Snookered?

Talk about gavel to gavel coverage. At least three networks: CNN, MSNBC and CSPAN carried full coverage of the DNC Rules Committee meeting today. So, as the nation watched us make some pretty fine sausage, the committee voted to seat the full delegations from both Florida and Michigan; however, delegates from both states, including "superdelegates" will have half a vote. Michigan's pledged delegates, where most candidates, including Obama, withdrew their names from the ballot out of respect for the rules, were allocated 69/59, or 29.5 delegate votes for Obama and 34.5 for Clinton. There is also some indication that there was a separate understanding that the two delegates appointed by the Michigan chair would be Obama delegates. The Obama campaign made major concessions to allow this compromise to occur. With the support of the Obama campaign and the Rules Committee, the State Parties from Florida and Michigan got essentially what they wanted. But, were they all snookered by the Clinton campaign?

Just when I thought that Democrats might be headed to a campfire, some s'mores and a few verses of Kum Ba Yah, Harold Ickes turned on his mic and made two things clear: while Hillary Clinton accepts the ruling on Florida, she does not accept the decision on Michigan. Ickes delivered a passionate speech that I suspect contains some of her talking points for the next days, and unfortunately, perhaps weeks. How could the committee of 30 substitute their judgement for the will of 600,000 Michigan voters? How could the committee essentially steal four delegates from Clinton and hand Obama delegates that he did not earn? Ickes ended with a message from Clinton herself: he held open the possibility that she would take the fight over Michigan to the Credentials Committee.

Short of seating the entire delegations with full votes, and giving Obama nothing out of Michigan-a fairytale that was never going to happen-I think that Clinton may have gotten exactly what she wanted out of today. She got some additional delegates, and she gets to continue this fight, if she chooses, arguing that the committee's action was not fair to her-or the the voters of Michigan. Now, I think that argument is poppycock. As Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told The Associated Press, "I don't think is a position that people find terribly reasonable."

Here's the math according the MSNBC:

The resolution increased the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination to 2,118, leaving Obama 66 delegates short but still within striking distance after the three final primaries are held in the next three days. Obama picked up a total of 32 delegates in Michigan, including superdelegates who have already committed, and 36 in Florida. Clinton picked up 38 in Michigan, including superdelegates, and 56.5 in Florida. Obama's total increased to 2,052, and Clinton had 1,877.5, according to The Associated Press calculations.

Clinton's disagreement with the decision about Michigan leaves little chance that Obama will be able to claim victory next week with her blessing. The only questions that remains are(1) will he do it anyway (I think so), (2) how far will Clinton take her fight, and what will the consequence be for her own political future? and (3) will there be blood on the floor at the end of this, and if so, whose will it be?

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Breakfast Before the Caucus

Lauren Benedict, Tom Ellington and I would like to invite you to join us for breakfast before the caucus tomorrow. In the 8th congressional district, Tom and I are both running to be Obama delegates, and Lauren is running for an alternate post for Obama. The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and the caucus begins at 10 a.m. There is plenty of parking behind my office, and it's an easy three block walk from the caucus location, Mercer Law School. So, join us for some breakfast, and then go with us to caucus for Obama. Here's the invite:

Candidates for Delegate for Barack Obama

Lauren Benedict, Tom Ellington, and Amy Morton

Invite you to Join us for

Breakfast

315 College Street, Ste., 150

Macon, Georgia

Saturday, April 19, 2008

8 a.m.

Before the

Historic Democratic Caucus

Mercer University School of Law

1021 Georgia AvenueMacon, Georgia

10:00 a.m.

*Parking is awailable behind 315 College Street, witihin walking distance of the Law School.

Please come, join us for breakfast, and then go with us to vote for delegates for Sen. Barack Obama. RSVP to (478) 741-1138 for breakfast.

*Doors to the caucus will open at 9 a.m., and participants MUST be in line to register NO LATER than 10 a.m.

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Vote for Me

Next Saturday, April 19th, all across Georgia, Democrats will caucus to elect congressional district-level delegates. If you live in the 8th congressional district, I hope that you will come to Mercer Law School no later than 10 a.m. to participate in the caucus (doors open at 9 a.m.), and I and hope that you will consider voting for me, Amy Morton, for delegate. But no matter who you vote for, before the first ballot is cast, there's already no question who the winners will be: Georgia Democrats.

