After finishing school, I'm convinced that most of the significant knowledge we gain as American citizens is from watching "Seinfeld" reruns. For example, in the episode entitled "The Alternate Side" from the show's third season, Jerry and Elaine arrive at a car rental desk to pick up a vehicle Jerry has reserved. In the ensuing dialogue, Seinfeld explains the meaning of the word "reservation." It goes like this:
A reservation is like a "pledge." In fact, a reservation is how an airline company, hotel, or car rental agency pledges to a particular customer the availability of a particular flight, room or car. Pledges, like reservations, are easy to make, but worthless if not honored. As an example, the following is basically how Hillary Clinton has honored her "pledge" not to "participate" in the Michigan and Florida primaries:
HRC: Can I help you? Name please?
DNC: The Democratic National Committee. You made a pledge not to participate in the Michigan and Florida primaries. First, you kept your name on the ballot, even though that is the fundamental thing you have to do to "participate" in an election. Now, you're trying to count the votes, which is the ultimate thing someone can do to "participate" in an election.
HRC: I'm sorry, but I pledged not to "participate." I know what I pledged to do.
DNC: I don't think you do. If you did, you wouldn't have kept your name on the ballot, and you wouldn't be trying to count the votes. You see, the making of the pledge is the easy part -- anyone can make a pledge -- it's the honoring of the pledge that's the hard part.
Look at the plain meaning of "participate" in the context of an election. The first thing you have to do to participate in an election is to get your name on the ballot. If you don't get your name off the ballot you are effectively "participating" in that election. Clinton's current actions in trying to count the stolen Michigan votes is, in itself, proof of her "participation" in that primary contrary to her pledge. She could not make an argument about counting the votes unless she participated in that election. Moreover, her most recent efforts to get those illegal votes counted are the highest form of "participation" in an election.
This is a quotation of the "Pledge" not to "participate" signed (and not honored) by candidate Clinton:
"THEREFORE, I _________, 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."
As reported by the Washington Times, Hillary Clinton finds it easy to MAKE pledges -- anyone can make a pledge -- but she has a much harder time HONORING pledges:
Top Clinton aides said the nominee must win based on a tally that includes delegates from Florida and Michigan, which held January primaries that were disqualified by party rules. The campaign's "Delegate Hub" Web site identifies 2,208 as the total delegates needed to be nominated, or 183 more than the threshold of 2,025 set by the Democratic National Committee's rules.
"That's what we believe is the standard for deciding this — who has the majority of the total delegates including Michigan and Florida to decide the nomination," said Clinton strategist Geoff Garin.
Jerry Seinfeld, with scathingly accurate humor, has shown the meaning of "reservation" or "pledge." Hillary Clinton, with her grotesque actions, has shown her inclination to honor pledges.