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Obama Backs Florida Compromise

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May 31, 2008 1:31 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, John Santucci and Gregory Wallace report: On behalf of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., announced Saturday that the Democratic frontrunner is willing to seat all of Florida delegates with half a vote each in order to end the stalemate over how to allocate the state’s delegates.

"This action will involve extra delegates, up to 19 delegates being awarded to Sen. Clinton," Wexler said. "Sen. Obama should be commended for his willingness to offer this extraordinary concession in order to promote reconciliation to Florida voters."

Although Clinton's Florida representative, State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, said, "I want it all" -- meaning a full seating with full voting power -- Clinton's advisers concede in private (and Bill Clinton concedes in this April 29 audio clip) that the former first lady would be satisfied with a full delegate seating with 1/2 vote for each delegate.

Wexler sought to put Obama's Florida position in a magnanimous light, saying that the 19 delegates Clinton would net over Obama from Florida would "actually amount" to the same number of delegates that she netted from her victories in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Clinton received 12 more pledged delegates than Obama in Pennsylvania and seven more pledged delegates than Obama in Ohio.

"Let us unify. Let us move on," Wexler said.

Resolution of Michigan -- where Obama took his name off the ballot -- has thus far proved more elusive.

May 31, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (89)

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FloridaDem - Wrong. The Florida House approved the measure 118-0.

That is a FACT.

Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 2:14:22 PM

Um no, Neil. I was speaking directly to and about you. No apologies.

Posted by: Ellen | May 31, 2008 2:16:59 PM

neil1785 - Nobody is going to vote for a person that advocates assassination as a way to futher their own political career.

It is OVER. That's just the way it is. Come Wednesday morning, Barack Obama will be the Democratic Nominee to be the President of the United States.

Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 2:17:04 PM

I dont' believe for one second that Hillary would benefit from an Independent.

That move 'could' elect Barack Hussein Obama! I just can't sit by and allow that to happen with my vote!

If she isn't the democrat nominee, than I have to do what I must, vote against Obama!

Hillary '08 or Anybody But Barack!

Posted by: Krissy K | May 31, 2008 2:21:03 PM

------Barack Obama will be the Democratic Nominee to be the President of the United States.--------

And poor, senile Grandpa McCoy doesn't stand a chance against him. I welcome the time of hope once again that we can get past the past devastating nearly 8 years and onto something not just better, but positive and much greater.

Posted by: Ellen | May 31, 2008 2:22:07 PM

A BHO voter is someone who reads "Audacity of Hope". An anti-BHO voter is someone who understands BHO"

- paraphrasing Ronald Reagan -

Posted by: csquan | May 31, 2008 2:22:45 PM

hillary lol good ole dumpster butt lol

Posted by: mike | May 31, 2008 2:22:56 PM

Krissy - I believe you are correct. It's nice to see a Clinton supporter that isn't deluded and can see the facts.

I also respect your opinion and respect your right to vote as you choose.

Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 2:23:47 PM

Well after watching this morning's session of The DNC Rules and Bye-Laws Committee, I'm both shocked and feel shamed, it has been run like a Circus!

The performance from Harold Ickes is what perhaps I expected, I see why Hillary has made so many mistakes, all the morning it was a if Steam was Coming of His Ears, whenever things didn't go his way you knew it.

But what annoyed me was having an audience made it seem as if it was a footie game the cheering when it was felt points where scored for either one candidate or the other, but what DISGUSTED! me was seeing members of the committee also stand up and cheer and clap at points scored, I though that the dies was to UNITE OUR PARTY - SHAME ON YOU MEMBERS AND THE DISGRACE YOU BRING ON OUR PARTY!

Michigan and Florida put forward a superb case, which previously I did not support, now I do and I understand why, and I believe it is best for Unity. But once more so many of The Rules and Bye-Laws Committee were solely interested in the one Candidate they support, not THE PARTY FIRST which is a Disgrace and Shame on Them!

Posted by: John B Sheffield | May 31, 2008 2:25:43 PM

This has to be run better next time. Obama needs to make sure that if he has opposition in the 2012 primaries that the rules deal better with the screw-ups that Clinton-era leadership created.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | May 31, 2008 2:26:00 PM

And before you all jump on me on this blog too, let me assure you that you can save your fear mongering!

I don't buy your 'fear' of McCain!

