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Like many of you, I've noticed that the Michigan and Florida "re-vote" issue has been an on-again, off-again affair ever since it was drummed up by the Clinton campaign. "Will they or won't they?" seems to be a nagging question as of late. Also, like many of you, I keep being told how "outraged" the "Democratic voters" of Florida and Michigan "are" or "will be" if their delegates don't get seated in some way that somehow favors Hillary Clinton.
As I was just watching CNN that the prospects for a Michigan re-vote were dashed again today I realized that the real reason she is having trouble getting her re-vote to occur is because there isn't any real significant outrage or demand for it amongst the people. The "outrage" that is alluded to over and over is by-and-large a myth manufactured by the Clinton Campaign promoted by the cable news channels in order to keep the drama going and feed the ratings machine.
I live in Michigan and I can honestly say I have not heard one Democrat, liberal, or left-leaning citizen make any mention of this whole issue. Not in the local paper, not on the local news broadcasts, and not from the Detroit Newspapers either. No personal phone calls, no email campaigns, no yardsigns, not even a lousy bumper sticker. It's not too far from the truth to say "most people don't care" and because of that there's no real political will prodding the legislatures or Democratic Parties to make anything happen. It's probably safe to say the vast majority of voters in Michigan are more concerned about college basketball and Kwame Kilpatrick's text messages than they are about Hillary Clinton's cynical march to Presidential glory. If there was a huge groundswell of interest, I guarantee Hillary Inc. would make damn sure we'd see it over and over again.
On CNN just now Hillary Clinton went so far to suggest that Obama might not be considered the "legitimate nominee" if we don't have the re-vote. Now, to me, that's a hell of a statement to make on many grouds. First, what if she wins the nomination even without a re-vote, wouldn't she be seen just as illigitimate by her own reasoning? Second, isn't it very dangerous, given that we are pretty close to picking a nominee one way or the other, to raise the spectre that we will have a divided Democratic Party? Third, if discounting Michigan and Florida was such a dangerous and "un-American" thing to do, why did she SIGN an agreement that would likely discount them in the first place? You know, the little thing they all signed called the "Four State Pledge". Oh yeah, on the last one, I almost forgot, she was pandering to Iowa and New Hampshire back then.
Now, I'm not saying a re-vote won't happen. It very may will. I'm sure if Clinton pulls enough strings, cuts enough deals, and makes enough backroom promises she might be able to get this swung around to her favor. But its not because the people are asking for it. At least not in Michigan and given that I live here I think I know better than Clinton on this matter. How the hell does she even know how we feel? Florida may be a somewhat different story and I can't speak from experience on that, but if it were I think we'd see some proof of that presented by the Clinton campaign. But they have nothing to show. All we get is Wolf Blitzer's "say so."
One counter-argument to all of this are some polls showing that there is some support for a revote. Granted, this would be a good point. However, if you had a pollster call me right now and asked me if I wanted a re-vote I'd probably say yes if only because I'd like to see Obama come give a rally in my state and the chance to actually vote for him. I also think he'd win Michigan in a new contest. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to be "outraged" if we don't get a re-vote. It certainly would make me no more or less inclined to vote in the fall. The point is that polls such as these don't mean much as they can easily be skewed by how the questions are phrased and what people are being force fed on the 24/7 cable news. And if people really wanted a re-vote let them put their money where there mouth is. But guess what? Other than Hillary's fat cat friends, no one is volunteering their wallet.
This is a primary for a political party and the Democratic primary process is FUBAR'd from the get-go (I'm sure the Republican primary process is as well). The whole system needs to be scrapped. A Florida and Michigan revote would no more legitimize the process than putting Saddam on trial legitimized the Iraq war. In both cases, it's a Kabuki Dance in order to satisfy the cynical needs of narrow political interests. And to be honest, there's A LOT of things I'm more outraged about the Democratic Party that we have to fix that are much bigger issues than Hillary's "re-vote". Dealing with the DLC's cancerous influence on the party is one of them. Selling out the middle class to China, Saudi Arabia, and everywhere else is another. Allowing ourselves as a party to get divided every time the right wing shows two men getting married, a fiery black preacher speaking out against white racism, or someone burning the flag in protest would be a third. And if we really want to get outraged, let's not forget The Iraq War Resolution, DOMA, DODT, The Patriot Act, NAFTA, Chinese Free Trade, The Kyl-Lieberman Resolution, and a host of other things the Democratic Party has laid down and helped vote into reality as well.
Finally, I'd like to to say thanks for all the kind support and feedback for my "Democratic Party stands idly by as Obama takes a public whipping" post. To date, I read all of the responses, even the bad ones. I'm flattered and honored to receive such good feedback. If I have one wish it would be for someone from the Obama campaign and someone from the Trinity United Church of Christ to read it just so they know there are lots of us out here who stand with them shoulder to shoulder. But to all the detractors and naysaysers out there I want to tell you: your words have no effect because we have truth on our side.
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