigan law establishing the state's Jan. 15 presidential primary is unconstitutional. The reason? The law unfairly prevents minor parties from access to voter lists.
Because Michigan held its primary before Democratic National Committee rules permitted, the DNC stripped the state of its delegates to the party convention. The candidates boycotted the state, and Obama's name did not appear on the primary ballot.
The Hillary Clinton campaign seized on the decision to urge the Barack Obama campaign to support a new, party-run primary, the results of which would ostensibly replace the Jan. 15 primary results.
"Michigan voters must not be disenfranchised and the Obama campaign must not continue to block Michigan’s efforts to hold a new vote," Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said in the statement. "Rather it should move quickly to announce its support for a party run primary."
As CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder notes, the ruling does not mean that a new primary must be held – the judge left that question up to the parties themselves.
"...the ruling today means nothing more than a chance for her to make the case again for a re-vote," Ambinder writes.
The Clinton campaign has been pressing for a revote in the hope that delegates from Michigan (as well as Florida, a state similarly penalized) would help her close the delegate gap on Obama. In the latest CBS News delegate count, Obama leads Clinton 1618 to 1491.
Because Michigan held its primary before Democratic National Committee rules permitted, the DNC stripped the state of its delegates to the party convention. The candidates boycotted the state, and Obama's name did not appear on the primary ballot.
The Hillary Clinton campaign seized on the decision to urge the Barack Obama campaign to support a new, party-run primary, the results of which would ostensibly replace the Jan. 15 primary results.
"Michigan voters must not be disenfranchised and the Obama campaign must not continue to block Michigan’s efforts to hold a new vote," Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said in the statement. "Rather it should move quickly to announce its support for a party run primary."
As CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder notes, the ruling does not mean that a new primary must be held – the judge left that question up to the parties themselves.
"...the ruling today means nothing more than a chance for her to make the case again for a re-vote," Ambinder writes.
The Clinton campaign has been pressing for a revote in the hope that delegates from Michigan (as well as Florida, a state similarly penalized) would help her close the delegate gap on Obama. In the latest CBS News delegate count, Obama leads Clinton 1618 to 1491.
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See all 53 CommentsSAVE FACE, AND GET BEHINE A WINNER.AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW NOW YOU WILL NEVER BE V.P. EITHER..JUST BOW OUT GRACEFULLY
HRC said on 10/10/07 on New Hampshire Public Radio%u2019s show, %u201CThe Exchange:
NHPR: "So, if you value the DNC calendar, why not just pull out of Michigan? Why not just say, Hey Michigan, I''m off the ballot?"
"It''s clear, this election they''re having is not going to count for anything," Clinton said.
Top Clinton campaign advisor Harold ICKES:
As a DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee member, he voted last year to strip the two states of their delegates as punishment for moving their primaries up too early, "to prevent the gaming of the system."
Now he supports seating the delegates. "When I voted on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, I did that as a member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee, not as a member of the Hillary Clinton campaign."
Clinton campaign advisor Terry McCAULIFFE argues for seating the FL and MI delegates. But in 2004, as head of the DNC, when MI threatened to hold an early vote he said, "Move your primary too early, and Michigan will lose half its delegates to the 2004 Democratic convention. The closest they''ll get to Boston will be watching it on television," he vowed. "I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules."
So, the rules are the rules. No to MI and FL.
Looks like Dems are shooting themselves in the feet insuring the next President a lame duck four year term. But who Cares? We don''t need no stinking President.
civil rights act 1964
voteing right act 1965
fair employmeant act
fair housing act
bussing and for over 50 years you
been crying
Here''s background from the Tampa Tribune:
[The Clinton campaign] appeared to say no to what some see as a solution%u2014negotiations between the two campaigns to reach a compromise. Obama has hinted he%u2019d be willing to negotiate. %u201CWe don%u2019t see any need for that,%u201D Ickes (Clinton Spokesman) said, saying the votes already cast should be counted or new votes should be held.
THAT is why he won''t back the re-votes!
Of course, why should we be surprised? With a terribly short resume, he also feels he deserves to be President.
A wolf in sheep''s clothing.
The good looking, cocky, younger male candidate thinking he should get the job over the more experienced older woman.
Women of a certain age, we''ve seen this played out far too many times before.
The uniter??? Please.
