You’re right, Jason. Allowing Florida and Michigan to be seated as they are would lead to complete chaos in 2012, with each state trying to get the jump on the others by scheduling earlier and earlier primaries.

However, I disagree about a re-vote. Both Florida and Michigan knew the consequences of moving their primary. If the voters of Florida and Michigan feel disenfranchised, they have only their own state politicians to blame, and they should exact political revenge by voting out every state politician, Democrat and Republican, who supported the primary move.

I am so so sick of the superdelegates! I am sorry, but the whole idea flies in the face of our Constitution!

Anderson it is so unfair to Hillary ’s supporters who listen to CNN. The spectators holds such bias comments against Hillary. As a Hillary supporter we need someone to speak for us. I asking you to be fair and try to understand how it feels not to have a voice or someone to speak for you.

Although I don’t think CNN will post this I’m going to write it anyway.
Isn’t that interesting that the only contacts CNN has are mainly with Obama people.
Is that because CNN is not trusted by the other two candidates.
Or maybe it’s the fact that they are so BIAS that they only try to obtain Obama allies to correspond with.
How could it be that in the past 4 months CNN had nothing positive to report on Hillary or McCain.

Jason,
I am with you on that they should have followed the rules to begin with. But instead of a revote I think to get rid of this whole issue that Dean should just halve the delegates between the both of them and be done with it. The cost of a revote will be way too much and who will pay for it?

And you are right also that if they get a revote now then in the coming years this will always be brought up when ever any little problem about voting arises. So we need to stick with the plan and do as the rules stated.

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Let’s hope by 2012 there are new rules in place to begin with — such as a National Primary Day where all states vote on the same day, or a 1 or 2 month process where all states vote within that time frame.

Jason, really your participation is greatly appreciated but there is some history that relates to why so many states moved up their primaries — and that has to do with NOT having our votes matter where the nominee is concerned. But you would not understand having never voted before.

The best thing this particular primary season has done is to shed light on the idiotic rules that control the nominating process. The Super Delegates need to be disbanded; the primary “season” needs to be shortened. And this is something that needs to be done with both the DNC and RNC.

Florida and Michigan “broke the rules” as you put because they wanted their votes to count. And now you want to penalize them for that. They have already been penalized for many primary seasons prior to this when the nominee was all but decided by the time it was their turn to vote. Sometimes exceptions to the rules need to be made.

If one plays by the rules and still loses enough times, they will break the rules … and then it must be examined why this occurred so that positive changes can be made for future … in this case in time for 2012 election cycle.

I can began to understand the pressure that Howard Dean is under in trying to make sure that the Floridians have their voices heard. However, the rules are the rules. In each decision that we make, there are consequences. They decided to knowingly disregard those rules. Now, they want the DNC to make concessions for the consequences that they brought on themselves? I would have to agree that it would be a mess in 2012. There is way that other states would not want to try the same scenario if Florida and Michigan get away with it.

Jason, I am for Obama. I like his approach to everything he stands for. I used to like Hillary but with all the circus & games she played or playing, I will only vote for her if she wins on a good margin. I will not vote Republican. Screw Florida & Michigan. Obama’s camp is not stupid, they need to enforce their terms to their benefi. A 50-50 split is Ok with me. No Redo.

Dean is probably wondering “Why did I take this stupid job to begin with?”

i agree both states need to be seated some way— but the real truth is that rules are rules and the voters of both states can remember to get all the politicians out of office that allowed this to happen in the first place.
i was a clinton supporter until two weeks ago and when i found out she has run her campaign on mostly made up ideas and things she is telling the voters here in pennsylvania is downright ludricrist.. what she says she wil do would not even get the support of a vote in the senate let alone the house.
i wish other supporters of hilary would take a second look before the april 22 primary in pa. i am sure glad i did.
the sniper gunfire in bosnia is what got me to start paying attention here in pennsylvania
thank you

While I understand where Jason is coming from, his reasoning actually turns out completely unfair.

It is true that they only have their state politicians to blame. However, these are disenfranchised voters who happen to be Democrats. If the politicians that supported the move in the first place happen to be Republicans (as is the purported case in Florida), the chance that the voters who are paying the consequences voted for the politicians is pretty slim, and you’d basically be punishing the wrong people.

