March 24, 2008
WJC: NH Voted "Out Of Turn"
South Bend, IN - Amid a festive crowd celebrating Dyngus Day in the Hoosier State, Bill Clinton today upped the ante on seating delegates from Florida and Michigan, criticizing his party's "strategy of denying and disempowering and disenfranchising the voters" there. His argument to seat Florida's delegates, in particular, came as he continued to claim that his wife would be the most electable general election candidate.
"She can win this race, and we have got to win," he told a crowd packed into the West Side Democratic Club. "And I must say that this new strategy of denying and disempowering and disenfranchising the voters in Florida and Michigan is I believe a terrible mistake. Hillary believes their votes should be counted. And I don't know how we're gonna go to those people in the general election and say you gotta vote for us even though we dumped all over you in the primary."
Clinton curiously said that Democrats "let New Hampshire go out of turn," adding that they have a Democratic secretary of state. "The Florida voters are totally innocent," he said. "They asked to vote on time."
The DNC's preliminary calendar called for New Hampshire to vote on Jan. 22. But Democratic Secretary of State Bill Gardner moved the first-in-the-nation primary to Jan. 8 when Michigan settled on Jan. 15. The DNC chose not to sanction New Hampshire, since the calendar rules were originally set in large part to protect the Granite State's tradition.
Speaking at another event in South Bend, Clinton said the stakes are particularly high given what he said was John McCain's strength in Michgian. "I think that we are running the risk of throwing both Florida and Michigan away if she doesn't get nominated because of the events of the last few days where there has been a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise those voters," he said. "And don't you think it has not been a message there. Don't you think that they didn't get it. Sen. McCain is not going to be easy to beat. He has always run well in Michigan. He will run pretty well in Florida. She can win."
Clinton was joined by his daughter, Chelsea, and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend campaigning in what locals dubbed the "Dyngus Day capital of the world." Though Dyngus Days elsewhere have reportedly included drenching women with water, the event here featured brats, beers and Polish music. The event here is closely associated with politics, as well, which is what drew Townsend's father, Robert F. Kennedy, to South Bend 40 years ago.
"My heart leaps up when I come to South Bend for Dyngus Day," Townsend said. "No other ethnic group voted in larger numbers for Kennedys than the Poles. I don't know what that says about the Irish, but thank you very much."
Townsend and a local priest also led the crowd in singing "Stolach," which the priest said some confuse to be the national anthem of Poland, but Townsend admitted was a drinking song. "But we'll sing it anyway!" she said, before bursting into song. When Clinton took the stage, he thanked her for singing so he didn't have to.
Candidates for Congress and governor spoke before Clinton, as did former Rep. Tim Roemer, an Obama supporter. He said the choice between the Democrats was "tough." But he cited the debate over NAFTA, which Clinton saw through as president but he voted against, as a tipping point. "[I] told [Clinton], respectfully, 'I'm with my people. I'm with people in Indiana," Roemer said. "That vote against NAFTA was one of the best votes that I cast throughout the 1990s. That was the right vote for our people."
(NBC/NJ's MIKE MEMOLI)
Posted at 06:00 PM
Comments
Actually, it is the lying, selfish Clintons who are dumping all over Florida voters, many of whom did not participate in their state's invalid primary, because the DNC announced, and all presidential candidates agreed, that the results would not count for selecting a presidential nominee. If the rules are changed after the fact, and the results of that improper process are used to help select the nominee, that would disenfranchise the many Florida voters who played by the rules, and trusted the DNC decision that the primary wouldn't count. The Clintons should be ashamed of themselves for the damage they are doing to the Democratic Party -- and to democracy -- by attempting to cheat their way to an unearned, undeserved nomination.
TKD | 03.24.08 06:53 PM
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I agree the rules should not be changed at this point and it is certainly true that the DNC did this with full approval of the Clintons, who sided with their friends in the Democratic establishment who would make Hillary the inevitable nominee. Well, some people got in the way--The People. Why should I have any allegiance to a party that still believes in a top-down approach to everything? They stuck those states and it was a handful of people--the usual, known DNC suspects--who did it, plain and simple. Now, those chickens are coming home to roost. How can you govern if you can't even run an election? Plus, leave it up to Florida to screw up another election--and leave behind the same folks losing.
keenobserver | 03.24.08 08:12 PM
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I agree the rules should not be changed at this point and it is certainly true that the DNC did this with full approval of the Clintons, who sided with their friends in the Democratic establishment who would make Hillary the inevitable nominee. Well, some people got in the way--The People. Why should I have any allegiance to a party that still believes in a top-down approach to everything? They stuck those states and it was a handful of people--the usual, known DNC suspects--who did it, plain and simple. Now, those chickens are coming home to roost. How can you govern if you can't even run an election? Plus, leave it up to Florida to screw up another election--and leave behind the same folks losing.
keenobserver | 03.24.08 08:13 PM
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For the life of me, I cannot understand how otherwise sane and rational people can vote for the Clintons with a clear conscience. How do you vote for people who continue to lie, not just little harmless "white" lies, but super-duper, mega-whoppers.
