UPDATE I:
Hillary Clinton's campaign issued a written letter to RBC Chairs, Alexis Herman and James Roosevelt, outlining its position on seating delegates from Florida and Michigan - FULL SEATING OF DELEGATATIONS:
Harold Ickes is hoping for 15 votes in favor of full seating, but the most likely (though by no means the only) compromise consists of this:
"The major dispute over the Florida and Michigan delegations to the Democratic convention in Denver has now boiled down to Hillary Clinton's demand for full seating with no sanctions, and an alternative proposal ... to seat the delega-tions with either half a vote granted to each delegate, or to cut each delegation in half."
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UPDATE II:
The meeting will be televised by the major cable news networks (CNN, MSNBC). As well and much more incisive, C-SPAN will carry the proceedings and will interview several principles involved in the dispute and resolution:
09:30 AM - 3:00 PM ET, LIVE — On C-Span (1) — Watch on TV or online:
Democratic Rules & Bylaws Committee Meeting || Democratic National Committee, Rules and Bylaws Committee - James Roosevelt Jr., Democratic National Committee || Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee
There will also be viewer call-ins to Washington Journal prior to coverage:
07:00-09:30 AM ET:
Washington Journal: Support Democrats (202) 737-0002
Washington Journal: Support Pres. Bush (202) 737-0001
Washington Journal: Support Others (202) 628-0205
Washington Journal Summary Saturday, May 31, 2008
7:00-7:15: Question/Newspaper Articles/Phones
7:15-8:30:
Topic: An update on the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting that is being held in Washington this weekend. The committee is working on a plan to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida to the Democratic National convention this August. Both states were penalized earlier this year for holding their primaries before DNC rules allowed. Michigan has 157 delegates to the convention, including 128 pledged delegates and 29 superdelegates. Florida has 211 delegates, 185 pledged and 26 superdelegates.
7:15-7:30: On the Phone (photo ID avail) Phoner REP. ROBERT WEXLER w/calls D-Florida, 19th District Obama for President Florida Co-Chair
7:30-8:00: GORDON TROWBRIDGE (TROH-bridge) Detroit News Washington Reporter www.detnews.com
8:00-8:30: REP. CORRINE BROWN D-Florida, 3rd District - Clinton for President Supporter
But SHE didn't break the rules. There were no rules regarding taking names off the ballot in MI. Sen. Obama decided to do that on his own. And then he (along with John Edwards) instructed their supporters to vote "Uncommitted" as a protest!
Now, how does that deserve 55 delegates - especially when (through exit polls conducted in several states during this time) Edwards received anywhere from 7-14% of the vote in other states.
Don't you think some of those "uncommitted" delegates might not appreciate having their votes handed over to Barack Obama?
What's fair about Hillary Clinton being forced to give up her votes to him? The DNC broke their own "rules" - part of the body's constitution calling for "fair reflection" (meaning that delegates selected must meet this constitutional provision of "fair reflection" of the will of the voters).
I think you have completely bought the media spin about Clinton breaking the rules. No such thing happened in either case.
Posted by: LW | May 31, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Today is Saturday...day of reckoning. Ickes target number of 15 votes for, did not come to fruition.
Alas! We can now move on. When you have rules...you must obide by them. When you disregard those rules...that's called:
"Cheating!"
No good ever comes from it! Perhaps even in her old age...she hopefully has learned something from this.
From one Senior Citizen female to another.
Posted by: MOJO3 | May 31, 2008 at 05:07 PM