In a sense, you have GOP voters and politicians effectively silencing their native Democrats in the Primary. Since the Republican party as already set the precedent of seating half the allotted Republican delegates when a state “cheats,” this can become a bit of a strategical tool: if you’re willing to give up half your voice, you can make sure the Democrat next door to you has none at all.

The reason states clamor to move up their primaries is the inherent unfairness of staggered primaries in the first place. Nobody knows when the race will be “called,” but the earlier you are in the schedule, the more likely it is that your vote will count. If even time zones can cause a problem in the general election, how can the staggered primaries not cause a problem?

You Hillary fans are funny, I have friends that think CNN stands for Clinton News Network. You must have been in a coma the two weeks that CNN showed clips of Obama’s preacher 24 hours a day. How is that bias. Speaking of bias, what about Hillary suppose to be gunfire. I only heard that once. I DO NOT think Michigan and Florida should be seated. They knew before, enough said.

Oops–I meant Joseph, not Jason.

Also, I’d like to clarify a bit–I’m not arguing for any one solution over another. I think that, if there is a way for this to be resolved properly, it will take people much smarter than I am.

Paris, it could be that there is nothing positive to say about them!!!

If the DNC set the rules with the date of Feb. 5th, then how come Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina votes count? They all held their nominating contests BEFORE Feb. 5th.

What is it with Florida and voting…
Of course one year it’s very important… and now it’s not?

HYPOCRACY 08

Hi Jason, I agree with what you said. I would also add that anything the DNC will come up with to try to fix this whole mess will just be a band-aid. It will not solve the real problem, and that is the current nomination/primary/caucus process does not work. It needs to be re-looked at and revamped so that it works for the entire country and doesn’t cause the turmoil that we’ve already seen.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

I can not imagine how the primary would be if we all voted on one day. I think the debates are a good thing. I have an idea. What about 10 states at a time vote on the primary. Chunk them according to location. Take the map and make a grid. One month for each block on the grid. After five months tally up the votes and we have a winner. One year start in the west, the next election start in the east. It would also save a little jet fuel. Talk about a cross country race!

Obama has won 15 Primaries and 15 Caucuses=30 states
Hillary has won 12 Primaries and 2 Caucuses=14 states
(This does not include Michigan and Florida)

I find it weird and scary that we cannot tell who the winner is. What’s going on?
The Primaries are not government run. It’s a private election of a company sponsoring someone to represent them. The DNC has the right to choose a candidate with or without the public’s opinion. They choose to open it to the public to decide because we are a democracy. The people have spoken, lets move on. The people spoke in Iowa when Hillary came in third. The people spoke on February 5th when Obama won more states. The Republicans have their man, let us select ours. All this about Florida and Michigan having their say is nonsense. They can have their say in the general. It’s time to start the debates against John McCain. Obama will win in November with a sweeping victory.

i think hillary got her votes fair and sqare in flordia and they should be given to her and obama pulled his name off of michigan and you got the votes and thats obama fault,tell him to quit winning and move on down the ,to quote yes we can!

I’ve meticulous been watching this election. Hillary has been playing a serious game of switch-a-roo. Hillary has been downing Obama, for keeping Floridians and Michigans, like myself from voting. Her husband said chill out let the voters decide. Yet, she has said basically if she doesn’t win she’ll take it all the way to the DNC. Ultimately, disenfranchising 100’s of millions of voters. This number game is pathetic. I voted in Florida, but most of my family did not, because we all thought our vote did not count. I tried to encourage my family to vote (I know Hillary) but they didn’t. I, and most Floridians understood that our votes weren’t being counted and we aren’t discouraged. If our elected officials broke the rules, we aren’t children and we won’t die, we’ll get even. We will vote out those officials next term. The number of Republicans that voted, were almost equal to the Democrats in Florida; that’s a first for this 2008 election. Everywhere else Democrats out voted at least 2 to 1. This vote can’t stand!

I was reading up on the date thing and in response to a previous comment, I found out that the DNC makes a special rule for IA, NH, NV, and SC. They call that the “pre-window”. Then the rest of the states are allowed to go on February 5 and after that. They block of a certain time to allow four states to go first, which isn’t the best thing. But that is why they are not being punished… they were given a DNC rule that allows them their special position early in the process. What you can find out on wikipedia…

I think the rest of the country should secede from the Union leaving Florida all alone.

We can call ourselves USA Version 2.