We will have a dem majority in both the house and senate! McCain will be crippled!

He is not right wing enough for his own party. They view him as a 'liberal'.

His website is a joke! His staff made that in attempt to make his base happy with him!

He is more likey to apppoint a moderate judge than anyone else! Isn't that what you Obama supporters want???

So please just save your scare tactics!

Hillary '08

Posted by: Krissy K | May 31, 2008 2:26:25 PM

Yourall sexist against barack obama causer you want a woman to win, hillary ixs no angel. Im voting for balack obama cause i like him. once you vote black youll never go back. besides the demographic is changing the kids of today are the voters of tommorow and they are more open minded to race. So in the near future it will be much harder to elect republicans once the racist 60's types no loinger are around to vote there racist minds.

Posted by: chill | May 31, 2008 2:28:33 PM

People are watching c-span and co and yet they do not understand the concessions. All Obama supporters did was to allow everything the Florida democrats for Clinton asked for with additional concessions. Clinton gets all the votes but the Delegates only get half the votes thus the people's will still prevail but the delegates get punished. Left for me Obama should never have granted any concession at all. If it was Obama, nobody will be debating this now and thats the truth. Mark it now, many states are going to be moving their state primaries earlier than normal. Can you punish them? No. Clinton has set a precedence.

Posted by: vuzous | May 31, 2008 2:28:56 PM

It has to be half a vote otherwise we will be going through this fiasco every election cycle. Personally I don`t think either Florida or Michigan should count, elections where candidates aren`t
allowed to campaign and make their case known is not democratic. American Idol at least lets them sing before people vote.

Posted by: Jax | May 31, 2008 2:31:52 PM

Jesus, can they get the trained seals on both sides out of the room so they can wrap this up?

Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 2:35:06 PM

Seating of Florida & Michigan and the allocation of delegate SHOULD NOT impact the outcome of the Primaries!

The United States stop being a monarchy a long time ago, over two centuries ago.

This means that no candidate should be awarded an election 'victory' without any campaigning on the ground, but based SOLELY on the prior POPULARITY OF HER HUSBAND!

If Democrats of Florida & Michigan are unhappy with the Republican leaders in their State's agenda, then Dems of Florida and Michigan should cease the whining to the DNC and America; go back to the citizens of Florida & Michigan this November; and WIN BACK THE STATES' GOVERNMENT!

It is obviously that the Dems of Fl & Mi were played by their GOP counterparts.
Notice that the GOP of Fl & Mi settled their Primaries amicably? There is a reason for that.

The witty GOP of Fl & Mi move up the Primaries and settled with their National Party in the hope that the Dems will be in dissension. lol

Posted by: Patriot | May 31, 2008 2:39:31 PM

Hillary is not gonna get it, the black man prevails, how does that make you left win idiots feel lol mccvain wins cause you morons can't unify lol vote mccain 2008 we will accept any of you who wanna come to the winning team lol.

Posted by: smarty | May 31, 2008 2:44:09 PM

Krissy K, say goodbye to Mrs C as a national candidate in the future. Most people I know, spit now, to get bad taste out of their mouths when her name is mentioned. She wont be VP.
Her negatives are now down near Bush the traitor.

Posted by: bruce becker | May 31, 2008 2:44:25 PM

I don't agree with you guys on this. I was all for 50% of the vote counting, but because of the meeting this morning and you can clearly see the committe wants to award 100% of FL votes, but won't be able to because Obama will contest it, it is going to make Obama look bad. This from a middle aged, white, FL registered democrat, Obama contributor AND delegate in the primaries.

Posted by: Pamela Byrd | May 31, 2008 2:45:06 PM

Ellen,

I sympathise with you.

I'm not an American, so maybe have a slightly nore rounded world perspective.

I can tell you that Neil is how the world percieves the average Americans. Boorish, unintelligent, not wanting to debate but shout down and insult. Basically a dumb bully. I think it may be an insult though to average Americans to label them with Neil.

Neil, my boy...understand this...the world is tired and suffering, the world does not need lobyists or the rich getting richer, the world needs a black president, the world needs a hopeful message. America needs Obama but the world needs him much much more.

You wont understand this though. You never will GET IT. So Ellen dont bother with this waste of space anymore..let him go back to watching Fox.

Vote Obama Americans...please.

Posted by: joanovarc | May 31, 2008 2:46:31 PM

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