Clinton's Actions Manipulated the Ballot

[MadBadger]

Riegle: Clinton's actions manipulated the ballot
January 14, 2008

By TINA LAM

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Michigan Democratic ballot is a sham that was rigged by Hillary Rodham Clinton, her husband and her supporters to give the nation the impression that she’s the leading candidate in Michigan, an angry former Sen. Don Riegle said Monday.

Riegle appeared at a rally in Detroit today to encourage would-be supporters of Barack Obama and John Edwards to vote uncommitted in Tuesday’s primary. Riegle said he supports one of the two, but wouldn’t say which.


“What happened in Michigan is not very different from what used to happen in the old Soviet Union,” Riegle said. “The Clinton machine manipulated the ballot. They don’t care how they win, only that they do. It’s wrong and people need to know that.”

Riegle said the Democratic candidates had an understanding, after Michigan defied the party and tried to become the first state to hold a primary, that none of them would compete in Michigan. Obama and Edwards honored the agreement, but Clinton did not and put her name on the ballot, he said.

“People should not permit the Clintons—both Bill and Hillary—to have an unfair advantage in Michigan,” said Riegle.

More...

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/NEWS15/80114043/0/NEWS15

[L0oniX]

1. What? You expected Shillary to be fare? LOL

[DainBramaged]

10. Another red x checked off

[Lucinda]

2. BS. Edwards and Obama took their names off the ballot. It was unnecessary.

They had all agreed to refrain from campaigning. Taking their names off was done to woo Iowa and NH.

[papau]

19. True - the OP's source is spouting BS - but don't wait for Obama to tell him to stop

[Lucinda]

20. Some wouldn't stop if Obama DID speak up.

Did truth ever matter? Or is it something I read in a book somewhere?

[Double T]

3. This place has become a propaganda mill of epic proportions.

You forgot to mention there are NO DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES AVAILABLE for ANY DEMOCRATIC candidate.

[wyldwolf]

4. Ask Sen. Don Riegle what, exactly, the Clintons did?

[rinsd]

5. Yes, the Clintons forced the PR stunt of the other candidates removing their names.

Sounds like Obama surrogates are just fine with breaking the spirit of the pledge by campaigning against Hillary.

[rodeodance]

23. And What exactly was this Clinton 'stunt' you claim????

[SaveElmer]

6. Riegle is a liar...nt

[cali]

11. Prove it.

I imagine he knows a lot more about this than you do. Calling him a liar is just desperate.

[MonkeyFunk]

17. He's lying

because there was no manipulation. There was no requirement whatsoever that she remove her name from the ballot. The others CHOSE to do so. Clinton did not add her name after the DNC decision.

Neither she, Gravel, Kucinich nor Dodd removed their names.

And she has kept her commitment not to campaign in Michigan, unlike Kucinich.

[rodeodance]

24. thanks for some reality based Truthiness.

[niceypoo]

7. Recount the votes then....

...apparently you are acquiring a taste for crow.

[MadBadger]

8. Recount the votes??? What the fuck are you smoking?

[MadBadger]

12. Looks like somebody only read the subject and not the text. Now who looks like a fool???

That would be you.

[AX10]

9. Senator Reigle is a LIAR!

There is no benefit to any of the candidates since the state has no delegates.

[cali]

13. Oh yes there is. It's widely thought that they will be seated

and we know enough about the Clintons to know they'll be fighting hard for that to happen.

You're calling someone a liar who knows far more about this than you possibly can.

[Windy]

15. certainly there is. Its perception. the media will still report that Clinton won the vote

That if she isn't beaten out by uncommitted.

Clinton is also hoping that the DNC will change its mind come convention time.

Debbie Dingel, who is a GM lobbyist here in Michigan and one of the heads of the Michigan Democratic party and a huge Clinton supporter cooked up the scheme to move up the primary here. Michigan voters have been disenfranchised as a result.

Many michigan dems are going to vote for Romney or Paul to try and block a McCain win, other will vote uncommitted or for Kucinich as opposed to Clinton. Whatever happens, if the win goes in Hillary's column, it won't be reflective of the electorate!

[IndianaGreen]

14. I am totally against Hillary, but when it comes to Michigan I blame the DNC

for voter suppression. They are the ones that disenfranchised Michigan Democrats by taking all their delegates away. They should have just stripped the superdelegates instead of punishing the voters, but the Stalinist streak shown by Chairman Dean leaves me no choice but to support a credentials challenge in Denver to get Michigan and Florida seated.

I hope Hillary gives the green light for such a challenge. It is the democratic thing to do!

[DainBramaged]

22. Then vote for the Rethugs, why pollute the bandwidth with anti-Democratic candidate propaganda??

[Maribelle]

16. Hillary leads by double digits in Florida, and all their names are on the ballot.

And early voting in Florida began today.


On edit:

Clinton is still in the lead with 52 percent of Democrats likely to vote in Florida. Barack Obama in second with 31 percent, and John Edwards has 9 percent.



http://www.cfnews13.com/Features/FloridaDecides/Polls/2008/1/14/clinton_leads_latest_florida_poll.html

[SaveElmer]

18. Former Republican, member of the Keating Five, Lobbyist , Obama shill...

Don Riegle lies for Obama....

I'm shocked!!!

[Skip Intro]

21. Sometimes I feel like I have stumbeled into a daycare just before nap time.

The whining coming from the hate-Hillary brigade is pathetic.

Obama and Edwards took their names off the ballot. Nobody else is responsible for their actions.

[CoffeeCat]

25. This could become a VERY SERIOUS situation...

I'll admit that I don't have all of the facts in this situation,
but it seems a bit odd that the Dem party would agree to keep their
names off the ballot--with everyone agreeing that the Michigan
delegates will not count.

Why is Hillary's name on the ballot then? What has she said
about this?

With a similar situation in Florida, I find it interesting what's
been written. I read the other day that Florida is suing to have
the right to cast their delegate votes. Ok, what if a similar
lawsuit is filed in Michigan---a day before the election or
even after the vote?

I'm a bit nervous about this situation. Again, I've only
read a bit on the subject, so if someone can shed some light,
I'd be grateful.

[Lucinda]

26. There was no reason to remove it. So she didn't. And it was smart.

We NEED Michigan in the general. She and the others agreed to not campaign there as a censure of the change in date, not to remove their names from the ballot.

Edwards and Obama CHOSE to remove their names...presumably to gain favor with Iowa and NH.

[Orangepeel]

27. the phrase "manipulated the ballot" is incorrect and misleading

she didn't manipulate anything. In fact, it is a LACK of doing something (taking her name off the ballot) that people are complaining about.

Did she take advantage of a political situation? Yes
Did she disrespect the DNC? Probably
Did she renege on an agreement she made? I don't know, but possibly
Did she "manipulate the ballot"? No. She didn't change or move or arrange anything. She didn't do what the other candidates did.