Pretty smart for being such a young man, no wonder he is a super delegate. I agree those that broke the rules should be held accountable. As I can tell those in florida mainly voted for a local bill regarding a tax of some sort and they KNEW ahead of time the canidate vote wouldnt count. To cry foul after the fact and to allow Florida and Michigan to have the deciding factor in this election is unreasonable as that is why they moved up the voting date to begin with. For a revote that would be rewarding them for disregarding the rules. As I was told as a child cheaters never win and winners never cheat.

Obama 08

To those that support Hillary.. CNN actually has a fair share of Hillary supporters althugh most of them happen to work during the day or morning hours. A main Hillary supporter is James Carville and he has been on AC 360 several times.. Hope that helps you guys and gals some.

I have a real problem with the whole Florida thing. Hillary has bashed Obama for weeks now telling the Florida voters that Obama is responsible for their votes not being counted. What a bold faced lie! Listen to her earlier in the campaign saying that FL would not count because they broke the rules. Now that it would be a clear advantage to her, she wants their votes counted and the delegates awarded accordingly. Even if they split them evenly, whats to say that the 50% awarded to Obama couldn’t change their votes in the second round of the convention to endorse their “savior” and “great protector” Hillary thereby stealing another election. Florida is just riddled with problems and questionable tactics when it comes to elections. They broke the rules! Whatever is decided has to be binding and fair and equal to both candidates.

It is interesting to hear the contradictions in Hillary Clinton’s position that all votes should be counted. She decried the intervention of the Supreme Court in the Florida 2000 election case, but she advocates that super delagates should select the democratic nominee without regards to the national primary elections results.

It is clear that Ms. Clinton can not overtake Mr. Obama in the total popular votes nor in the total number of pledged delegates. Ms. Clinton’s ethical position is such that if the is to be ethically consisten, then the super delegates should vote for Obama and not overturn the national vote, but she wants the contrary, she wants the superdelegates to overide the popular will and select her as the Democratic Nominee. This is highly hipocritical of her. She is only interested in her own pursuit of power and not the natinal interest or the will of the people.

Manuel

OK… simple solution to the super delegate dilema. The number of delegates that are needed to win the democratic nomination is 2024.
This number is 1/2 of the total delegates available counting all of the primaries including Michigan and Florida. If you’re not counting the 366 delegate from Michigan and Florida, just subtract 183 delegates from the 2024 number needed to win the nomination. This will make the number needed to win the nomination 1841.
Make sense?

Superdelegates beware - This is what’s really going on behind the scenes: Don’t you see what Clinton is really doing? She is trying to prolong this process in order to destroy any chance of the Democrats taking the White house in 2008. She knows she will not be the nominee of the party. The only thing she can do is destroy the party now and run again in 2012. With Obama losing to McCain; Hillary will have a clear shot into the next Presidential Election in 2012

Does Jason really think we care what he thinks? He cautions Mr. Dean…give us a break, this kid still has snot running down his nose, and just because he or his family is plugged in and connected he is gaining stardom, getting his 15 minutes of fame as a Super Delegate.

Here’s a CLUE Jason…Florida did vote, OBAMA LOST. Let the vote stand, and seat the delegates based on that vote, or see a LOT OF DEMOCRATS like myself turn our back on the party and toss our support behind McCain.

You and Mr. Dean and some other Democratic cigar chompers might want to throw the election to Obama, but you do so at the parties risk…this year, the average joe blow white man’s voice and vote will decide the election, and Senator Obama’s attempts to steal the nomination are about to SHATTER the Democratic Party.

I’m sure the voters themselves had no say in when the original primary was scheduled yet they are the ones being told their votes don’t count. IF it was a republican state government making the decision perhaps the GOP should pay for the revote since their actions directly disenfranchised the Democrats. A revote is needed and it shouldn’t matter whether Obama or Clinton want it or not. Those people deserve their chance to voice their choice as well as the rest of us.

For the Election in 2012 both parties need to go by popular vote. This delegate mess is too reminiscent of the Electoral College mess in 2000 that cost Gore the White House. And while we are at it we should do a constitutional amendment to take the Electoral College out of the process too - popular vote, the will of the voters, should be the only thing that decides the election.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Man…..why on earth would you chose Obama over Hillary. I know the media tells you subliminally that he is a messiah but he’s just another politician with a media bias helping him. The story of this campaign is not that Obama was winning, but that Hillary was this close despite the media picking favorites. Aren’t you gay also? Doesn’t Hillary have more gay support for some reason? Oh thats right, Rev. Meeks is on Obama campaign and he hates gay people. Hope you don’t have a super delegate meeting and have to sit next to that guy. Put down the Kool Aid Jason!

