There is a plus side to the Michigan disaster, however. Now that we know that the RBC can override voter preferences and award delegates to the candidate of their choice, it opens up some intriguing options. For instance, I would encourage the Clinton campaign to go back to the committee and argue that they should be awarded some of Obama's delegates from Nebraska, Washington and Idaho because the caucuses in those states were not as inclusive as the non-binding primaries that occurred afterward. No exit poll information would be required for this reallocation, either...just certified votes.
But really, the possibilities are endless. And going by the crazy new "roolz", it's only fair.
The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
From independentjack in the comments:
In Illinois, he eliminated the competition.
In FL, he eliminated the voters.
In MI, he stole the voters.
Thank God, he is the hope and change candidate. Otherwise, how low would he go?
So, let's start a protest for Nebraska, Washington and Idaho. and any caucus state for that matter because caucuses disenfranchise: working families and the elderly]]>
CHICAGO -- Reverberations from the Sunday sermon of a Roman Catholic priest who mocked Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at Senator Barack Obama's home church....
In a guest appearance at Trinity United Church of Christ, the priest, Rev. Michael Pfleger, who resigned about 2 weeks ago from the Obama campaign's Catholic advisory council, delivered a tirade against Mrs. Clinton that included fake tears, a high-pitched voice and top-of-the-lungs screaming. He also gave a racially tinged critique of so-called "white entitlement," of which he says Mrs. Clinton is guilty.
"When Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on -- I really don't believe it was put on," said Father Pfleger, 59, the white pastor of a predominantly black South Side church. "I really believe that she just always thought: 'This is mine. I'm Bill's wife, I'm white and this is mine. I just got to get up and step into the plate.' And then, out of nowhere, came, 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama.' And she said, 'Oh, damn. Where did you come from? I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show."
Father Pfleger, a well-known longtime activist and friend of Mr. Obama, issued an apology late Thursday. "I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them."
The Clinton campaign repeated on Friday, for a second day, its displeasure with how Mr. Obama has handled the situation, calling for him to reject Father Pfleger more forcefully.
In a statement issued Thursday, Mr. Obama, who was not at the church during the sermon, said he was "deeply disappointed" with Father Pfleger's "backward-looking" remarks.
The Clinton camp said it had hoped for more.
"Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and have no place at the pulpit or in our politics," said Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton. "We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father Pfleger's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."
On Friday, an Obama spokesman said the campaign had nothing new to add.
...Mr. Obama's strategist, David Axelrod,...adding that the priest had had only a small role in the campaign.
Whatever that role was, the archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, has demanded that it be over, the cardinal said in a statement released Friday.
... Father Pfleger has promised me that he will not enter into campaigning, will not publicly mention any candidate by name and will abide by the discipline common to all Catholic priests," Cardinal George said.
Father Pfleger's remarks were "both partisan and amount to a personal attack," he continued, adding, "I regret that deeply."
The flare-up was not well timed for Mr. Obama, who seemed to have finally put to rest similarly controversial remarks by his former Trinity pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.
the elderly, people with children, people who work
]]>For more information please email jhannagan@floridademandsrepresentation.org
The problem for Obama is, the more the public finds out about him the less they like what they see. It appears that many have buyers remorse for every having voted for Obama.
Did the liberal main stream media do what they set out to do from the outset and hide what Obama is about to the voters and present only this happy, joy, joy facade of Change.
The question for the Democrats is ... does anyone really think Barack Obama would be leading Hillary Clinton if all was known about Obama, his wife and Reverend Wright from the outset? The answer is a resounding, NO!
In 1956 we organized our own neighborhood Olympics. I went to the dime store and I bought ribbons and we made medals. . . In fact, each contestant had to pay money to enter the neighborhood Olympics. At the end of the Olympics we had a big bag of pennies and nickels and quarters, which we gave to a local charity. I remember that because there was a picture of me in our local newspaper handing the bag of change to a man in a suit.
In her conclusion, Hillary hints that she considers happy, independent kids' lives to be a vital social priority, so if she became president, maybe she'd do something about it like what I advocate, liberalizing the Fair Housing Act to encourage clustering of families:
We had so much imaginative game-playing time - just unstructured fun time. I had the best, most wonderful childhood: being outside, playing with my friends, being on my own, just loving life. When I was a kid in grade school, it was great. We were so independent, we were given so much freedom. But now it's impossible to imagine giving that to a child today. It's one of the great losses as a society. But I'm hopeful that we can regain the joy and experience of free play and neighborhood games that were taken for granted growing up in my generation. That would be one of the best gifts we could give our children. (p165)
Mike's Manifesto on the importance of playing in neighborhoods.]]>
Election Journal broke the story early 5.6.08 about the Obama volunteer electioneering in a polling place. The story was picked up by various outlets and addressed by Beth White, the Marion County Clerk.
