Clinton on MI, FLA: "two states we have to carry."
Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 01:54:16 PM PDT
Much has already been made about the significance of Michigan and Florida, the two states with the apostate Democratic committees that, through their own hubris and stupidity, invalidated the wishes of their party members. Now, in an interview with the Politico, we find the true reason why Hillary wants to seat the delegates from those two states:
...I think that both Michigan and Florida should count because these are two states we have to carry.
LEON HARRIS: Let’s talk about a place where campaigning didn’t happen, Michigan, and when we look at what’s going to happen with the delegates from that state there are a lot of questions that are still hanging in the air about that right now. Michigan was being punished for having moved up their date and their delegates are not supposed to be getting seated. Now some of your supporters are saying that they should be seated because you won the Michigan primary. It was a primary though where your name was the only one on the ballot. Barack Obama’s name was not on the ballot. Do you think those Michigan delegates should still be seated and if so, how is that fair if Barack Obama did not get a chance to contest you in Michigan?
SENATOR CLINTON: Well, Leon, I think that both Michigan and Florida should count because these are two states we have to carry. This is not about, so much as the ins and outs of the Democratic National Committee as to whether the Democrats are going to win in the fall. In Michigan, all of us had a chance to leave our names on the ballot. I chose to do so. My opponents ran a very vigorous campaign to get people to vote uncontested. There was a campaign going on and it was a campaign against me and I still won a majority. In Florida, 2.7 million people showed up and said we will not be disenfranchised again. We went through 2000 and 2004. I think that the Democratic Party has to be looking very realistically at what it is we’re trying to achieve here. We need to win in November and therefore I think that both Michigan and Florida, uh, the Democratic Party should really give these people who came out and voted...they weren’t involved in the rule making. Give them a chance.
Two things I find disturbing about this exchange:
- The very reductive and frankly egotistical intial response to the question about seating delegates. It is reminiscent of what Willie Sutton said when asked why he robbed banks: because it's where the money is. Why seat the delegates? Because we need to win them. And,
- The implication that what is best for Hillary is what is best for the Democratic Party. That is obviously not true, as evidenced by this CNN poll which has Obama beating by a bigger margin than Hillary beating McCain.
I voted for Obama today in Alexandria, Virginia. I am not saying that I wouldn't vote for Hillary in the general. I am saying that as Hillary becomes increasingly desperate, she says more and more unpleasant things. Even her commercials here in Virginia are depressing, in contrast to Obama's more upbeat ads. That skydiver ad does not make me want to vote for her. Her selfish talk in interviews does not make me want to vote for her. Her "le party c'est moi" attitude does not make me want to vote for her. And her threat to cheat in order to secure the nomination definitely turns me off.
If Hillary wins the nomination legitimately, without resorting to cheating (which is what seating the Michigan and Florida delegates would be - nothing but lowdown, Karl Rove-style cheating), I will vote for her without reservation, and maybe even donate money or work for her a little.
If she wins the nomination by cheating, I don't know what I'll do. I understand the stakes. I'll have to vote for her, if only to keep the Supreme Court from turning into the Supreme Soviet, what with their torture loving, women hating justices and all.
But, I'll need to drink heavily before and after and take a long shower to wash the icky feeling off.
This election needs to be about picking the poor bastard that needs to clean the Augean Stable that is the American Government after 8 years of Republican kakistocracy. This election shouldn't be about Hillary and her huge-sized ambition.
But she has made it about just that.