Hello Anderson, And thank you Jason, you are so smart. Im a middle age women that has good judgment however I depend on my 20 and 25 year old children for advice in todays world. Thats why I and spent so much money on collage. people say age and experience need to be the main factor to be president on day one. The only way to know is to be president. Even thats not enough looking at the last seven years. Some of us older people are full of fear and you kids today are so wise. We need a change. Barack Obama will change the world! Anderson I think you are fair. you report what is true. And people know this in their harts. I think God is giving people ears to hear and eyes to see, they cant fight that, its in there soul. keep reporting what you know to be true. And tell Mr. Lou D to chill. He needs to get a job at Fox news.

Dude. Im a Democrat but just because the “Democratic Party” says they “broke the rules” doesn’t mean anything to the people. Who the hell is Howard Dean or anyone who wants to disenfranchise 2 of the largest states in the union. The argument is not about what the state parties did. It is about people’s vote counting. It’s simple, people have the right to vote, it was taken away by Howard Deans incompetent ass. Iowa and New Hampshire shouldn’t have the first votes locked down. Why in the hell does it matter when they voted??? This is just an argument for the Obama camp and has nothing to do with what really matters and that is that the people in Michigan and Florida deserve to have their vote counted and that vote to be represented fully at the convention. This “rules” argument is ridiculous and if Obama wins without a revote, I’ll cast my vote for Nader or McCain. Obama holding the ball doesn’t see like “a new kind of politics” Actually its more like “the worst kind of politics.

I can’t believe that Obama won’t let a revote happen? He will regret that decision from what I hear down here if he wins the Nomination. He better just take a chance at losing a revote down here instead of just leaving us out or doing the 50-50 crap that is just as good as leaving us out. Obama’s people were down here pushing to have this revote killed and we aren’t forgetting that.

The issue of seating the delegates falls solely with the voters of Florida. They need to invest in overhauling their election process. They were not able to get it done in 2004 and now botched again. How can we accept any election results coming from poorly organized process?

Rules are rules . . . yeah, right ! Political rules were made from the get-go to be rewritten. The DNC has chained it’sself to a sinking ship and the time has come to cut a link and swim free or sink . The well meaning voters of Florida and Michigan broke no rules at all, yet they are actually the ones being penelized. Perhaps the all knowing, yet rubber stamping, super delegates should be hither known more appropriately as the ” stuper delegates “.

FL and Michigan needs to be counted- without the two states neither Obama nor Clinton can say they won the popular or delegate vote. Even though Obama looks like a great candidate do the American people really know what he stands for? A question I think needs more scrutiny. What did Obama mean when he said I don’t want them to be ‘Punished with a baby� when he was talking about our children-I believe a baby is a blessing. Can you do some research on that?

I heard the Republicans have been finding more dirt on Obama and can’t wait to use it. Should he be elected as the Democratic Nominee, he will have a steep uphill battle for the presidency. They will twist his campaign around to their advantage. And I don’t believe he’ll make it to the top of that hill.

Hillary is more electable than Obama.

As a Florida voter I understand my primary vote will not be counted because the primary violated DNC rules. I think that inflexibility punishes the electorate to serve the party - hey, isn’t that backward? - But I am willing to accept that the rules are the rules just as soon as the same people touting them stop trying to invent new guidelines for the superdelegates. Superdelegated are being pressured to commit by July 1 and to make their votes match with the popular vote, both of which are the antithesis of the purpose and rules for the superdelegates who are meant to be independent and vote as they see fit, with no July 1 deadline.
If the DNC wants to stick to one rule on the priamry, they should stick to all rules, even when they don’t play ion favor of their anointed son Obama. And the DNC should think long and hard about steering this nomination to him. If he is nominated, McCain is the next president.

Florida should be seated as is beacuse more than a million people voted, and both were on the ballot. For those who say they would have voted but thought it wouldn’t count, I say too bad. In some local elections I don’t vote because they do what they want anyway and I really can’t complain after the fact, can I?

Hillary’s supporters are getting desperate - just like the lady herself.

Quite simply, the voters of Florida and Michigan are not the people yelling for a revote. It is Hillary’s campaign and supporters. The people of Florida and Michigan should rightly blame their local election officials for this mess, and vote them out.