That''s why Hillary is still a viable candidate. The DNC has to wait until ALL the votes are in, because they have to take in statistics on the popular vote because of the November election.
I know you said that MI and FL wouldn''t count, and I know that everyone agreed to it, but no one expected to get into this mess, did they!
But here we are, in a race so tight that we need the voters of MI and FL to help get us to a legitimate winner.
Is it worth stubbornly sticking to your guns if it means that the people of MI and FL (and many in other states, too) are so angry at their being disenfranchised that they stay home or vote for Nader or Senator McCain?
Find a way to legitimately count those votes (which does NOT mean giving your Chosen One delegates that he did not earn) or you will find a desertion from the party come November.
Is sticking to your guns really worth that??
NOT JUST WORDS?
NO to 50/50
Hillary should be awarded the victory that florida and Michigan gave her on Jan. 15
If Obama gets the nomination; this Hillary supporter and his family will vote for McCain.
The Democratic party is divided---why? well Mr. Dean open your eyes and see how Obama wants everything his way! even if he have to Ignore DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS!!!
This Hillary supporter and his family will vote for McCain.
Lets put the blame where it belongs; the DNC.
Thanks DNC for disinfrenchising Michigan and Florida voters and dividing our party.
Answer: Because they believed they could strong-arm Dean and the DNC into compliance. They also believed Hillary would win BIG and EARLY -- they wanted to be able to say that they helped to put her in the Oval Office. Neither scenario has worked so far -- and it shouldn''t.
It is sad that the votes won''t count, but this is NOT Dean''s or the DNC''s fault. The blame rests with the states. If a group of people were in line for, say, concert tickets and management placed a sign that said "Line-jumpers will not receive service" would we blame management for refusing service to the violators? This is no different.
Nancy in Georgia
Nancy in Georgia
Every citizen needs to be heard. It is not their fault that the DNC and their state representatives scrwed up the process.
People need to vote. This is their sacred right!
I am an Obama supporter in PA, but if MI and Fl are not counted, I will vote for Clinton in PA.
You Obama supporters really want a fight? Well, you''ll have it.
I''m sick and tired of this nonsense. Clinton does not decide whether I can vote or not. As a Floridian, I make that decision. If my vote is not counted, I will do everything I can to re-expose Obama for the facist that he is.
So, do you still want a fight. How about if we continue talking about the lunetic racist Rev. Wright and the fact that Obma sat in the pews for 20 years exposing his children to hate speeches?
How about Obama''s involvement with William C. Ayers, the self-proclaimed Pentagon Terrorist?
How about the disgraced Tony Rezko who gave $140,000 to Obama?
So, if you want a fight, bring it on. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and let us in Florida and Michigan exercise our constitutional rights.
Iraq Vet living in Florida!
The right to vote is a right he values, only when the vote is for him. Do some research people; this is business as usual for this man!
Where Lil'' Hillary wants you to waste your money and time, Obama''s position is to save your funds so the eventual Democratic nominee can rely on those funds as we head to November. Why waste your resources to duplicate what we already have in front of us?
It''s your vote, but why waste it?
Class who can tell me what river was borne out of the states Florida and Michigan back in the year 2008?
Lil'' Johnny: The answer is the Lil'' Hillary River of Tears.
Teacher: You''re correct, Lil'' Johnny. Now, who wants to share with the class where the tears came from to make this river?
Lil'' Susie: The river came as a result of all the Clintonians in Florida and Michigan holding hands across multiple states in between and all crying at a designated hour in hopes of the DNC allowing the another chance to follow the rules.
Teacher: Tomorrow, we''ll discuss how the Obama shuffle steamrolled OLD man McCain.
Be careful when you wish for the Democratic Party to step in and make a decision about this - they are already discussing nominating a candidate different then the remaining 2 running. Leave it to the wise people in the party to find the perfect solution to not having Florida or Michigans votes count - don''t have any of the votes count and nominate whoever you want! Can you believe in an election year where the Democrats should waltz to the Whitehouse they have found a way to screw it up again - what a bunch of incompetants!
There''s only one option for the Democrats this year. Hint: He doesn''t wear an apron or bakes brownies. It''s as simple as that!
Face it, Florida and Michigan have had their chance. They blew it. Stop trying to make Obama out to be some monster because Lil'' Hillary didn''t have the leadership ability to warn Florida and Michigan way back in January about the consequences of their actions. Some "leader" she turned out to be...
