Michigan makes its case

Michigan Democrats' argument to the Rules & Bylaws Committee is surprisingly reasonable -- certainly moreso than the nonsense Hillary's people have been spouting. In particular, I hadn't previously heard the argument that the DNC "selectively enforce[d] its calendar rule," penalizing Michigan and Florida but not New Hampshire (even though all three violated the calendar), and that this selective enforcement is what forced Michigan's hand.

I can't vouch for the accuracy of that interpretation of events -- indeed, I suspect Michigan was just looking for an excuse to cut in line -- but on its face, it sounds reasonable, and actually does provide an arguably legitimate, rather than merely demogogic, case for lifting the delegate-stripping penalty.

However, I take issue with this statement, at least as it applies to the proposed solution of cutting Michigan's delegation in half:

To penalize Michigan ... would jeopardize our chances of carrying Michigan and winning the Presidency.  ... [W]e must insist on Michigan’s full delegation being seated at the Democratic National Convention with full voting rights.

The problem is this: the Republicans cut Michigan's delegation in half, too! In fact, the GOP halved the delegations of Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, Wyoming and New Hampshire, all because they violated the party's calendar.

It is difficult to see, therefore, how the Democrats would "jeopardize our chances of carrying Michigan" by adopting the exact same solution the Republicans chose -- unless the spin wins out over the facts. Unfortunately, if the RBC halves the delegations and the Clinton campaign and/or the Michigan & Florida folks choose to demagogue the issue, that's exactly what is likely to happen.

Comments

[john]

I honestly did not realize the GOP had penalized MI and FL. Sounds like the GOP just handled their side better... but who knows what would happen if the Republican race was still competitive. Democracy always works well until the race is too close.

[Alasdair]

Perhaps the Democratic Party needs an Electoral College equivalent for picking its Presidential Nomineee ?

Oh wait ...

(indelegate grin)

[Alasdair]

Perhaps the Democratic Party needs an Electoral College equivalent for picking its Presidential Nomineee ?

Oh wait ...

(indelegate grin)

[Alasdair]

(mutter, grumble)

Sorry about the double post ...

Brendan - if you care to exercise the High Justice, and nuke this and one of the duplicates, I would deem such a service ...

Thanks ...

Alasdair