MyDD :: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules

Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules

by MAL Contends, Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 12:54:31 PM EST

After agreeing not to campaign in Florida and Michigan last year, Hillary Clinton now wants the elections, such as they were, to count.

From the
Miami Herald

Trailing Democratic rival Barack Obama in delegates and running out of options, Hillary Clinton's campaign on Tuesday launched a two-pronged attack in Florida.

In Fort Lauderdale, supporters brandished petitions and called for the Jan. 29 primary -- which she won -- to count toward delegates.

If you're losing the game, change the rules. Reminds me of Bush on the Iraq War for which Hillary voted, though she still denies it.

Tags: 2008 election, Barack Obama, breaking election news, breaking political news, democratic presidential primary, Hillary Rodham Clinton (all tags)

Permalink :: 30 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (2.00 / 1)

This diary just revealed the level of understanding from SOME Obama suporters on the matters of the Democratic primary. It is not all about just 'winning and losing'.

Also, do you really think your comparison of Hillary with Bush will fly? What kind of "unity" behing Obama can you expect from Hillary after this type of attacks on Hillary?

by praxis1 on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 12:57:05 PM EST

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (2.00 / 1)

She followed the agreement - she didn't campaign in either of those states. There's no proof, at all that she did. Why's that so difficult for you to understand?

by aggieric on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 12:57:33 PM EST

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

She agreed not to Participate, not just to not campaign.

by Cycloptichorn on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:00:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

No. She signed a pledge to not campaign.

To: Interested Parties

From: The Clinton Campaign

Regarding: Michigan and Florida Presidential Primaries

The Obama campaign today circulated a memo regarding today's Michigan primary and the January 29 Florida primary. This memo was concerning on several levels.

Let us be very clear. Senator Clinton signed a pledge that she would not campaign in any state that violates the DNC approved calendar. Therefore, we did not campaign in Michigan, nor will we campaign in Florida in violation of the pledge. We have two small scheduled fundraisers in South Florida on January 27, as explicitly permitted by the pledge, but we will not hold any open public campaign events. The Obama campaign has also held numerous fundraisers in Florida since signing the pledge. Contrary to the Obama campaign's memo, there are no events at large venues, nor have we organized in the state. We intend to do so as our party's nominee in the general election, but will honor our pledge not to campaign there in violation of the pledge.

Let us be clear about something else, however. While Senator Clinton will honor her commitment not to campaign in Florida in violation of the pledge, she also intends to honor her pledge to hear the voices of all Americans. The people of Michigan and Florida have just as much of a right to have their voices heard as anyone else. It is disappointing to hear a major Democratic presidential candidate tell the voters of ANY state that their voices aren't important.

Make no mistake -- the Obama campaign had no problems when its supporters and allies in Michigan ran radio ads and other campaign activities urging people to vote for "uncommitted" as a way to register their support for Senator Obama -- and to give him a chance to compete for those delegates at the national convention. Now, with polls in recent days showing that effort and their candidate running far behind in both states, the Obama campaign has shifted tactics to say that those who cast a vote in either state don't matter. We couldn't disagree more.
Senator Clinton intends to be President for all fifty states. And while she will honor the pledge she signed and not campaign in either state, she intends to continue to give every American a voice during this election and when she gets to the White House.

by aggieric on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:20:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

HIllary agreed "... that those who cast a vote in either state don't matter...."

That's the consequence of agreeing to not seat delegates.

Do you really believe that you have to lie to win?

That's why progressives do not like Hillary, she lies.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:29:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Clearly, your rhetoric makes it so. How Kossakian.

by aggieric on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:34:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

What Hillary has done is tantamount to playing poker and declaring after the last card is dealt that deuces are wild and 9's don't count.

Serious question- Is This Snark?

by ragekage on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:34:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Do yourself a favor. Find the actual pledge itself and see if the word 'participate' is in there. Then come back here and post your apology for being incorrect, and posting a Hillary campaign release instead of the actual facts.

by Cycloptichorn on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:43:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Here's the pledge (leaving out other statements of the campaign agreeing to the pledge and the non-seating):

via http://thepage.time.com/obama-camp-memo- on-michigan-delegate-dispute/

The Pledge Clinton Signed

WHEREAS, Over a year ago, the Democratic National Committee established a 2008 nominating calendar;

WHEREAS, this calendar honors the racial, ethnic, economic and geographic diversity of our party and our country;

WHEREAS, the DNC also honored the traditional role of retail politics early in the nominating process, to insure that money alone will not determine our presidential nominee;

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Presidential campaigns, the DNC, the states and the American people to bring finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating calendar.

THEREFORE, I, [Name], Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as "campaigning" is defined by rules and regulations of the DNC.