In spite of your threat to vote for Clinton if the voting public in Florida and Michigan cannot be heard, it''s your vote and if you want to waste it, go ahead. Is lil'' missy worth it?
Unfortunately for Hillary--she can''''''''t catch a break, soon to potentially break in the news is the story before the California appeals court which could DeLay her candidacy for good. this time evidence shows that Hillary (HERSELF ONCE AGAIN)was involved. At issue is a 250K donation made to her senatorial campaign. Her staff said she had no knowledge of it, so she was not roped into the scandal when her campaign mgr faced charges of hiding that money from the IRS.
Unfortunately VIDEO may again place Hill in deep doo, doo. It seems there is a video tape recording her discussing the fund raiser with the donors (on it, she talks about who would be there and what they will do) this means she performed what is known as a direct campaign request. donations from donors for that kind of request are limited to 25K. Since the donation was for 250K, that would be considered campaign fraud.
Woe is Hillary and Damnnnn those videos and tape recordings that make being a great liar so hard to keep up these days!!! ROTFLMAO.
Maybe Hill should quit, before she finds herself in court this time, with no way to hide her hand in shady dealings. Here''''''''s the Link: http://www.usjf.net/modules.php?op=modlo
ad&name=News&file=article&sid=344
We do not yet know much about Obama such as:
1. His mother was married 3 times
2. Has 8 brothers and sisters
3. Is proud to call the lunetic racist Rev. Wright "Uncle" and whose church rec''d $27,000
4. Is budy-budy with the disgraced Tony Rezko who gave him $147,000
5. Is friendly with William C. Ayers, the sefl-proclaimed Pentagon terrorist
6. Whose wife, Michelle calls Americans "Ignorants" (Source: ABCNews)
7. Should I go on?
You dopes who are supporting Obama need to wake up and smell the coffee. If you want a BLACK man for president, vote someone else ... anybody except racists like Obama and Rev. Wright. Read:
http://www.wmal.com/Article.asp?id=629269&spid=
Vietnam Vet
Where 58,000 Americans gave up their lives for your liberty and freedom!
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In a January speech at the University of South Carolina, First Lady aspirant Michelle Obama made remarks making the rounds on the internet today.
Talking about her experience at Princeton where she hung with a largely African-American crowd, she said, "We don%u2019t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones. You know it right here on this campus. You know people sitting at different tables- you all living in different dorms. I was there. You%u2019re not talking to each other, taking advantage that you%u2019re in this diverse community. Because sometimes it%u2019s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance. That%u2019s America. So the challenge for us is are we ready for change?"
I''m sure we all know what she''s talking about when she reflects on the comfort many of us feel with those of our specific cultural or ethnic groups.
But her comments are under fire by many conservative commentators because of her construct that seems to imply that feeling justified in one''s own ignorance in somehow quintessentially "America."
The Obama campaign says that''s a mis-interpretation of her comments, that it was the proclivity for "comfort zones" that she thought was so "America."
Source: ABC News
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I''m not trying to hear that dribble. Furthermore, what "dirt" are you imply that is associated with Obama? If you''re stumped for an answer, I understand ''cause it''s pretty hard to find a speck of dirt on someone clean. Face it, lil'' missy lost--deal with it!
The best option for democrats this year doesn''t believe the typical white woman is a scared racist and hasn''t sat in a pew for twenty years listening / not listening / selectively listening to vitrolic racist comments from a "mentor."
The best option has the experience, knowledge and ability to get the hard job ahead done--and actually shows up to meetings and makes the tough calls the job requires.
After 8 years of an incompetent outsider, we are hopelessly embroiled in another Vietnam-like conflict and our economy is in the toilet bowl with our enemies having fun flushing the bowl.
The last thing we need is another incompetent outsider making even a bigger mess of things. McCain would be a better choice for democrats than that!
And no degree of vitrolic misogyny from troglodytes will help the U.S.A. or your candidate!
It''s clear from your comments who you are supporting for president. It''s also clear that should she not secure the Democrtaic nomination that you believe the rival Republican is more worthy of your vote than the only individual who really makes sense. It''s your vote, so it''s yours to waste as you see fit. First, Geraldine Ferraro (1984) and now Lil'' Hillary (2008). Same ***, same results.
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