Hillary signed a pledge that she would not campaign in Florida or Michigan and that the votes would not count. She didnt argue about it when she signed the pledge.

Her negative ratings are going up considerably, to the point where her whole family has become the pariah of the Democratic party. She is destroying any political future for herself and is completely unelectable now.

Can you imagine if Hillary had been nominated and gone up against the Republican attack machine? It’s a good thing the electorate got a chance to see how a Clinton behaves when the chips are down. Not a pretty sight.

There was already a vote in Florida and think that it should count. Only if absolutely necessary, should there be another state-wide election. To punish the voters for the sins of the gov’t officials who moved the date… would be a huge mistake. We all know that it’s in Obama’s favor to try for a new vote in Florida and NO VOTE in Michigan. But is that thinking the kind that befits the so-called “great unifier” or “new politician”? It seems obvious that it’s simply an old-school political strategy of winning …or worse… “the do anything to get elected” plan that Obama and media likes to accuse Senator Clinton of.

Obama needs to step up to the plate here. Florida’s vote should count
and Michigan should have a revote. PERIOD.

Well I just wonder if all the people who works in CNN, except Lou Dobbs, are Obama supporters? To me it looks like all of them hate Hillary an love Obama. Not fair at all I think. But hey, It’s just my personal opinion

I think that it would be a good suggestion to divide the FL. and MI. votes between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton. I think that the damage to the democratic party in these two states has caused an upset and nothing more than a split will amend some of the voters votes in November. The American people know who will be the next president of the US, and that is Sen. Obama. Sen. Obama is a candiate that we can trust, who stands in the gap for the American people, a man who really wants to see to it that this country is turned around in a positive way. I was for Sen. Clinton until I heard Sen. Obama speak about changing problems with healthcare and that he has a plan to make sure that every American can afford to get it, and changing the pre-exsiting polices that insurance companies carry. He’s plan made me want to listen more to what he was talking about. I’d like to say to Sen. Obama, keep fighting, because this is a battle that I know you have already won.

Jason - what is messy is that the state party aparatus cannot be rewarded for their own mismanagment - yet the DNC bears partial guilt for allowing this train wreck to occur. Given that voting then, now or when they were supposed to vote, circumstances are not and cannot be the same, there is no ‘fair’ way to conduct a re-vote. The only ‘blind’ approach is to split the count 50/50 with each remaining candidate: that will seat the delegation. Yet, many will call foul no matter how the delegation is configured. I think this is the lesser of all evils. Then the delegation can still participate in being invigorated for the General Election and sit on platform committees. I think this is important to state party organization for the GE.

Why is no one talking about how completely idiotic this whole things is? Dean needs to step down. He goes off about Florida and Michigan “breaking the rules.”

IT’S ONLY A ONE WEEK DIFFERENCE PEOPLE! It’s absolutely ludicrous to disenfranchise MILLIONS over a primary held only SEVEN days early!

Come on, Howard Dean, wake up or you’ll lose the November election for the Democrats.

It is ironic that the DNC is blocking the voters being heard in Florida and Michigan. This is the DEMOCRATIC National Party, not the Disingenuous Nazi Party: Florida and Michigan usually get hurricaned by super delegates like Dean who “call” the nomination before the PEOPLE even get a chance to vote in the Primary. All this nonsense about “breaking the rules” (6 days early? come on!) and “chaos in 2012″ sounds like the sermons given by my fifth grade social studies teacher who raved against the commie Viet Cong in 1966. We are all adults here and these are reasonable exceptions. For heaven’s sake, the DNC is not infallible! And this election is NOT PRIMARY SCHOOL! (Even a teen-ager can figure that Obama was clued in to the DNC’s plan to play hardball, so he didn’t put his name on the ballot: Obama openly says in his book that he experimented with drugs! Does this sound like a guy who “plays by the rules”? I want someone with real integrity to serve as our President: Hillary has proven herself. AND she does not need a past or with illogic and fanatical “reasoning” about AIDS, the twin towers, and “white people”. AMEN. Welcome Michigan and Florida delegates and SEAT them! Their intentions were good: they only wanted their votes to actually COUNT !

I personally know Anderson and am quite frankly, extremely disappointed with the way he has handled the coverage of this election process. For someone who seems to care about issues and human rights, he has shown a complete lack of judgment, fairness and concern for the millions of american viewers who watch his show. I am sad to say that he is no better than Al Jeezera, at painting an accurate picture of what is going on in our country and in this election.

