Hillary Threatens DNC of Dire Consequences
Posted 5/21/2008 6:01 PM CDT
When I wrote this morning about Hillary Clinton’s master plan to do everything she could to undermine the candidacy of Barack Obama, I had no idea how soon that might come to fruition. As it turns out it took less than 24 hours.
In a speech in Boca Raton, as reported by Politico today, she made some ridiculous statements comparing her attempt to win the Democratic nomination to the struggle of the abolitionists and the suffragettes. She also made a not-so-thinly-veiled threat about the possible political consequences to the Democrats of not seating the Florida and Michigan delegations.
Here is what she said:
"There's a reason why so many have fought so hard and sacrificed so much. It's because they knew that to be a citizen of this country is to have the right and responsibility to help shape its future. Not just to have your voice heard but to have it count. People have fought hard because they knew their vote was at stake and so was their children's futures.
Those people, she said "refused to accept their assigned place as second-class citizens. Men and women who saw America not as it was, but as it could and should be, and committed themselves to extending the frontiers of our democracy. The abolitionists and all who fought to end slavery and ensure freedom came with the full right of citizenship. The tenacious women and a few brave men who gathered at the Seneca Falls convention back in 1848 to demand the right to vote.
Because of those who have come before, Sen. Obama and I have and so many of you have this precious right today. Because of all that has been done, we are in this historic presidential election. And I believe that both Sen. Obama and myself have an obligation as potential Democratic nominees - in fact we all have an obligation as Democrats - to carry on this legacy and ensure that in our nominating process, every voice is heard and every single vote is counted."
Then came the kicker. Her warning of the price that might be paid if the DNC does not seat the Florida and Michigan delegations according to her wishes:
"If we fail to do so, I worry that we will pay not only a moral cost, but a political cost as well," she said. "We know the road to a Democratic White House runs right through Florida and Michigan. If we care about winning those states in November, we need to count your votes now. If Democrats send a message that we don't fully value your votes, we know Sen. McCain and the Republicans will be more than happy to have them. The Republicans will make a simple and compelling argument: why should Florida and Michigan voters trust the Democratic Party to look out for you when they won't even listen to you."
I don’t know about you, but that sounds to me like Hillary is encouraging Democratic voters in Florida and Michigan to vote for John McCain if she isn’t handed the nomination. Watch your back Barack, it’s only just begun.
chron.com
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