The Obama campaign confirms this happened and has apologized.
"A volunteer and credentialed watcher made a mistake and took a sign into the polling booth that was meant for the appropriate place outside of the polling place," said spox Bill Burton. "The sign has been taken down, and we apologized to the election workers for the mistake."
Over the weekend, the campaign held community canvasses in all 36 counties and hosted 88 Women for Hillary house parties to celebrate 88 years of women's suffrage.
"After eight years of George W. Bush, we need a President who can immediately start to clean up his mess and start solving problems again," said Eugene State Representative Sara Gelser. "I'm supporting Hillary because she is the candidate who is best suited to beat John McCain in the fall and bring our country back."
Milwaukie Mayor Jim Bernard said "Throughout this primary, she has listened to Oregonians. Her Oregon Compact reflects the knowledge and experience that comes from decades in public service. And her proposal for two Oregon debates shows that she is not taking our state for granted. I couldn't be prouder to be supporting Hillary."
Greenhorn Mayor Frances Villwock: "Hillary has been fighting for change for the past 35 years and I know she is our best candidate to take on the Republicans in November. Hillary is also the only candidate with a plan for truly universal healthcare."
"Hillary has the strength and experience to start solving the big challenges we face on day one," said Lincoln City Councilor Doug Holbrook. "She has reached out directly to Oregonians and talked about the issues that are important to us. Hillary has the strength and experience to put her plan for truly universal healthcare into action. Hillary isn't taking Oregon for granted and I'm proud to be supporting her."
FULL LIST OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ENDORSING HILLARY:
Ted Kulongoski, Governor
Darlene Hooley, United States Congress
Vicki Walker, State Senator
Ginny Burdick, State Senator
Laurie Monnes Anderson, State Senator
Sara Gelser, State Representative
Deborah Boone, State Representative
Mitch Greenlick, State Representative
Carolyn Tomei, State Representative
Diana Simpson, Sheriff, Benton
Annabelle Jaramillo, Commissioner, Benton
Martha Schrader, Commissioner, Clackamas
Mike Dugan, District Attorney, Deschutes
Bill Dwyer, Commissioner, Lane
Lonnie Roberts, Commissioner, Multnomah
Desari Strader, Commissioner, Washington
Maria Rojo de Steffey, Commissioner, Multnomah
James White, Mayor, Depoe Bay
John McArdle, Mayor, Independence
Les Paustian, Mayor, Heppner
Jerry Cole, Mayor, Rainier
Linda Malone, Mayor, Sandy
Cheri Olson, Mayor, North Plains
John Oberst, Mayor, Monmouth
Lori Hollingsworth, Mayor, Lincoln City
Susan Walker, Mayor, Nyssa
Tom Hughes, Mayor, Hillsboro
James W. Lewis, Mayor, Jacksonville
James Bernard, Mayor, Milwaukie
Frances Villwock, Mayor, Greenhorn
Mary Schamehorn, Mayor, Bandon
Kathryn Harrington, Metro Councilor, Portland
Betty Taylor, City Councilor, Eugene
Markley Drake, City Councilor, Happy Valley
Cynthia O'Donnell, City Councilor, Hillsboro
Carrie Nelson, City Councilor, Hood River
Nancy Lodge, City Councilor, Independence
Rick Brissette, City Councilor, Lincoln City
Doug Holbrook, City Councilor, Lincoln City
Patricia Daniels, City Councilor, Corvallis
Deborah Barnes, City Councilor, Milwaukie
Mike Claassen, City Councilor, Bandon
Betty Bode, City Councilor, Beaverton
Charlie Crawford, City Councilor, Philomath
Marion Brown, City Councilor, Falls City
Cathy Stanton, City Councilor, Beaverton
Charlie Crawford, City Councilor, Philomath
William Beers, City Councilor, Rufus
Sharon Nolan, City Councilor, Rufus
Sydney Sherwood, City Councilor, Tigard
Don Clyde, City Councilor, Bay City
Sam Steidel, City Councilor, Cannon Beach