‘My mama taught me…’
01 June 2008 9:30 pm by Taylor Marsh
Guest post by Scan
Just how much of a joke was the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting Saturday? One need look no further than this quote from Donna Brazile, which may well go down in infamy:
“My mama taught me… (dramatic pause)… to play by the rules and respect those rules. And my mother also taught me, and I’m sure your mother taught you… that when you decide change the rules… middle of the game, end of the game, that is referred to as cheatin’.”
The rules, Donna?
Let’s not forget that she already changed the rules in the middle of the game to strip Michigan of all its delegates (which was not called for), then on Saturday changed the rules at the end of the game to benefit the candidate of her choice (this time making up some crazy new rules to make it work).
First, I hope Donna realizes that by restoring any Michigan delegates at all, she violated her own definition of “cheatin’”, though apparently when Clinton supporters appeal the rules it deserves righteous indignation and an invocation of her mother’s wisdom. But the 69/59 Michigan delegate proposal that she voted for actually went beyond her definition of “cheatin’”. In fact, I don’t know what the word for it is…other than “unfathomable”.
Here, the rule book was simply tossed out, some new rules were quickly scribbled down, and a dangerous precedent was set. The statement from Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy said it best:
We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan. The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
When you change the rules…what’s that called, again, Donna?
Sunday on CNN, Brazile made a strange offer: If it makes Clinton supporters happy, she’ll cast her superdelegate vote for Hillary at the convention to make up for the theft of the four Michigan delegates. It was an odd thing to say, but I guess the blowback from her actions at the RBC meeting is now impossible to ignore.
There is a plus side to the Michigan disaster, however. Now that we know that the RBC can override voter preferences and award delegates to the candidate of their choice, it opens up some intriguing options. For instance, I would encourage the Clinton campaign to go back to the committee and argue that they should be awarded some of Obama’s delegates from Nebraska, Washington and Idaho because the caucuses in those states were not as inclusive as the non-binding primaries that occurred afterward. No exit poll information would be required for this reallocation, either…just certified votes.
But really, the possibilities are endless. And going by the crazy new “roolz”, it’s only fair.
