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Obama Campaign on Michigan and Transparency

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March 16, 2008 2:41 PM

ABC's John Cochran and Sunlen Miller report: On a conference call with reporters, the Obama campaign denied that they are trying to block a Michigan re-do primary because of fear that Obama can not win there.

“We’re not trying to block anything, we’re trying to insure we have a fair and reasonable process that reflects the rules of the party and will allow the states to  be represented at the convention,” Sen. Barack Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod said.

He expressed confidence in Obama’s chances if a re-vote is approved. “Even without our names on the ballot, some 40 percent of more of the voters there chose to vote themselves undeclared, which I think is, with no campaign and no effort on our part, a reflection of the strength on our part that we have there.”

Axelrod said that the Obama campaign’s view on a fair redo is important in the process, and they are looking at the Michigan proposal of a June 3rd primary, to see how things evolve this week.

He said that the campaign would like to make sure that whatever is agreed to is  “reasonable, is practical, can be done fairly, and that goes to who can participate in the primary, how the primary is set up and how feasible it is to do it in a way that the results are beyond question.”

Axelrod agreed with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s remarks on ABC’s “This Week,” that superdelegates should not go against what elected delegates are committed to. “It would be very, very disruptive to the party, I think, if at the end of the process one candidate finished with a significant lead in delegates and party leaders overturned that.”

He added that this is a widely held view in the Democratic party and that no one wants to see “chicanery at the end to change those rules … to advantage a candidate who didn’t do as well.”

Along with communications director Robert Gibbs, Axelrod called for more transparency from the Clinton campaign, laying out four areas where they believe gaps have to be filled in on Sen. Hillary Clinton’s records.

They called on Clinton to release her full tax returns, all earmark requests, the names of all donors to the Clinton foundation and the Clinton library, as well as all records from the Clinton library to be released.

Gibbs ended by asking, “What is Sen. Clinton hiding and what is lurking in those documents that she believes voters don’t have a right to know?”

March 16, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (77)

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Michigan for Obama. Transparency and democracy are essential. Clinton has to open the books for taxes, pardons, library, foundation, etc. Is she still going to build this museum for the Woodstock-Hippies?

Posted by: BKMC | Mar 16, 2008 2:52:53 PM

Worse than not releasing records that she should release, is the way Hillary talks as if she is being transparent, while she and her husband's lawyers do everything they can to throw up roadblocks. Part of the argument is transparency, but another important part is that they are arrogant, condescending phonies. This is what will move lunch bucket Dems, more than high-minded talk of "transparency"

Posted by: Chaz Lamb | Mar 16, 2008 2:57:55 PM

Michigan should decide what it wants without any campaign's veto.

Everyone following this knows that obama's camp is blocking the votes from coutning or being recast in Fl and MI.

They need to let the American people en masse know what's going on and make their own decisions take it to the DNC and let the campaigns file their objections in public if they have them.

Enough double speak from Obama.

Posted by: s.b. | Mar 16, 2008 3:08:03 PM

If Obama thought he'd win Michigan, he'd be all for a re-vote. Obama's campaign is nothing but words, hypocritical ones. He wants transparency, tell us about how Rezso bought his house for him. Are maybe he can assure us that he never heard sermons during the twenty years he spent at Wright's church.

Posted by: JR | Mar 16, 2008 3:12:25 PM

JR
I do hope we do remember the 40% uncommitted against Hillary in Michigan also that very nice picture where Rezko was in the middle of the very first couple of the US: Bill and Hillary Clinton. Are we running away from Rezko today after Ed Randell has received plenty money from him when campaigning for PA governorship? Putting Obama and Wright in the same box is very hard to do, they are not identica, have not lived same experiences and do not have same views and vision for America. Voting for Obama is voting for CHANGE, voting for a better America which will lead the world, because the world is waiting for him to lead. OBAMA08

Posted by: BKMC | Mar 16, 2008 3:21:55 PM

People--Obama needs to quit his church!! Wright MAY have quit--but their mission statement is still the same. Obama needs to atleast give the impression that he is for ALL voters!!

Posted by: I LOVE MY COACH PURSE | Mar 16, 2008 3:28:52 PM

Im sorry in Michigan Barack has a huge support among all folks. Im white and will support Barack. We are very familiar with Hillary and her scadals.

