Democratic Party: Where half doesn't = 50 percent
Here's an interesting nuance for Saturday's meeting of the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee, which will attempt (on C-Span) to resolve the debate over changing the current rules to seat some, or all, of the Michigan and Florida delegations.
Yesterday, party lawyers seemed to take off the table the option of re-seating the entire delegations, which is what Clinton needs to make some serious inroads into an Obama delegate lead that has reached nearly 200. The current, most discussed compromise involves seating half of the delegations, and apportioning delegates based to some degree on the unsanctioned, beauty-contest primaries each state held.
But, there are two ways of doing "half" with, it turns out, some significant consequences. You can seat the entire delegation and give only 1/2 of a vote to each delegate. Or you can seat only 50% of the delegates. MSNBC's First Read:
"If Florida delegates are seated in their entirety, but only have their vote counted as a .5, then Clinton will net approximately 19 delegates out of the state. But if the delegation is cut in half, that's done in every congressional district as well as statewide, then suddenly Clinton's advantage is only a net of six.
"That's right, the complicated nature of the DNC delegate selection process will be a good reminder to math majors everywhere that a 50% cut is not the same as a halving of an individual number."
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Comments (1)
Honestly, this was not an issue until Hillary fell behind. The more she fell behind the louder and more demanding her voice became. It is clearly obvious from her many statements that she does not give a hoot about the voters, her only concern is returning to the White House. Why do I say that. Back in January it was said by Clinton that FL and MI did not count they broke the rules. Also stated was that the only measurement required was the delegate vote and that the popular vote was a mute issue. That was when she had a good lead in Delegate count but was lagging in popular vote. Now she is trailing in popular vote with absolutely no chance of gaining the voted delegate lead. Hence, the only measuring tool is the popular vote and the voted delegate lead does not count. Additionally she now claims to be approaching the Primary voted delegat lead. This is accomplished using the "New Ever Changing Clinton Fuzzy Math Book", in which the caucus states no longer count (again) as in her words they are unfair and do not reflect the will of the all the people. Something is wrong with her stand, seriously wrong. Senator Clinton demands that all votes be counted but then again rejects the 14 caucus voted states. She also states the casucus votes are unfair because they do not reflect the will of all the people; that rule should also apply to those millions that did not vote in FL and MI for the presidential candidate as they were told their votes would not count. Something is seriously wrong with this picture don't you think? Caucus states reflect the will of the people that took the time to attend the caucuses, yet they dont count. This is strange, how can you count every one yet not count those caucus states that you lost? All votes must count in Florida and Michingan, however over a millon people were told their votes would not count and didnt vote, so how does this correctly reflect the will of the people? The whole thing would not matter one eyeotta to the Clinton family were she winning this nomination. So my question to the DNC is where do you draw the line in the sand. First you need to have Senator Clinton explain her position in clear and simple terms. If her position is that ALL votes must count, then COUNT ALL VOTES including Caucus State Votes THAT SHE LOST. Is it Popular vote or Delegate Vote? If it is popular vote than COUNT ALL POPULAR VOTES INCLUDING CAUCUS STATES, even is it is necessary to estimate those votes based upon past data released from caucus states. Lets get real about this. Senator Clinton no matter how desparate she is can not dictate rules, and procedures by changing, bending, twisting and manipulating the rules in the last inning to benefit herself. Fact be know she was completely out classed in the way she managed and set up her tactical plan for the nomination bid. Senator Obama ran, managed and put together a plan that included all states and all people and just plain and simple handed her butt to her on a plate.
School of hard knocks, they (the Clintons) underestimated the Obama camp, Obama's ability to appeal to the voting public, and the will of the grass roots organization built and established by Senator Obama. They all voted and made their voices heard loud and clear.