Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo did a survey of media reports concerning Hillary Clinton and the Florida primary. His conclusion is that she did not get the kind of spin she wanted or expected out of the process. Most news outlets went with the pretty straightforward explanation that she won a primary with no delegates at stake. Consequently, the stories are not displayed as prominently.
Dana Milbank had one that has to hurt a little: “Much Ado About No Delegates: The only piece missing from Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Florida victory party Tuesday night was a victory.”
Time may tell if what she got out of Florida was worth it in light of the perception (by me, at least; and I suspect many others) that she acted dishonorably. Maybe my perception is colored by my profession. As a lawyer, I fight with other lawyers — sometimes tooth and nail. We all fight to win. But with most of us, if you agree to something, you can pretty much count on the other side to stick to the spirit of the agreement — even if, perhaps, you haven’t nailed down every subclause of the agreement. You act in good faith. Word gets around when a lawyer is one who doesn’t act in good faith. A lawyer with that kind of reputation is going to find it awfully hard to operate in the future.
Disagree, nothing in the “agreement” said or suggested that Clinton was agreeing to withdraw her name from the Michigan or Florida ballots. The choice made by Obama, Edwards to withdraw their names from the Michigan ballot (which, btw, they did not do on the Florida ballot) was made independent of—and after the fact—the agreement not to campaign in those states.
In my mind, and the overwhelming majority of voters in both primaries did not find her motivate/action dishonorable, and said so loud and clear when they voted a majority for candidate Clinton.
Breaking news: Edwards is officially out.
Yeah, she won by only 17% in a state where Obama never set foot. Just think what the blowout woulda been after SC had he rolled into that state and really worked it. Face it, Billary are tooth and nail fighters in a campaign that requires us to change all that. Every time they open their mouths, they remind us of the past we don’t want to retrun to.
I was shocked that John Edwards bowed out. Let’s see what his next move is…
I’m not sure whether dishonorable is the right word – it seems a tad strong – but HRC’s actions do strike me as being a little manipulative or deceptive or, at the very least, self-serving.
I’m glad the media is handling the way they are.
Manipulative, sure.
But worse, it seems desperate.
Yes, most of the media is indeed ~handling it… but the truth can still be found.
Read it and weep…
“In September, the Democratic presidential candidates signed a pledge refusing to campaign in the states.”
“Among the major Democratic candidates, only Sen. Clinton agreed to keep her name on Michigan’s ballot. Supporters of Sen. Obama and former Sen. Edwards urged their voters to choose “uncommitted,” in a bid to hold down her margin. The result was about 55% for Sen. Clinton and 40% uncommitted.â€
http://tinyurl.com/2wndcp
BTW, anyone where that superdelegate count stands, with/out Edwards share?