Clinton Demands Florida, Michigan Votes Count

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Clinton Demands Florida, Michigan Votes Count

May 21, 2008 4:50 PM

ABC's Eloise Harper reports: In her most emphatic argument yet for counting the votes in Michigan and Florida, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, traveled Wednesday to Palm Beach County, Florida –- ground zero for hanging chads and the vote-count controversy of the 2000 election.

Clinton argued for including Michigan and Florida’s delegates in the selection of a party nominee, as well as counting the popular vote in those states. She argued that the popular vote tally should determine the election outcome, instead of the delegate count.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

“We believe that the outcome of our elections should be determined by the will of the people. Nothing more. Nothing less. And we believe the popular vote is the truest expression of your will. We believe it today just as we believed it back in 2000 when right here in Florida you learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren’t counted and a candidate with fewer votes is determined the winner.”A

And today, Senator Barack Obama’s campaign showed a glimmer of compromise on the Michigan and Florida delegate controversy. Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod told National Public Radio’s All Things Considered: “We are open to comprise. We are willing to go more than half way. We’re willing to work to make sure that we can achieve a compromise. And I guess the question is: is Senator Clinton’s campaign willing to do the same?”

The Democratic Party boycotted the Florida and Michigan primaries when those states moved up the dates of their primaries against the wishes of the Party, disrupting its intended primary calendar. Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, honored that boycott and did not campaign in those states; Obama’s name did not even appear on the Michigan ballot.

But Clinton now says she wants to see those votes cast in Florida and Michigan counted. “I believe the Democratic Party must count these votes. They should count them exactly as they were cast. I am here today because I believe the decision our party faces is not just about the fate of these votes and the outcome of these primaries. It is about whether we will uphold our most fundamental values as Democrats and Americans.”

“Each of us should have an equal voice in determining the destiny of our nation. A generation of patriots risked and sacrificed lives on the battlefield for that ideal,” Clinton said.

Clinton then called on her opponent to join her in demanding that Florida and Michigan be counted.

“I believe that both Senator Obama and myself have an obligation as potential Democratic nominees -- in fact, we all have an obligation as Democrats to carry on this legacy and ensure that in our nominating process every voices is heard and that every single vote is counted.”

Making the comparison to the Florida recount during the 2000 election, Clinton said “The lesson of 2000 here in Florida is crystal clear. If any votes aren’t counted the will of the people isn’t realized and our democracy is diminished.”

Clinton also referenced the court decision that ended the 2000 recount quagmire: “Your Supreme Court said it’s not about the technicalities or about the contestants it's about the will of the people and whenever you we can understand their intent it should govern. Well it’s very clear what the 1.7 million people intended here in Florida.”

Clinton received more votes in Florida, when it held its primary election. However, since both candidates boycotted the race and did not campaign there, it is unknown how many voters skipped going to the polls that day.

Clinton appealed to the local audience saying, “The fact is the people of Florida voted back in January you did your part you showed up in record numbers and you made informed choices but today some months later you still don’t know if these votes will help determine our party’s nominee. You still don’t know if this great state will be represented at our convention in August. It is time you knew. because the more than 2.3 million people who voted in Florida and Michigan exercised their fundamental American right in good faith.” She continued, “You did not break a single rule and you should not be punished.”

Clinton explained that she does not agree with critics who argue she is changing the late in the game. “Some say that counting Florida and Michigan would be changing the rules. I say that not counting Michigan and Florida is changing a central governing rule of this country.”

May 21, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (947)

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If you believe in Jeffersonian democracy, then, an election is determined by majority by the principle of one person one vote.

Posted by: lazy to think | May 21, 2008 4:54:19 PM

Obama has already beaten her, and he will do it with one state tied behind his back.

Posted by: Mike D | May 21, 2008 4:58:30 PM

Hillary Clinton agreed to
disenfranchise both states before
the primary season began!
She can't have a do-over now!

Posted by: reaganfan | May 21, 2008 5:01:12 PM

Don't count Fl. and Mi. and see if he wins and thier are the women who he seem to forget about but we will not forget.

Posted by: Bishop | May 21, 2008 5:03:04 PM

See, there's one little known fact that the nasty/sexist political commentators keep forgetting about: Clinton's need not play by the rules; they can change them whenever it serves their purpose, and there is no limit as to how audacious it may be to the other players or the common sense of the American people...

Posted by: dlp | May 21, 2008 5:06:36 PM

Posted by: dlp | May 21, 2008 5:07:23 PM

Hundreds of years? That I know of, she's the first woman to run for president. Okay... anyone can be a "monster"--men or women. Annie Oakley??! Did you prefer to use "Indiana Jones" or "GI Joe"?? Glen Close character? So what, let's argue the racist bid then...? Hasn't Obama been the target of racism??

