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Hillary campaigns for McCain (again)
"If Democrats send the message that we don't fully value your votes, we know Sen. [John] McCain and the Republicans will be more than happy to have them," Clinton said.
"The Republicans will make a simple and compelling argument: Why should Florida and Michigan voters trust the Democratic Party to look out for you when they won't even listen to you?" she added.
The key words there are "fully value." She's arguing that if the DNC doesn't seat the delegates without penalty, an outcome she knows is very unlikely (and a very bad idea, according to McAuliffe in 2004) voters in Florida should be expected to vote for McCain in protest. This is the idea she's planting. She's not responding to an argument from McCain, she's making McCain's argument for him.
Look carefully at what she says. She's proposing an argument on McCain's behalf, and telling voters in Florida that they should find this argument in support of McCain compelling.
With friends like this, who needs the GOP?
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Comments (16)
Hillary is making an argument that there is only one true Democrat in the Democratic primaries, and it is her. If anyone really believes that, I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you. Oh wait, those that do believe that have already purchased.
May 28, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
From that article:
"The Republicans will make a simple and compelling argument: Why should Florida and Michigan voters trust the Democratic Party to look out for you when they won't even listen to you?" she added. "
I know it's unpleasant that she says it. But it's true, and I bet that's exactly what the republicans got in the plans.
But, rabbit, don't get all worked up. There's a post on Kos that Obama will agree to seat both delegations in full because he will get enough delegates by then not to feel threatened. So it works out in the end, hopefully.
May 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know it's unpleasant that she says it. But it's true, and I bet that's exactly what the republicans got in the plans.
But just as with Hillary's earlier endorsement of McCain, the same thing coming from GOP lips wouldn't carry nearly as much weight as having it come from Hillary.
Imagine an ad in which McCain makes that argument. Now imagine the same ad, a pro-McCain ad, in which Hillary makes that argument. Especially if Hillary is the running mate, heaven forbid. Can you imagine Obama's own running mate appearing in a McCain ad arguing that Floridians should see this as a compelling argument to vote against Obama?
Second, she's predicating this argument on an outcome that is extremely likely. She could be arguing just for some representation, without insisting that Floridians should vote for McCain unless the delegates are seated in full, without penalty. That's an argument that has nothing to do with trying to win in November. It's purely about the only option that keeps a sliver of hope alive for her campaign.
But, rabbit, don't get all worked up. There's a post on Kos that Obama will agree to seat both delegations in full because he will get enough delegates by then not to feel threatened. So it works out in the end, hopefully.
That would do it. In fact I wrote a blog about exactly that yesterday, but it's slipped off the list by now. But you've also probably seen the article saying that by the DNC rules, the absolutely most the committee could agree to give FL and MI in the 5/31 meeting is half.
And in that likely outcome, Hillary is presenting an argument to Floridians that they should be expected to vote for McCain. She says very clearly that this is a GOP argument she's making, and she says that Florida voters should find this GOP argument compelling.
Seriously. With Democrats like this, who needs the GOP.
May 28, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely Clinton gets way too much credit.
Check out these news clip mashups. Watch the captions. The GOP is questioned, Hillary is not, although they say the exact same thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pj_hZn_rH4
May 29, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
And let's not forget just how serious this is in terms of who is being helped.
With statements about victory and never surrendering, McCain (I almost said Bush, and there is the problem, isn’t it) appears to be fighting any war but Iraq, but which one: WWII, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam, etc.? I fear that the rest of his foreign policy will be nearly as out of touch as his understanding of Iraq. Our responsibility here is to not forget how we were bullied into Iraq and to keep reminding our leaders that we haven’t forgotten (including Hillary).
“Iraq: It Was Never the Right Choice (and we told you so) http://msa4.wordpress.com/
— Posted by Mitchell in New York
May 28, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
THANK MICTHELL A, ALL i CAN ADD IS THAT mCcAIN HAS PTSD AND ALZHEIMER
May 29, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Victory over whom? Surrender to whom? Sunni's? Shiites? Who?
The Wingnut Who Used be Known as a Maverick has no clue, but whatever it may be, he will still see it as "surrender." That's his story and he's sticking to it. And let us all say "amen"
May 29, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Monsters Inc is switching to full-blown Poison The Well mode.
Classless losers.
May 28, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just want to let everybody know, for historical reference, that this was the day Audie Murphy died in a car crash.
I just automatically think of May 28 as Audie Death Day, in case that ever pops up in conversation and it seems inexplicable to you.
So don't freak out or make a big deal out of it if I bring it up.
May 28, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary made a statement that she is committed to dems winning in November. She should have said, as long as she is the nominee.
Oh well, we have our work cut out for us. This should have been the year of the democrats. We have dynamite candidates competing, record voting in all states, record fund raising...and yet we may not make it to the finish line.
There is no excuse, this is our year!! There will be a lot of damage control when this is nomination process is over. There can be only one winner, and the rules have been in place and accepted by all candidates from the beginning. I thought every candidate running for the democratic nominee position would place the good of the party first, but that is not happening.
May 28, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary made a statement that she is committed to dems winning in November. She should have said, as long as she is the nominee.
Hillary also agreed that no delegates would be seated in Florida or Michigan. So does it mean ANYTHING when she says something like that? NO!
I hope your scenario about Obama winning even with her being given all the dels from FL & Mi (well not all from Florida. He won some there even if hers were illegitimate.) is true. OTOH, I'm going to be permanently pissed off at the DNC leadership if that is what happens; and I won't be able to trust them about anything else for the foreseeable future. I know "all's fair in love, war, and politics," but it doesn't have to be that way.
May 29, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stay Classy Hill
May 28, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hold on now, didn't the Republicans also halve the number of delegates from MI and FL?
Oh, wait, I was expecting her to make sense.... sorry. My bad.
May 29, 2008 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
She is not trying to help McCain. She is just an incompetent politician.
May 29, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someday will somebody post about Florida's decision to go early; that is, who were the players who made this very bad, very troubling decision for Florida democrats. Was Republican governor Crist involved, even tangentially?
I see nothing wrong with starting with Iowa and New Hampshire, but after that perhaps a lottery should be used against a regional matrix.
We just don't need this kind of problem ever again.
May 29, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here you go - Hillary Interview and News report of what actually happened in FL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIXBtHfr0C8
May 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
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