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Democratic Recount Lawyer Takes Umbrage with Clinton Invoking Recount

May 22, 2008 5:12 PM

I wondered what the Democratic recount lawyers thought of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, invoking that madness from 2000 in the current controversy about seating the Florida and Michigan delegations.

A recount lawyer who is neutral in the primary contest told me, "I don’t think it is a very apt usage of the recount. There is a big difference between what happened in Florida in 2000 – where partisan officials did everything possible to achieve an advantage in vote counting, where laws and rules were broken, and where the Supreme Court defied law and tradition to stop a vote count – and what is happening now, where we are having a party rules dispute that is open, above-board, and everyone knew about before the election was held."
Concludes the lawyer: "It’s apples and oranges."
- jpt

May 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (67)

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Everyone knew that MI or FL votes would not be counted. That is it period end of story.

Posted by: Cyndee | May 23, 2008 3:59:32 PM

MI VOTER - So as a democrat you will vote for the Socialists that took over your party.

Posted by: spock | May 23, 2008 12:47:37 PM

I find it funny that some dems are surprised their party tries to re-write rule or disenfranchising voters.

In Florida the issue was not the recount but how Gore wanted to do the recount, he only wanted to recount certain areas that were heavily Democratic and not recount the rest nor did he want to count the military vote! The supreme Court ruled that the recount must be all of Florida, but since it was past the date of requesting it by Florida law the count stays as is. But multiple news groups since then have done their own recount of the state and each and every time found that Pres. Bush won and by a bigger margin.

So get over it!!

In 2004 the Libs flattened the tires of Buses that were to bring Republicans to the voting booth,

Oh and lets not forget the Delegates and Obama staff calling black Superdelagates and threatening them to vote for Obama (See California)

Posted by: spock | May 23, 2008 12:46:05 PM

I see that the Clinton smoke machine is having its desired impact. Blow enough of it and the facts eventually become irrelevant.

Obama did not block the Michigan revote.
The Michigan legislature did. Part of their reason for doing so was the logistical difficulty of putting the primary together on short notice. The State's local election officials said that it couldn't be done.

The more significant part was a backlash to Hillary showing up in Michigan, having one of her foot stomping hissy fits, and having her millionaire cronies send the legislators a letter saying that they'd put together the money to pay for a revote. Several legislators, including some of her own supporters, didn't want to be seen as caving into this stuff.

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | May 23, 2008 10:00:07 AM

It's time to send a clear and loud message to Howard Dean and the DNC!

If Hillary is not nominated then vote for John McCain in November and a solid Republican ticket!
***************

The only message this sends to the DNC and Howard Dean is "I was never a true Democrat in the first place, because if I WAS I would vote on Democratic Ideals and voting Republican would be repugnant to me"


Posted by: MI VOTER | May 23, 2008 8:08:04 AM

His only experience as a Senator has been running for President.
____________________

Well, he must have made quite an impression there, given how many Senators have endorsed him.

Posted by: MI VOTER | May 23, 2008 8:01:59 AM

what's wrong with this phony? why not just accept all vote counts, bonehead!

Posted by: wrong | May 23, 2008 1:10:07 AM

Those that argue (using Clinton's talking points!) that "ONLY Clinton" can win the "right" states to beat McCain haven't been paying attention to the most incredible grassroots political movement in history. Obama has raised more money, put more people on the ground, and been more organized, smarter and thoughtful than any presidential candidate has ever been. All those polls you see now WILL be different come the Fall! The politics of the past...the "normal" voting patterns will be different this November and the reason is Obama!

Posted by: Clair | May 22, 2008 11:14:30 PM

I'm a WHITE WOMAN and I'm OUTRAGED at her "kitchen sink" tactics! She's used ANYTHING that will give her an advantage! FEAR and EMOTION are her tools!! Anyone remember the "3 AM" campaign ad?! She's used NAFTA, RACE, disenfranchised voters, and now she purports GENDER bashing! She's riled up those afraid of NAFTA, those who are racist (and many who don't realize they are) , she's made the people of Michigan and Florida feel like their be picked on, she's got everyone fighting everyone and now she's stirred up all of woman-kind in the battle against sexism...but ALL we're being PLAYED by her! ALL SHE WANTS IS THE PRESIDENCY! WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!

Posted by: Clair | May 22, 2008 11:13:32 PM

J,,,,as

What reality are you living..

If winner takes all, including the caucuses.. Hillary will be a LOOSER

Posted by: American10 | May 22, 2008 10:06:44 PM

Posted by S: -- "It's a losing battle! I'm out of here!" -- Hillary Clinton has generated a very large amount of negativity during this electoral process. -- The Democratic community has been fearful of this very thing happening because of it. -- Please don't turn away because of the behavior of one candidate in this contest. -- It is the worst thing you can do for this country. -- You give her too much power, and don't keep enough for yourself that way.

Posted by: Marie Zarankevich | May 22, 2008 8:57:14 PM

The Democrats need to change to a winner take all like the Republicans. This would have been decided long ago and Hillary would have been the nominee already.

Posted by: J | May 22, 2008 8:54:22 PM

The agreement on the Fla & Mi elections not being counted towards the nomination process was agreed to by all sides, Hillary included. Her continuing to try and change the rules after the fact because she didn't get her way is pathetic and totally dishonest. Is this an example of the experience and integrity she will bring to the highest office in the land.

Posted by: fool me once | May 22, 2008 8:51:39 PM

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN CORRUPTED.

It's no longer a party of the people -- rather,it's a party of the few who seem to be able to convince lemmings that it still has meaning.

It's a losing battle! I'm out of here!

Posted by: S | May 22, 2008 8:36:17 PM

She lost. End of story.

Posted by: Texas Voter | May 22, 2008 8:31:06 PM

If the situation were reversed, and Obama wanted to change things at this stage, Hillary would be jumping up and down, demanding that the rules can't be changed. -- She's not really interested in the right of these people to have their votes counted, she is interested in 1) being president and 2) being in the news. -- It's very unfortunate.

Posted by: Marie Zarankevich | May 22, 2008 8:29:01 PM

THERE WILL BE NO RE-VOTE!

The elitist who have hijacked our democratic party have seen to that. Their anointed one is O-Bozo and that's the way it will go down! Period!

What's left? Do traditional democrats really want to immigrate to the realm of fruits and nuts or do we admit that the party has abandoned us and that we should look elsewhere for a home that better represents our principles?

Posted by: S | May 22, 2008 8:25:16 PM

I am amazed at how many Americans are willing to accept the rewriting of the rules by Sen Clinton. If you sign an agreement with your name, you are vouching for your personal integrity as a honest and fair broker. It is very refreshing to see the level of interest in US politics, and the high level of support for the Democratic candidates.But that is no excuse, to justify a lack of ethics by Sen Clinton in her Quixotic quest to steal a nomination.

Fair is Fair!

Posted by: jld1959 | May 22, 2008 8:13:06 PM

NE/ CLEVELAND,

Not if you included the votes from FL and MI. Hillary would be ahead in popular votes. I found it hilarious that people use number of states as a measure. If that is the case, the Republicans will always win the presidential election.

Posted by: george | May 22, 2008 8:10:50 PM

Senator Obama is ahead of everything,
you people should stop and think if this election is stolen from him, my oh my: this would be the biggest
train wreck this Country have ever seen.

Posted by: NE/ CLEVELAND | May 22, 2008 8:06:42 PM

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