From The Road
May 10, 2008 5:09 PM

Obama Says He Will Figure Out a Way to Seat Florida and Michigan Delegates

From CBS News’ Michelle Levi:

BEND, ORE. – Showing that the delegates in Florida and Michigan are on the mind of voters as well as Democratic presidential candidates, a woman at Barack Obama’s town hall meeting here asked Obama about ceding a state to Hillary Clinton. "Recognizing that it probably will not change the outcome of the race," she asked, "have you considered giving her Florida?"

A surprised Obama laughed a little at the question. "Let me say this,” he said. “I love Florida, I love Michigan the people of Michigan and Florida, they will be represented at the convention, their delegates will be seated, and we will figure out a way where they are fully participating in the process."

Obama defended his opposition to some plans that wanted to offer re-voting to voters in those states. "At the beginning of this race, we were not supposed to campaign in Florida and Michigan, so we didn’t campaign in Florida and Michigan,” he said. “We played by the rules that everybody agreed to. We took our name off the ballot in Michigan because we weren’t supposed to be campaigning there. So obviously we don’t think that that was a fair contest and that it should count in the same way the other contests have counted."

He reassured the town hall attendees that the contentious delegate situation will be resolved, and that he planned on campaigning there during the general election. "I am confident that we will get this resolved and I have every interest because I intend to be the Democratic nominee, I have every interest in making sure that Florida and Michigan are happy,” he said. “This is something that will get done."
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by omaar-101 May 10, 2008 6:02 PM PDT
This will win obama favor in both those states.

1. Obama will be looked upon, as a man who said, your vote & your presence count. The word (Leader) comes to mind.

2. The Super Delegates representing Both states, will give him the nod, because they know Hillary has been Unrelenting in her negative campaign.

3. Obama will reap the benefits, by shutting up all the Clintonites, who have been lead to believe, by Clinton, that Obama is blocking the (2) states from participating.

4. Obama will win this November, by doing this and Clinton people will fairly and justly vote for him.

Result: Obama will become our Nations 1st Bi-Racial President
Reply to this comment
by ladyesq1 May 10, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
I am a Floridian. Hillary has fought to seat our delegates from the beginning. Obama NOW wants them seated b/c he is confident he''s sewn up the nomination. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE BARACK!! We can''t stand you, we don''t support you, and we''re voting McCain or Nader in the General Election. Forget about winning FL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary- Run as an Independent with Mike Bloomberg as your VP. You will beat the pants off of Obama and McCain!!!
Reply to this comment
by ksh1022 May 10, 2008 7:34 PM PDT
Omaar101
You are delusional(like most Obama supporters). I am a Hillary supporter. I will never vote for Obama. I will write in Hillary or vote McCain.
Reply to this comment
by debmood May 10, 2008 7:34 PM PDT
ladyesq: Speak for yourself. Barack played by the rules set by the DNC. Hillary only wanted your vote when she fell way behind Barack. You''re not representative of Florida at all. Hillary broke more rules than Nixon and Bush combined to get what she wants. She''s still out there lying to voters and calling them blue collar and uneducated.
So when you say things like "we can''t stand you," you''re speaking for yourself. Hillary is taking advantage of your ignorance. She does not give a flying flip about the voters. She wants to win. Breaking the rules and lying comes very easy to Hillary.
As for those who said an Obama Ad appeared in florida, they were watching a Georgia station via satellite. That is not his fault. But Hillary attended an event in Florida to get money that she couldn''t manage. Now she expects to keep campaigning to recoup some of the millions she loan to her campaign.
Reply to this comment
by isisdagmar May 10, 2008 7:35 PM PDT
ladyesq1, you are incorrect. Senator Clinton did not campaign to have Michigan and Florida seated from the beginning. In the beginning, when she thought she had the nomination wrapped up, she said that your state and Michigan should be excluded because some of your state''s officials failed to play by the rules of the DNC. She changed her mind when she realized that she needed them to win. Senator Obama has never said that the delegates from Florida and Michigan should not be counted, simply that it would be unfair to seat them when the candidates weren''t allowed to compaign in those states and his name wasn''t even on the ballot in one of them. He is being perfectly reasonable--they will be seated, but they must be seated fairly. What''s wrong with that?

