Is Hillary slapping Howard Dean and the DNC by staying on the ballot in MI?

[RiverStone]

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.

Although Michigan is a critical Midwest state in presidential voting, it violated Democratic National Committee rules in moving its primary earlier in the process. The candidates are honoring the DNC's wishes in skipping the contest.

Clinton broke with the leading candidates, with her campaign issuing a statement saying the New York senator will remain on the ballot. Chris Dodd also plans to stay on the ballot.

"We're honoring the pledge and we won't campaign or spend money in states that aren't in compliance with the DNC calendar," said Clinton spokesman Jay Carson. "We don't think it's necessary to remove ourselves from the ballot."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071009/ap_on_el_pr/michigan_primary

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I'm no fan of Hillary, but it seems she would want to follow the lead of Barack, Joe, John, and Bill and withdraw her name from the MI ballot. Or is she also telling the DNC to fuck off along with the MI Democratic Party?

Or could it be that Howard is just too "Liberal" for Hillary's taste? :think:

[JNelson6563]

1. It's known Camp Clinton has no love for Dean.

Nothing would surprise me.

Julie

[cali]

7. That's putting it mildly.

Look for Howard to be out of a job if she wins the primaries, and before the convention.

[JNelson6563]

18. I'm nothing if not diplomatic.

;-)

[Justitia]

2. Eh, I don't really think it's a direct shot at anyone, just a really, really bad decision. -eom

[rinsd]

3. Actual campaigning would be a slap.

Not engaging in political theater like the other candidates could be risky but its hardly a slap at the DNC.

[rhett o rick]

4. It's clear as a bell, DNC and the people versus DLC and the corporations. The people

are screwed.

[LittleClarkie]

5. How close are people like Sen Nelson of Florida to the Hillary camp

I only ask because sometimes I think this is a concerted effort to undermine his authority in time for the general election, assuming of course she gets the nomination. Which I do believe she is indeed assuming.

They're both DLC at the least, I do believe.

[Ninga]

6. I always wondered what would be the "October" surprise of the Presidential election. I just had the

year wrong.....

Howard Dean has, indeed, been challenged.....and we are witnessing an attempted take-over by the DLC.

[mod mom]

8. Yep the DLC types are undermining Dean (think of Rahm's attack of his '06 strategy)

[rucky]

9. I love Howard and I'm not a Hillary fan, but...

in this case, the DNC needs to be told to fuck off. Candidates should campaign wherever they please. States should control their own system - especially if they're footing the bill. I know there was some dirty backroom shit involved in these deals on stateside, but the DNC is wrong to get into a power struggle.

Unless I'm missing something, the primary system is fucked and this seems inherently unfair to the voters and counterproductive to the party and the process. It's nothing but a pissing match. They need to do what's right to make sure every vote counts, and carries the same weight for every delegate in every state. simple as that.

[MilesColtrane]

12. Your candidate doesn't seem to think the DNC needs to fuck off.

"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 Navarr"

from here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3707842

[rucky]

17. I admire his independent thinking. n/t

[MasonJar]

10. I did not realize that Howard had asked the candidates to not be on the

ballots. When did he say that? And if he did not, then the candidates should do as they please. Their votes will not be registered at the convention anyway. Please stop attacking Hillary for everything she does. It is getting boring and oppresive to us DUers who are trying to make a decision based on knowledge and not on bias.

[hedgehog]

11. Nothing in politics is done without a reason.

If you like the changes that Dean has made, you have to be concerned when a candidate and a candidate's supporters appear to be quietly undermining him. It is a legitimate concern to ask where a candidate intends to take the party.

[RiverStone]

13. And what do you think Hillary's reason was?....n/t

[hedgehog]

15. It confuses the picture when she emerges from Michigan with

a large vote. The meme will be that the other candidates withdrew before she crushed them. Come the convention, there will be pressure to seat her delegates. If nothing else, it undermines Dean.

[mondo joe]

14. I don't think Howard's feelings are that tender. He knows it's politics.

And Hillary is certainly looking to her advantage.

[bain_sidhe]

16. Well, she's got my vote then

I'd personally prefer to tell Iowa and New Hampshire to fuck off.