Michigan's primary gamble falling apart
So...how's that DNC rulebreaking working out for you, Governor Granholm?
Markos says it's "ridiculous" that the candidates are "letting Iowa decide where they can travel and who they can talk to" - but we disagree. This isn't about Iowa. It's about whether our party's rules mean anything. (If they don't, then we're a pretty disorganized party - which is a problem that Markos and Jerome identified in Crashing the Gate last year).
The candidates are demonstrating their willingness to respect the guidelines established by the Democratic National Committee, and we applaud that.
As MichiganLiberal's David Boyle says:
Four Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, undercutting the validity of the contest.Michigan Democratic Party spokesman Jason Moon is correct in saying that "the monopoly that Iowa and New Hampshire have needs to end" but dismissing the hard work that the Democratic National Committee did to improve the presidential nominating process and instigating a free-for-all was not the right way to respond.
Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office.
A fourth candidate, Joe Biden, said in a statement that he was bypassing Michigan's primary, calling it a beauty contest.
"Today's decision reaffirms our pledge to respect the primary calendar as established by the DNC and makes it clear that we will not play into the politics of money and Republican machinations that only serve to interfere with the primary calendar," said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro.
All of the Democratic candidates already have agreed not to campaign in Michigan because it broke Democratic National Committee rules when it moved its primary ahead of Feb. 5.
Other Democratic candidates had until the end of the day to decide if they'll stay on the ballot.
Markos says it's "ridiculous" that the candidates are "letting Iowa decide where they can travel and who they can talk to" - but we disagree. This isn't about Iowa. It's about whether our party's rules mean anything. (If they don't, then we're a pretty disorganized party - which is a problem that Markos and Jerome identified in Crashing the Gate last year).
The candidates are demonstrating their willingness to respect the guidelines established by the Democratic National Committee, and we applaud that.
As MichiganLiberal's David Boyle says:
If Mark Brewer [Michigan's Democratic party chair] can't change the plan and have a February 9 caucus, perhaps he should consider resigning from office. He messed up seriously by caving in and supporting the rule breaking early primary plan that defied the whole DNC and Howard Dean. (See my earlier diaries on this)There's no doubt the nominating process needs to be improved, and Iowa and New Hampshire's dominance removed. But that is a discussion the whole country, including the Democratic and Republican parties, needs to have.
How does he look now? And how do John and Debbie Dingell look? And, I must say, Jennifer Granholm and Andy Dillon, who were seduced by Mike Bishop [Republican State Senate Majority Leader] into defying their own party's National Committee primary schedule?
I hope this all teaches the MDP [Michigan Democratic Party] a serious lesson; part of which is that they have done a terrible, terrible job for the Democrats, and the people, of Michigan. (Including wasting time on the early primary nonsense, rather than getting ready for the budget battle with the Republicans...)
Thanks to Barack, John, and Bill for upholding the integrity of the DNC primary process.
# Posted by Andrew : 11:17 AM
Comments:
I like this blog! I will post a link of it! I watched some of this unfold on TV and it sounds like Hillary's people are playing it off like "She's the only one who cares about Michigan"... paleeeeze!
Hillary Clinton has got my vote locked down. She knew that Michigan carried Bill with a huge majority. Good for her for staying in the primary.
Actually I fully support our state leaders on the democratic and republican side. Quite frankly Michigan has always gotten the short end of the stick. We have less federal dollars spent here and federal employees per capita than virtually any other state. While our manufacturing jobs have been withering away the U.S. has done nothing. The southern states drain our lakes, ship their garbage to our state and give us pennies in return. I and some friends are getting some money together to run an ad to encourage people that if a candidate won't enter our primary, even if they get the nomination we won't vote for them. We are tired of being that rust belt state that nobody cares about any more. The powers that be are never going to fix the system so we will do it on our own.
People in Iowa and New Hampshire brag about the first time they met a presidential candidate and how many they have met. Their just as elitist as the people they help put in Washington. Lets see whether the candidates who don't campaign here can get elected with 17 votes going automatically to the other party.
Anyone who is paying attention knows that we were probably going to choose a caucus anyway ... this just got us some attention on the national stage, and helped set us up for the next time the rules are made.
But whatever happens with the caucus v primary, the DNC has handled this poorly. The GOP candidates have been here twice in the last 4 weeks. They are bragging about how they come here when our candidates have pledged not to. And these Democrats pull out on the very day when the GOP candidates are here to debate? Classy.
Way to turn Michigan red. Thanks, Democratic Party ... we can always count on the Democrats to pull defeat out of the jaws of victory.
But at least people like you & David have something to cheer about.
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