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The Michigan flip-flop in 2 quick quotes.
As this discussion enters what we can only hope is its last couple of weeks, some brief research helped me distill the integrity problem of the Clinton MI position into two little quotes for my own reference.
October '07 (speaking about the upcoming MI primary):
"It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything,"
Clinton said Thursday during an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio's
call-in program, "The Exchange."
March '08:
"If you're a voter from Florida or Michigan, you know that we should count your
votes," she said. "The results of those primaries were fair and should be
honored.
I know there's no groundbreaking info here, but these help cut through the onslaught of arguments being thrown around for counting this way or that.
It also provides part of the answer when I look back in mild astonishment and wonder how I could start so completely neutral about which one got the nomination and wind up squarely in the Obama camp.
Consider revamping the whole process for next time? Fine by me. But if we need anything after the last several years, it's a refresher on putting self-serving expediency squarely behind the rule of rules.
Comments (9)
Just like NAFTA and the Iraq war vote she was privately against the DNC punishment but was for it publically.
May 27, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't stand her hypocrisy. How can she possibly call the Michigan primary fair? Neither of them campaigned (which is especially a disadvantage for anyone not having the last name "Clinton"), she was the only major candidate on the ballot, there was a misinformation campaign telling people that an "uncommitted" vote was sabotage for the Democratic party, we were told it wouldn't count, we were told our vote would be better off going in the Republican primary. The list goes on and on.
As someone who took the time to vote "uncommitted" in Michigan in support of Barack Obama, her actions and words regarding the Michigan primary have been the most reprehensible thing I have seen from her this entire campaign. Especially after her campaign suggested splitting the "uncommitted" vote between the candidates and calling it a compromise. Oh, and it's a civil rights issue too. I've stated some of these points elsewhere, but I just can't get over how contradictory and hypocritical every statement she makes about the Michigan primary is.
No matter who you support, this is objectively wrong.
May 27, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the reality check on Hillary's alternate universe. These statements of hers can't be replayed too often.
May 27, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been wondering what her response is to her about face on the issue of seating Michigan and Florida. Has any reporter asked her directly about her October quote? I haven't seen it.
May 27, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know if any reporter confronted her directly about her Oct quote. But I already know her answer, which will be on these lines:
You know Tim, voters of Michigan paid close attention to candidate positions, they're one of the most informed voters in the country and they came out in records numbers. We cannot disenfranchise them, this is not just a DNC rules issue, this is a civil rights issue.
She'll never answer the question at hand- because while the answer is clear why something that didn't mean much in October means everything to her in march, she can't answer honestly. She thought she'll wrap this up on Feb 5, and ofcourse rest is history.
At this point, Obama must to 110% confident this will be resolved without affecting the overall outcome, that's why he hasn't said much about the popular vote or MI, FL settlement but if Hillary plays a surprise card I can totally see the Hillary audio made into a moveon.org ad or something- because at that point it becomes a public opinion will matter most.
By the way, does anyone have the link for the audio of her interview in October, it would be useful to headline on Kos and Huffpo will not hesitate to feature it either.
This is what she said in the same interview:
It strikes me that this is politics as usual, where politicians say one thing and do something else. Mrk Twain parody in action.
May 27, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. I've been wondering the same thing. It didn't happen in the debates or in any interview I've watched. Why doesn't some journalist ask her about this BEFORE SATURDAY! Anyone?
May 28, 2008 2:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a link to the quote about MI in Oct. '07:
http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=zydzt
I think I've seen a few references to this inconsistency, but it could certainly bear repeating--
May 28, 2008 6:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's what I call service! (Hopeful Skeptic is linking to audio of the first quote, to be perfectly clear.) Not much use for a public spot, but it sure could spice up a PowerPoint presentation at the upcoming meeting, eh?
Also sincere thanks to everyone for the comments and recs. I have been reading the frontpage from nearly the beginning but am nonetheless a n00b back here, and I appreciate the feedback.
May 28, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
mischief:" Obama is not stealing this election. He successfully campaigned and has won the majority of pledged delegates based on the rules that EVERYONE agreed to at the beginning of the process."
'Nuf said.
May 28, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
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