I openly believe that Hillary Clinton is by far the better candidate, whether she ducked bullets or not, she WAS in Bosnia in 1996, and in Ireland and China making connections, relationships with foreign countries. Additionally, she was in the White House for 8 years - she knows the routine - what’s expected of the “first family”, and she has a clear record of voting in the US Senate for 8 years.

DUE TO THE UNBELIEVABLE UNFAIR CRUCIFICTION OF THIS WOMAN, and the glorification of an unknown man… I could not ever vote for him (Obama) in good conscience. We live in a democracy and thus, all have the freedom to choose who we vote for in this election. If CNN and MSNBC and other media outlets try to SELL YOU/MARKET YOU the “buying into Obama” should they tip this election more in his favor… if you are a democrat or republican or independent… don’t just vote for your party because the media tells you too. If Obama STEALS this nomination with the gross and irresponsible help of the media (ANDERSON COOPER 360), and you don’t like him… DON’T VOTE FOR HIM. Send a message to washington and Anderson cooper and everybody else who wants to manipulate you just like Al Jazeera… VOTE FOR MC CAIN or write in your candidate’s choice.

Your voice is NEVER wasted when it expresses your beliefs. Neither is your vote. Vote your mind — not Anderson Cooper’s.

As a middle aged, married, male longtime South Fla. resident lets be clear about how many feel here about using the February primary results to allocate delegates to either candidate based on whats was advertised and sold here as a “does not count” for ANY democratic candidate.

There was strong disappointment and even some anger expressed at the time, but we accepted the penalty that resulted from both democratic and republican poltical representatives who decided to forgo our right to participate in the process… just like ALL the candidates did, and we proceeded to vote on the homestead exemption referendum and not focus on the primary candidates..

What many of us did not realize at the time until the polls closed was that the Clinton machine had been working to promote voting for Hillary, that had been long established and working here for years..not Hillary herself, but her “machine”. technically allowing her to say she abided by the rules while her machine promoted the very disenfranchisement of those of us who had no interest in voting for her, but would have definitely voted for another of the candidates if we thought it would have had any value…

It was shocking to see an organized and televised victory party for Hillary on the very evening of voting by Rep. Wasserman-Shultz and others in Ft. Lauderdale in which Hillary flew in and grabbed the victory trophy for a contest that was not suppose to not exist..

From my perspective, this is just another “trick” offered up by a Clinton Machine”

To see “Wasserman_Shultz” talk now about how concerned she is over” My” vote is just infuriating…and confirms only stronger my feelings that it is “Time for a Change” in our politics…

I’m getting really sick of hearing about the delegates of Michigan and Florida. They broke the rules knowing full well what the consequences would be. Now everybody is wah wah about it. Let them go to the convetion, but their votes should not count. Another thing that ticks me off is Clinton’s remarks about how she is winning the “big” states. So what. There are 50 states in this country, so what if you win a few. Do the rest of us not count? Apparently not according to Hilary Clinton. If we don’t count, why should Michigan and Florida. Deal with it Sen. Clinton.

Anderson what I dont understand is why the emdia and people are saying that Florida’s votes and delegates shouldn’t stand 1.7 million voters voted in Florida and there were 2 candidates Nobody campaigned poeple made their mind up so wht is undemocratic about that scenario Michigan is different not all 3 candidates were on the ballot Why can’t the media explain the differences between the 2 states Also do we not believe that voters with the amount of national media weren”t able to make their minds up with the candidates campaigning What sort of democracy do we believe we have?

PA. Please be mindful when voting that Obama is there trying to steal away the white male vote. We urge you to stay with Hillary and also help the states that are following you that are waiting to vote for Hillary.
We are hopeful that Indiana, Kentucky and North Carolina will also be ther waiting to move Hillary on into the White House. Then on to OR and the rest of the states.

We believe with all our heart that Hillary can blow McCain out of the race. Democrats we need to get this right or we are surely going to loss the White House in November. Super Delegates you had better get your act together or you will be facing four more years of Republicans and maybe eight . Hillary for 08 or McCain

To Becky:

I would like you to explain to everyone how Hillary got her votes “fair and square” in Florida and Michigan. The DNC asked all of the candidates to take their names off the ballots, which Obama did; Hillary is the one who did not comply with the party’s request in Michigan. Each state that has had a chance to get to know Obama when he has campaigned there has shown a dramatic increase in his support. Please make an intelligent comment backed by something more substantial than the equivalent of “I know you are but what am I”. No wonder Hillary’s camp has gone after the ‘uneducated vote’, I can see all those people come out with the same garbage arguments each and every time.