And if you are a Hilary supporter (although I don''t know if you are), how is McCain a good alternative to Obama? As Hilary and Barack have both said, you may prefer one of them over the other, but either is far, far better than McCain. And voting for Nader is simply ridiculous--he can''t win, so for a Democrat to vote for him is basically the same as voting for McCain. And no, Hilary would not win if she ran as an independent. She would simply take enough votes from Obama for McCain to win. Your choice is clear: Obama, or Bush the sequel. I am an Obama supporter, but I would have voted for Hilary in a heartbeat if McCain were the alternative. Every Democrat should do the same.
Reply to this comment
by isisdagmar May 10, 2008 7:38 PM PDT
Seriously, how can any of you who support Hilary even think of voting for McCain? Hilary and McCain hold completely opposite views on basically everything. Hilary has said that McCain will just be another 4 years of Bush. You may not like Obama, you may wish that Hilary had won, but she would want you to vote for Obama because why would you want the country to continue down the path we''ve been following for another 4-8 years?
Reply to this comment
by isisdagmar May 10, 2008 7:41 PM PDT
ksh1022: It is not polite to call most Obama supporters delusional, nor is it accurate. I am an Obama supporter, and I have very good reason to be an Obama supporter. I''m sure you have very good reasons to support Hilary. I do not call Hilary supporters delusional. Please extend the same courtesy.

Remember guys, we''re all Democrats. Or Independents, or Republicans who don''t want to see another 4-8 years of Bush''s policies. :)
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by jockh May 10, 2008 7:44 PM PDT
Hillary Clinton has raised more then $198 million dollars for her campaign and yet is $25 million in debt.

This goes to show why she is unfit to be President.
$25 million in debt and she claims to have passed the Steward of the Economy test.

But Hillary made LOANS to her campaign and now she will want that money repaid so all you Hillary Supporters like RowdyTexan, you better increase your donations to Hillarys campaign (or should it now be called the Hillary Loan Repayment Fund)

But please remember Hillary will get ALL her money back, because its a LOAN; you however will only have your memories and a smaller bank balance.

Hillary relies on suckers like you to GIVE your money, while she cleverly LOANS hers.

When this is over she will have a bath in 100 dollar bills because all her 110 million dollar fortune is still there ! But don%u2019t worry she will be thinking of you and your kind donations !
Reply to this comment
by DCropp May 10, 2008 7:46 PM PDT
Hillary went on New Hampshire public radio and saie "these votes can not count. They broke the DNC rules."

After she fell behind, she changed her position and decided to fight to have Michigan and Florida count.

For the Republicans who are trying to cause problems in the Democratic party...
Do you really think a Democrat would vote for McCain?

McCain wants to take away a women''s choice. Based on the Supreme Court situation. McCain will likely pick 2 new judges. Roe versus Wade would be overturned. Not for a couple years, but for 15-20 years before future presidents could replace conservatives on the Supreme Court.

McCain wants to continue the Iraq war and start a war in Iran. Will any Democrat, stay home and turn their back on families that are begging for the war to end?

Democrats will unite. The last 8 years of Republican reign has caused us too much pain.
Reply to this comment
by laurenbrillante May 10, 2008 9:24 PM PDT
The primaries in Florida and Michigan were ''tainted'' and cannot be counted... it hardly even seems legal. A judge ruled the moving up of Michigan''s primary to January 15 unconstitutional. NO ONE in their right mind, voter or candidate should ever trust the DNC again if they try to change their previous ruling. Too many people did not even vote because they knew the elections was not to count. Hillary only decided to fight for those primaries to count when she realized that she might be able to win if she could get them included.
The DNC will have to let their previous ruling stand. There is too much at stake to be backing out of all of the consequences that have arised from the decision.
Then they can decide that for the sake of party unity let''s have the delegates from Michigan and Florida seated 50/50 so that they can participate in the convention although they should not be allow to change their vote/representation for the presidential nominee.

Obama/Edwards ''08
Reply to this comment
by rcpmac May 10, 2008 10:42 PM PDT
Obama has ALWAYS said that whatever solution the party comes up with he will abide by. It''s not up to the candidates. It''s the rules committee that decides on this. Clinton has been framing this issue in such a disingenuous manner from the start in order to dis Obama
Reply to this comment
by seek7721 May 11, 2008 12:04 AM PDT
To all you Clinton supporters that will refuse to vote on the issues in the general election and instead resort to third grade school yard antics- please do yourself, the United States, and the world a favor- stay at home in November just like most of the Republicans I know plan on doing! (And I''m from Georgia, they are normally hard core)
Reply to this comment
by avez64 May 11, 2008 12:32 AM PDT
I am an Obama supporter, but I would have voted for Hilary in a heartbeat if McCain were the alternative. Every Democrat should do the same.