###

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:21:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think it's important to focus... (none / 0)

...On the last paragraph of that pledge; "THEREFORE, I, [Name], Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as "campaigning" is defined by rules and regulations of the DNC."

If the pledge stopped at "I, [Name], Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state..." then there might be some validity to your argument that Sen. Clinton broke the pledge. However, the pledge does not place a period after the group of words "Feb. 5, 2008."

What the pledge does is qualify what "campaigning" and sets the definition of "campaigning" as "defined by rules and regulations of the DNC."

Rule 20.C.1.b. of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention defines campaigning as "purchasing print, internet, or electronic advertising that reaches a significant percentage of the voters in the aforementioned state; hiring campaign workers; opening an office; making public appearances; holding news conferences; coordinating volunteer activities; sending mail, other than fundraising requests that are also sent to potential donors in other states; using paid or volunteer phoners or automated calls to contact voters; sending emails or establishing a website specific to that state; holding events to which Democratic voters are invited; attending events sponsored by state or local Democratic organizations; or paying for campaign materials to be used in such a state. The Rules and Bylaws Committee will determine whether candidate activities are covered by this section."

Nowhere in the rules is "campaigning" defined as having your name on the ballot and nowhere in the rules is not campaigning defined as removing your name from the ballot.

The fact is that Sen. Clinton fulfilled her pledge because she did not "campaign" in either Florida or Michigan as defined by the rules & regulations governing the selection of delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

by andrewalker08 on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 03:59:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (1.00 / 1)

Somehow I think that calling for the results of an uncontested election to now be treated as a contested election is just a bit disingenuous.

I have seen her true colors in this primary. No way I vote for Hillary for anything, ever.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:01:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Then you need to edit your sentence-length diary to avoid being disingenuous, yourself. She followed the rules as laid out - she didn't campaign.

by aggieric on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:12:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Dude, what? What Hillary is trying to say, essentially, is that she can pop the bubble until she gets the number she wants and that every space is a safe zone for her in Trouble.

Serious question- Is This Snark?

by ragekage on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:36:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hillary (none / 0)

has already lost. Changing the rules is the only possible way for her to win.

In their blindness, many on this site don't seem to care about that, nor do they seem to care that Hillary praised John McCain while trashing Obama, giving him weapons against either one of them.

How can Hillary run against McCain now? She's already said he's qualified to be CIC...that'd be a good one. That's horrible. And the Clintonites here at MyDD don't seem to care.

Hillary praising McCain is perfectly alright, but Obama making nice comments about Reagan was just destructive and awful. Talk about hypocrisy, the Clintonites have it in spades!

by southernman on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 12:59:12 PM EST

Re: Hillary (none / 0)

Right on Southern Man, from a Northern man.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:05:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (2.00 / 1)

Not helpful MAL. Not AT ALL. Please reframe your comments in a more moderate and unity-promoting tone, or apologize.

by a gunslinger on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:00:38 PM EST

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Amusing, but preposterous.

How about we stick to the agreement worked out last year: Do not campaign in Florida and Michigan; their delegation will not be seated.

Now Hillary wants the delegation seated? Are you really pretending that the agreement did not exist.

Do you know the word: Nihilistic?

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:04:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Look, I don't think they should be seated either, but I am not in a big hurry to be an A-hole about it.

Rubbing in the HRC-folks faces is bad manners and piss-poor form if you want to be unified later!

Besides that HRC is a decent american who has served her country well. Obama is my candidate, but I still respect HRC.

by a gunslinger on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:13:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Hillary pretends an agreement does not exist, and you, out of a concern for 'good manners,' suggest that we also pretend an agreement does not exist.

Less than compelling.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:16:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

disenfranchised voters (none / 0)

Apparently Obama supporters don't understand that if you disenfranchise the voter now, he/she may not vote during the general election.

by soyousay on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:05:09 PM EST

Re: disenfranchised voters (none / 0)

They were disenfranchised last year by everyone, including Hillary.

Now, she want the votes to count because she is losing in pledged delegated, popular vote, states-all that election stuff.

You know this to be true, and you pretend otherwise, most Rovian.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:07:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: disenfranchised voters (none / 0)

Michael...I am a Madison man myself. Why not just cool off a bit before angering the Hillary camp needlessly? It's not her supporter's fault that her people made crappy choices.

Please. Take it easy.

by a gunslinger on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:16:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama believes in... (none / 0)

Democracy doesn't he? Is Obama worried that he can't win?

by soyousay on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:20:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)

Cool it means sit back and do nothing.

No way. I think we had a bit much of doing nothing, in Iraq, in 2000, the Patriot Act, any number of things.

You need to challenge wrongs when they occur.

Please, yes, as in please get off your duff and do something.

by MAL Contends on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:20:02 PM EST

Re: Hillary: I'm Losing, Change the Rules (none / 0)