How do you look at Bill Clinton, who lied about a White House intern among so many other lies, and believe anything that comes out his mouth?
Do you really want to put these people back in the White House? Really, seriously?
Jade7243 | 03.25.08 10:37 AM
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The Clintons are once again throwing their support (New Hampshire) under the bus out of political expediency.
How can they demand loyalty from people like Bill Richardson when they dismiss a whole state of people who actually voted for Hillary?
Dead Horse | 03.25.08 12:34 PM
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Florida Democrats should never forget what happened when Al Gore won their votes for President, and the Clinton's complicity in their disenfranchisement back then.
chris | 03.25.08 03:13 PM
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People voting for Hillary are NOT Democrats -- they are Hillicrats: selfish, selfish, and more selfish. They have insulted the Democratic party and people who vote for Sen. Obama. Ex. Caucuses don't matter, small states, superdels who don't support are insignificant, pledge delegates can switch support, etc.
Hillary is a Hillicrat -- a party just for her where only she and her objectives are prime.
marmar02 | 03.25.08 04:24 PM
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A vote for Hillary is a vote for John McCain
David | 03.25.08 04:52 PM
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The Clintons are the most despicable politicians in the nation. Sadly, they garner much support because the masses have small brains.
Rene | 03.25.08 05:30 PM
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Why is it that, when the Clintons and their surrogates blame the Obama campaign for no FL revote, that no one in the MSM ever brings up the minor detail that such a vote is impossible because: (a) a revote would take the approval of the Republican controlled Legislature in FL (which ain't happening) and (b) a revote can't happen because FL's largest counties do not currently have functioning voting machines because the very same law that moved up the date for the primary also required all counties to scrap unreliable touchscreen machines in favor of paper trail voting machines due to a fear of a repeat of the 2000 recount debacle?! Seriously -- why are the Clitons allowed to lie about the ABILITY to hold a revote primary in FL. Furthermore, last time I checked Barack Obama was not in charge of the MI Legislature and it was the MI Legislature who declined to approve the revote primary there even though Clinton's deep-pocket supporters had offered to buy the revote for her there. For some reason the MI Legislators seem to have thought buying an election was "unseemly" -- go figure?! Revotes in FL and MI: just another Clinton lie.
Kim in Islesboro | 03.25.08 06:19 PM
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Why is it that, when the Clintons and their surrogates blame the Obama campaign for no FL revote, that no one in the MSM ever brings up the minor detail that such a vote is impossible because: (a) a revote would take the approval of the Republican controlled Legislature in FL (which ain't happening) and (b) a revote can't happen because FL's largest counties do not currently have functioning voting machines because the very same law that moved up the date for the primary also required all counties to scrap unreliable touchscreen machines in favor of paper trail voting machines due to a fear of a repeat of the 2000 recount debacle?! Seriously -- why are the Clitons allowed to lie about the ABILITY to hold a revote primary in FL. Furthermore, last time I checked Barack Obama was not in charge of the MI Legislature and it was the MI Legislature who declined to approve the revote primary there even though Clinton's deep-pocket supporters had offered to buy the revote for her there. For some reason the MI Legislators seem to have thought buying an election was "unseemly" -- go figure?! Revotes in FL and MI: just another Clinton lie.
Kim in Islesboro | 03.25.08 06:21 PM
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She can win this race, and we have got to win," Bill Clinton told a crowd packed into the West Side Democratic Club. (as stated in the above story.) Why do they HAVE to win? I just don't understand that rationale? For their personal satisfaction? For their finances now and in the future? Cause its for certain, it ain't for the good of this country! It ain't for the good of "we the people" either! Can someone give me a good reason other than her their personal gain?
Lisa Bradford | 03.25.08 06:53 PM
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She can win this race, and we have got to win," Bill Clinton told a crowd packed into the West Side Democratic Club. (as stated in the above story.) Why do they HAVE to win? I just don't understand that rationale? For their personal satisfaction? For their finances now and in the future? Cause its for certain, it ain't for the good of this country! It ain't for the good of "we the people" either! Can someone give me a good reason other than her their personal gain?
Lisa Bradford | 03.25.08 06:54 PM
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Why do I want Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic nomination and then the Presidency of the United States: Because she is the best candidate.
Why does Bill Clinton? Just guessing, but probably has a lot to do with his knowing how important the job is, and knowing what a mess our country is in right now.
Maybe during the Bush years we've all gotten used to thinking the presidency is not crucial. Well, that's not true. Hillary Clinton is a giant of a person who as president could restore our country both domestically and in the eyes of the world. It's a shame that people can't admit that and fight this race over the issues.
I challenge anyone: Go see her in person, see what an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, and action oriented person she is. She has the brains, the experience, the judgment, and the stamina to be the President of the United States. See for yourself.
Erica Leigh | 03.25.08 07:54 PM
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