Posted by: MARK | Mar 16, 2008 3:30:12 PM


Hillary's tax returns are very, very important to the voters. This will show how trasparency she has been.

One must wonder, she knew she will be one of the candidates, if she is organised, why didn't even prepare the library records ready!

Posted by: Peace | Mar 16, 2008 3:34:04 PM

chicanery at the end to change the rules? that's what Obama is seeking because the RULES say superdelegates can vote for whomever they choose

Posted by: max | Mar 16, 2008 3:37:13 PM

OBAMA campaign is beginning to show its MACHIAVELLIAN cracks. Let Florida re-vote. Let Michigan re-vote. This complies with the rules. Do not disenfranchise these voters. HILLARY CLINTON seems to be the only candidate standing up for the voters of Florida and Michigan. She is the only candidate with a plan for the economy, for health care, for security.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 16, 2008 3:39:38 PM

BKMC

Just because 40% voted for undecided in Michigan doesn't mean they voted for Obama.

And I've got to say that I'm sick to death of hearing Change, Change, Change. Change for what? Oh I know "better", well change can be for the worse just as well as for good.

Posted by: JR | Mar 16, 2008 3:40:13 PM

HILLARY SHOULD RELEASE HER TAXES. WHAT IS THE DEAL!!!!! IM SOORY. SHE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED!!SAD.

Posted by: Lynda E Evans | Mar 16, 2008 3:40:29 PM

Since some people love to compare Obama to Jesse Jackson, know that Jackson won Michigan in 1988. So I know Obama can.

Posted by: ROB | Mar 16, 2008 3:42:39 PM

The best defense is always a good offense. You don't think you can win in Michigan and Florida so you drag your feet and change the subject, bringing up Clinton's tax returns. The last time I checked the due date for tax returns is April 15.

Posted by: Firefighter | Mar 16, 2008 3:43:13 PM

Senator Obama speaks about honesty, transparency, character and judgement. If he believed in all of these things, why did it take him so long to sit down with reporters and talk about Rezko? Oh, and by the way, "how did 5 hours worth of work" become first $150000 raised by Rezko and now $250000 raised by Rezko? Why did he ask his "spiritual advisor and mentor" of 20 years, NOT to appear with him when he accounced his run for the presidency? Because he had never heard the inflamatory sermons? He says he uses the Rev Wright as a "sounding board", but after 20 years does not know what the Rev stands for or preaches about? Sorry, doesn't sound too much like honesty, transparency, character or judgement to me. Just my opinion, but I do not what someone with this judgement, or lack thereof, as my president! This is the Democratic party, how do you call yourself Democratic, if you refuse to count every vote???

Posted by: Michiel W | Mar 16, 2008 3:43:50 PM

Michiel W--I 100% agree with you!!

Posted by: I LOVE MY COACH PURSE | Mar 16, 2008 3:46:47 PM

Hillary and Bill are the most dis honest people I know. Its sad when she acts like shes the law. Im also a white Women from Michaigan, OKEMOS. Im a smart women and will vote with my brain not my heart,Im not voting for Hillary beacouse shes a female. Hillary represents the past. She is what is wrong woth America. She is dis-honest and we can not trust her. Lets be real folks. Lets not forget the scandals!!!! Bill back to the white house!!! NO WAY JOSE!!!!

Posted by: Barbra | Mar 16, 2008 3:47:16 PM

Hillary:

Release your tax returns
Explain why you lied about being a leader in the S-Chip legislation while you were first lady.
Explain why you lied about the "dangerous" trip to Bosnia.
Since you were a hands on first lady, explain your involvement in all the scandals in the White House
The minister thing was a nice little distration. Now, back to your scandals and lies. Let us focus on what's important.

Posted by: Ann C | Mar 16, 2008 3:55:33 PM

Firefighter...Hillary won't release her 2006 tax returns...they were due on April 15, 2007.

Posted by: Mike M. | Mar 16, 2008 3:56:25 PM

If Hillary thinks that she will get my vote becouse Im a women. She is flat out wrong. I will never vote for that women. I rather vote for Britney Spears. She is a very dis-honest women.

Posted by: Helen Krivicky | Mar 16, 2008 4:05:24 PM

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