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Posted by isisdagmar at 07:35 PM : May 10, 2008

I''m with you on that. I made up my mind a long time ago that Obama was my candidate, but I''ve also said from the beginning that I would vote for Hillary if she became the nominee. Both candidates have passionate supporters, but we need to remember what we''ve gone through for the last 8 years and put a Democrat back in the White House.

I also agree that we need to keep the issue of the Supreme Court judges foremost in our minds. Do we really want the judges that McCain would appoint? Among other issues, do we want our right to choose taken away?

These issues are just too important to vote for McCain out of spite. Please, fellow Americans, make your decision carefully and with your eyes open!
Reply to this comment
by sounder4 May 11, 2008 1:47 AM PDT
I don''t like Obama. I don''t like his friends,(birds of a feather flock together)or his policies.I am a Democrat voting Republican. There are many of us who feel the same. It is our right to vote for who we please. Shut up and mind your own votes! I respect your opinion, why can''t you respect mine?If Obama gets into the White House; it will make the Bush administration look prosperous. Yes, I like Hillary, and the media has been terribly bias toward Obama. There is nothing fair about what is going on in this election.
Reply to this comment
by gnagger May 11, 2008 2:01 AM PDT
daninmadison"
i have some trouble w/ ur comments.
u said: "Will any Democrat, stay home and turn their back on families that are begging for the war to end?"
why separate democrat and republican? it''s not about parties, or, shouldn''t be.
it''s about america. we need americans to think about themselves as members of the human race. our country forced problems on the world bigger than us;greater than america, bigger than democrat vs. republican. we need a leader who sees this!
mcacain? .. a war the world disavows, can not be supported.
another clinton? Bill helped the american economy, but, was as ruthless w/ his attacks against the middle east as the current pretender.
another clinton? I''m predicting the same pattern of fooling the american public w/ contentment w/ an xbox, pepsi & cable TV.
obama? Hmm?
Let''s stop the divisions& start being adults, maiking decisions that are ACTUALLY good for the future of this empire.
America can be great, if the people stand up & admit misgivings.
nazi germany thrived because people didn''''t stand up against it.
in history, will america be the21 century nazi germany?
Or, will americans stop bickering about BS & nonsense, feeding the GOP and DNC, and see america can be better than &bigger than our fascist regimes.
Will a new PREZ fix this? I doubt it!
americans need to see our choices & choose someone to bring us back to the respect we want. Its not a quibble between democratic or republican puppets. it is the responsibility of all.

Reply to this comment
by gnagger May 11, 2008 2:02 AM PDT
daninmadison"
i have some trouble w/ ur comments.
u said: "Will any Democrat, stay home and turn their back on families that are begging for the war to end?"
why separate democrat and republican? it''s not about parties, or, shouldn''t be.
it''s about america. we need americans to think about themselves as members of the human race. our country forced problems on the world bigger than us;greater than america, bigger than democrat vs. republican. we need a leader who sees this!
mcacain? .. a war the world disavows, can not be supported.
another clinton? Bill helped the american economy, but, was as ruthless w/ his attacks against the middle east as the current pretender.
another clinton? I''m predicting the same pattern of fooling the american public w/ contentment w/ an xbox, pepsi & cable TV.
obama? Hmm?
Let''s stop the divisions& start being adults, maiking decisions that are ACTUALLY good for the future of this empire.
America can be great, if the people stand up & admit misgivings.
nazi germany thrived because people didn''''t stand up against it.
in history, will america be the21 century nazi germany?
Or, will americans stop bickering about BS & nonsense, feeding the GOP and DNC, and see america can be better than &bigger than our fascist regimes.
Will a new PREZ fix this? I doubt it!
americans need to see our choices & choose someone to bring us back to the respect we want. Its not a quibble between democratic or republican puppets. it is the responsibility of all.
Reply to this comment
by gnagger May 11, 2008 2:04 AM PDT
sorry for the double post, but cbs made it real difficult to use this for someone as technically deficient as me.
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 11, 2008 9:23 AM PDT
Posted by ksh1022: Omaar101
You are delusional(like most Obama supporters). I am a Hillary supporter. I will never vote for Obama. I will write in Hillary or vote McCain.


I nor Obama Supporters, Nor Obamas Campaign, gives a Dogs A!! about YOU not Voting for him...

BOOO HOOO HOOO...SORE LOSER !!
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 11, 2008 9:29 AM PDT
This will win Obama Favor in both those 2 States.

As NPR and other programs have stated, Obama`s Win, no longer is threatened by Florida & Michigan.


