Democrats Closer to Finish Line

On Saturday, the Democratic National Committee met to decide the fate of delegates from Michigan and Florida. The campaign for the democratic nomination is going down to the wire with 3 more contests left: South Dakota, Montana and Puerto Rico. In the meantime, the corporate media is again launching a full scale attack on Barack Obama.

Photo: Democrats Closer to Finish Line

Democrats Closer to Finish Line

This time it’s a Catholic priest, a guest speaker at the church Senator Obama was a member of, and naturally the media is claiming the man is his best buddy, confidant, advisor, ad nauseum. The corporate media’s intentions couldn’t be more transparent. Ultimately, due to intense pressure, Senator Obama has written a letter to the church informing them of his intent to disassociate himself from them.

In his official statement, Senator Obama said, "I'm not denouncing the church and I'm not interested in people who want me to denounce the church," adding that “the new pastor at Trinity and the church have been suffering from the attention my campaign has focused on them…It's clear that now that I'm a candidate for president, every time something is said in the church by anyone associated with Trinity, including guest pastors, the remarks will imputed to me even if they totally conflict with my long-held views, statements and principles," he said.

"I have no idea how it will impact my presidential campaign but I know it was the right thing to do for me and my family."

After fierce deliberations from early morning to evening, with frequent unruly interruptions, yelling and chants from Clinton supporters, a decision was rendered. Half of the delegates will be counted from each state. This was a huge concession on the part of the Obama camp. However, this did not satisfy the greedy and dishonest Clinton camp. They feel entitled to it ALL despite the fact they are the ones that happily used the rules violations to their own advantage. They are screaming gender discrimination and other such outrageously stupid nonsense.

Clinton camp delegate, Harold Ickes, angrily informed the committee that Clinton had instructed him to reserve her right to appeal the matter to the Democratic Party credentials committee, which could ultimately drag the matter to the convention floor in August.

The Clinton camp insisted Obama shouldn't get any, zero/none/nada, of the pledged delegates in Michigan since he “chose” not to put his name on the ballot, and she should get 73 pledged delegates with 55 uncommitted. Obama's team insisted the only fair solution was to split the pledged delegates in half between the two campaigns, with 64 each.

The committee agreed on a compromise offered by the Michigan Democratic Party that would split the difference, allowing Clinton to take 69 delegates and Obama 59. Each delegate would get half a vote at the convention in Denver this summer according to the deal.

They also agreed to seat the Florida delegation based on the outcome of the January primary, with 105 pledged delegates for Clinton and 67 for Obama, but with each delegate getting half a vote as a penalty.

The resolution increased the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination to 2,118, leaving Obama needing 66 more delegates to win the nomination. This places him within striking distance after the three final primaries are held in the next three days. Super delegates are then expected to declare their respective endorsements.

To angrily whine, scream and foot stomp is the fate of those who practice dishonesty and dirty dealing. Sooner or later it catches up with them, just as they are doomed to never catch up with Senator Obama’s delegate count. Hopefully this conflict will not lead to placing Clinton on the ticket for Vice President. There is probably no one less deserving of the post. Frankly, Clinton completely lacks character, moral fiber and honesty…and with change in the air, the last thing needed is that sort of political hack in such a position.

Sunday’s primary in Puerto Rico will hardly be newsworthy, as Clinton is expected to walk away with the majority of votes. While Puerto Rico can vote in the primary, they cannot vote in the general election. In the upcoming contests, the delegates at stake are: Montana 24 delegates, South Dakota 23 delegates and Puerto Rico 63 delegates.

Delegate Totals:

Obama: 2,051 (1,724 pledged: 327 superdelegates)

Clinton: 1,877 (1,586 pledged 291 superdelegates)

Needed to Win: 2,118

Lisa KARPOVA

PRAVDA.Ru

USA/CANADA