Never, in the 20-plus years I have lived in this state, have I seen this level of enthusiasm for our candidates and for our Party. Democrats should do very well indeed in Georgia this November, especially if Sen. Obama is our nominee. On the heels of historic participation in the February 5th primary, we have seen unprecedented interest in the delegate selection process. Hundreds of people have submitted delegate applications and large crowds are expected to line up to vote in the caucuses.

When I initially endorsed Sen. Obama, I wrote this post, attributing my decision to "go public" with my support to a conversation with my 22 year old son, Tyler, who reminded me that I've never taught them to "play it safe" and challenged me to endorse Sen. Obama prior to Georgia's February 5th primary. Of course, I did just that. Tyler doesn't know it, but he also influenced my decision to run for delegate. One evening a few weeks ago, I was watching CNN, and Tyler walked through the living room and paused, watching the television. He looked at me, amazed, and said, "He's really going to do it, isn't he, Mom? He's going to win, isn't he?" "I hope so," I said. "You never know what might happen at convention." Tyler was visibly perplexed. "But, he's got the most delegates, he's won the most states, he's ahead in the popular vote. He has to win."

He does have to win. Sen. Obama has done his part, and it is now up to us to make sure he is the nominee. We may very well have a convention where the votes of undecided super delegates make the difference. We have to make sure that we elect delegates who will both be loyal in their vote and who can influence others to support Sen. Obama. I believe that I can do just that, and that's why I'm running for delegate.

Wherever you live, if you are a Georgia Democrat, I hope that you will participate in the delegate selection caucuses. It promises to be a historic occasion-one to tell the grandchildren about. If you live in the 8th, I hope that you will come to Mercer Law School, no later than 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 19th, and I hope that you will vote for me.

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Hillary's Nonsequeter

So, the DNC shouldn't disenfranchise voters, but it's fine for super delegates, or even elected delegates, to ignore the will of the voters thereby disenfranchising them. That seems to be Hillary's argument these days. Clinton thinks that the right thing to do is to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates so that the millions of voters in those states will not be disenfranchised, but at the same time argues that it is fine for delegates-elected or super-to disenfranchise the voters by ignoring how they voted. What kind of pretzel logic is that? If this makes sense to you, please explain it to me.

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Taking the Democracy out of the Democratic Party

Check out this story on CNN. If Hillary Clinton stays in this race, she's doing a little more than hinting that she will go after delegates pledged to Obama. It's hard to hear this without also hearing "to hell with the voters" echoing in the background. For the second time this week, Sen. Clinton has made the point that most "so-called pledged delegates" are actually up for grabs. Yes, indeed, almost all delegates really function like "super delegates"-free agents, free to ignore the will of the voters. This race has become destructive for the party, and perhaps for the country. There is nothing more destructive than seeking to take the "democracy" out of the Democratic Party. I hope she will re-think this approach.

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Calling All Delegates!!!

There's never been a better year to be a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and if you live in the 8th congressional district, tomorrow from 10-12, you can get the scoop on just what you have to do to get yourself elected. Given the tight race on the democratic side, the selection of the delegates to the National Convention takes on new meaning. Many people don't think about the fact that this delegate count isn't just numbers, it's people who will go to Denver and vote in August. Given the high interest in the race, and the possibility that nominee will actually be decided at the convention, there will probably be significant competition for these slots. The DPG has information about delegate selection posted on the web and is holding a delegate training for the 8th congressional district in Macon on 2/23. There, people interested in running will get information about the steps they need to take to become a candidate.

Here's the info for the training:

If you are interested in being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver from August 25-28, 2008, a delegate training session will be held on February 23, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of the Boston Law Firm, 300 Mulberry Street, Suite 601, Macon, Georgia, 31201. At that session, potential delegates will learn the ins and outs of running to be a delegate to the Convention. The delegate election caucus will be held on April 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.

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That's Right

Here's what Edwards had to say today when he signed the pledge to not campaign in those states trying to break in line in front of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina

"I strongly encourage my fellow candidates to support this four state pledge. The Democratic Party is the party of ideas, not money; Main Street, not Wall Street; and real people, not Washington insiders, and signing this pledge reaffirms that.” John Edwards

Obama signed today, too. Hillary? Oh, Hillary???

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