He`ll Consent and Hillary and her Supporters will have Absolutely Nothing to B!tch & Moan about.

Obama has also said that Hillary can Run as long as she wants to,So Clinton Supporters can not Rag & B!itch about Obama trying to Stop her !!

1. Obama will be looked upon, as a man who said, your vote & your presence count. The word (Leader) comes to mind.

2. The Super Delegates representing Both states, will give him the nod, because they know Hillary has been Unrelenting in her negative campaign.

3. Obama will reap the benefits, by shutting up all the Clintonites, who have been lead to believe, by Clinton, that Obama is blocking the (2) states from participating.

4. Obama will win this November, by doing this and Clinton people will fairly and justly vote for him.

Result: Obama will become our Nations 1st Bi-Racial President
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 May 11, 2008 10:00 AM PDT
McCain is somewhat better than Bush, Obama is WORSE than Bush!

It''s that simple.
Reply to this comment
by sounder4 May 11, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
Hillary belongs to this country. She has no ties to other countries.
Obama is not of this country. I do not trust him.
He is a mouthpiece for the Kennedys
and we all know how honest they are. He has not one thought his own. He is told what to say and what to do.
He has a Muslim upbringing, even though he says he is not. Who knows what anybody really thinks?
But I tell you one thing, people always fall back to childhood values. It is foolish to assume he has no Muslim connections. I do not care what anyone''s religion is; but I do care when it affects me.
If you check in on it, he did not vote against partial birth abortions. He has wiggled out of any kind of commitment, for the most part has not contributed much of anything. Has not served in the military. He is nothing, and people better wake up to that reality.
Reply to this comment
by sjbj2322 May 11, 2008 1:52 PM PDT
Omaar-1 is totally out of touch with the reality. History is replete with examples where the pundits and media made assumptions that ended up leaving them with egg on their face.

As for Obama saying that Hillary can run as long as she wants to. Geez, we''re all so impressed to have the consent of the new Messiah.

1. Obama will be looked upon, as a man who said, your vote & your presence count but only if it feeds his need. The word "Wh0re" comes to mind.

2. Super Delegates representing both states are fools if they fail to represent their constituency, and Obama has been just as coercively unrelenting in his negativity as he ever accused Clinton.

3. Obama will (hopefully) reap what he sows and in the end show the Clintonites to have been correct in their belief that any concession he makes it only opportunistic at best. His mantra... DO NOTHING till the pressure is insurmountable and he''s forced to concede.

4. Obama without Hillary''s endorsement, support, and possible addition to the Democratic ticket will not win this November, and without her begging her supporters to back him, there is no way many will vote for him.

Result: Obama will become this nations purest example of a Wolf in Sheep''s Clothing and many will hang their heads in shame over ever having been so taken in by him.
Reply to this comment
by sounder4 May 11, 2008 2:36 PM PDT
I am really tired of being uneducated working class. Yes, I worked in auto plant for 30, but uneducated? I have a good deal of college, and other specialized training. I retired making 30 dollars an hour. I am not poor. My husband is a supervisor in a major company. He makes good money. We are working class, not trailer trash. We do not live in the hood on welfare. We support Hillary Clinton!
Reply to this comment
by kenbomc May 11, 2008 3:10 PM PDT
RowdyTexan2 at 10:00 AM : May 11, 2008;

Easy to spot those desperate, say anything to get elected supporters of HRC
Reply to this comment
by sounder4 May 11, 2008 8:17 PM PDT
ladyesq1: As far as breaking the rules and lying. I think Obama comes in first. If all you starry eyed supporters of Mr. Obama, could actually read, maybe, just maybe, you would realize how foolish you are being. He is unfulfilled promises, he has no experience,and he only how to do what other people tell him. Read, Obama Exposed, it is all there. I know you will comfort yourself with;"Oh it''s just propaganda", Don''t even bother with telling me that. He is a joke, but not very funny one! By the way if he gets the nomination, and it looks like he might. McCain will bury him.
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 May 13, 2008 12:58 AM PDT
RowdyTexan2 at 10:00 AM : May 11, 2008;

Easy to spot those desperate, say anything to get elected supporters of HRC



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Posted by kenbomc at 03:10 PM : May 11, 2008

Easy to spot somebody delusional enough to believe that a US senator with 143 days of experience can become JFK, FDR, Lincoln, and qualify as commander in chief of the US.

I prefer to believe in a PROVEN supper of this country, and not some Ishlamofascist so corrupt that owes these Chicago thugs so much for their support.
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