Posted by: noemi in los angeles | May 21, 2008 5:09:35 PM

This is pretty easy really. Hillary just stays in the race until early June, at which time, the superdelegates will be obliged to weigh in. They will of course weigh in heavily and overwhelmingly for Obama. Then, after the nomination is confirmed by the DNC rules, the great states of MI and FL can be awarded as many delegates as the DNC deems fair, split, as is, one-half, etc. No doubt FL and MI will proudly represent in Denver. Why all the hot air from HIllary today in FL? She doesn't want to count all the votes, or she would be adding in the large number of votes cast in caucus states too. Why not?Not to worry! It's so easy, and all this wretched hand-wringing and pleading on HIllary's part is so unnecessary and pathetic. You can't just change and make up some new rules to steal an election. We're not that stupid.

Posted by: Jan | May 21, 2008 5:11:51 PM

Obama has not won the election even if he stands on his head and eats a banana. Hillary has won the popular vote regardless of what the party says and If she does not win then John McCain.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 5:13:45 PM

To those who say Obama needs Hillary's supporters to win? Yup, true story.

Do you think Hillary might need Obama's supporters to win?

Now let me ask you this, do you think she will get Obama's supporters? I wouldn't count on those poll results that have said only about 20% of his supporters would not vote Hillary.

It matters how this thing is won to both sides. It just does.

Posted by: WORKS BOTH WAYS | May 21, 2008 5:14:06 PM

I have to view this as little more than "poisoning the well" against Obama for the general election campaign.
Clinton could have given just this sort of speech in Michigan, which has proposed a compromise solution to the DNC, but that would have entailed her campaigning AGAINST the state's own proposed compromise.

In truth, seating the Florida delegates as per its outlaw primary does Clinton no real good, or, at least, not enough good to matter in the end. The + 38 delegates she might get out of Florida under her best case scenario will not approach Obama's delegate lead, nor will the popular vote differential be enough to put her over the top.

It's Michigan that she needs, but it's to Florida that she goes, stalking Obama there as he tries to somehow make "peace" with the Florida voters, but skipping over her opportunity to challenge the Michigan compromise in Michigan when Obama was there.

Posted by: Lee C. ― U.S.A. | May 21, 2008 5:14:33 PM

we are now learning to cross over and if he picks Thune for vp wow.

Posted by: Bishop | May 21, 2008 5:15:15 PM

I suppose it is beyond what you so highly educated BHO fans could remotely comprehend. HRC is campaigning to help BHO to get the MI and FL counted so that he could remotely have a shot at it, although it is all but certain that BHO will lose anyhow.

You are not gonna win back the poor, less-educated, bitter people. They will go back to cling their guns and God.

Posted by: lazy to think | May 21, 2008 5:15:16 PM

Why don't people look at this issue from the other side? I am sure there were millions of voters who didn't go to the polls because they thought the vote wouldn't count? Aren't they just as disenfranchised? It isn't just about those who voted, but also about those who did not because they were playing by the rules. there are two sides of this issue and Senator Clinton cannot argue one side only.

Posted by: Jan | May 21, 2008 5:17:10 PM

IF SHE WAERE AHEAD IN DELAGATES THEN IT WOULD BE THE DELAGATE COUNT THAT MATTERS, NOT POP VOTES. SHE IA A CHEAT,CHEAT,CHEAT I CAN'T BELEIVE THIS WOMAN HAS ANY SUPPORTERS

Posted by: PROUD AA | May 21, 2008 5:17:51 PM

There are no ethical limits for this woman. Lies, Lies and more lies... Soon, Hillary will be telling us that Obama wants to sell all Floridians and Michiganites into slavery, or send them to a crematorium!!!!! Edwards, Gore, etc, where are you? This conduct needs to be denounced publicly, strongly and NOW!!!!

Posted by: harold | May 21, 2008 5:18:07 PM

Uh, this is a private political party primary. This has nothing to do with "voting rights."

As someone stated quite eloquently, the party could draw straws to pick a candidate.

Primary's are not in the US Constitution.

Posted by: PRIMARY RULES | May 21, 2008 5:18:53 PM

Jan, Clinton cannot argue one side only.
True. So, where were you when she said let's have a re-vote months ago? Obama didn't want it.

Posted by: President | May 21, 2008 5:19:15 PM

Clinton's call to seat the delegates of Florida and Michigan really appear to be self serving......

Posted by: tony | May 21, 2008 5:19:23 PM

I agree with Senator Clinton. All votes should be counted. Senator Obama wants to win by default and corruption. He knew he could not win Michigan so he removed him name from the ballot. And even though he had TV ads out for Florida he did not win the majority of those votes either. He is a flake and a fraud. He thinks all rules should benefit his campaign.

Posted by: Mary | May 21, 2008 5:20:11 PM

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