Obama ‘08

Is no surprise that he wants to party… Is crazy…LOL!

Dear Mr. Cooper:
Why wasn’t this outrage over the FLA and MI delegates not raised by the Clinton campaign when it first happened? Please stop covering this issue now when there is no outcome that could be fair other than following the rules that were put in place by the DNC BEFORE the first FLA and MI primaries were scheduled. It is insulting to hear the Clinton surrogates complain that it was not the fault of the Democrats that the dates were moved up. Of course it was - the people in those states voted for GOP leadership and now they should be held accountable so next time they will pick their leadership more thoughfully. Please stop giving these folks a voice when their time to speak with courage has long past. Thank you! PS in Lake George, NY

What about all the people in Florida who didn’t vote because they were told that it wouldn’t count? No one mentions them, but I’ve talked with friends who are in this situation.

Let Florida stand There were 3 candidates on the ballot and 1.7 million Floridians went out and voted What is so undemocratic about that? Floridians didn’t need to have all the candidates campaign in Florida we do view the national media Please let the votes and delegates stand. Michigan might be a different story since not all the candidates were on the ballot however Florida should stand

I agree that split of the Michigan and Florida votes would seem fai, especially since Senator Obama was not on the Florida Ballot. To permit Senator Clinton to have the delegates seated when only her name was on the Florida ballot is totally unfair, as well as selfish on her part. Is she really for the party or for Senator Hillary Clinton at any cost?

Initially, I felt that I might be a Clinton supporter. This has now changed and simply because of Senator Clinton’s Attitude. She, of all people should know -Attitude is everything. Change Your Attitutude and Change Your Whole Way of Life.

Mr Rae, Initially I was impressed that a 21 year old held the position of “Super Delegate”! What a huge responsibility for one so young. Most 21 year olds are still trying to determine their own course & heading in life, NOT the course of our country and its future. You hold a share of responsibility for our future. I’m a dedicated Democrat, have been all of my 50+ years, but should Mr Obama be selected as our Democratic nominee for president, I will Not vote the D. Party ticket! Vote your concience sir, but let your concience be your guide and God help us!!!

The fact that there has been no re-vote in Florida is unacceptble.If none is arranaged then they should be seated as voted. Although there was no campaiging, both candidates were on the ballot.Obama can not say that no one knew who he was because he had already won Iowa and South Carolina , participated in Nationally Televised Debates and been the subject as he continues to be of endless positive press.Michigan is messier, but don’t forget the Obama campaign urged voters to vote for “other”I think it was and that got 40% of the vote. What’s truly unacceptable is that Michigan had a plan to re-vote that the DNC had approved but the Obama campaign blocked it because they decided it wasn’t in their interest. What about the voters?

It may be all a moot point.

HIllary’s 3am economy ad in Pa. will backfire, in my opinion.

3 am red phone ads denote one of 2 things.

1. The problem has abruptly appeared, and needs a quick response. (When dealing with the economy, there should never have been a 3am call necessary. Even I knew that housing was in trouble 2 years ago and that we were looking at another S&L crisis and government bailout. Oddly McCain’s name came up then and is relevant now…. hnm!!)

2. Apparently, Hillary is going to wait lil late at night, when we are all asleep and do her deeds. She never seems to want her activities to come to the light of day. (That scares me!!)

Harry
Ky.

No fifty-fifty count for Florida or Michigan that is the same as doing nothing. Who ever would make a rule that two of our states wouldn’t have their votes counted. How unAmerican is that ??????????
THIS IS STILL AMERICA, REMEMBER.

Dump the Superdelegates and the Electoral College! They are both contrary to our Constitution. The constitutional priciple is ‘One man, one vote’! And, the ’stale’ argument of due consideration for smaller, less populous states, particularly regarding the Electoral College, is irrelevant. The presidential nomination and election process is not a matter of state representation. It is an election for the president of the entire nation, all the people. And, in this case, majority rules. The issue of state representation was resolved in the structure of the congress, where smaller, less populous states were given equal representation with an equal number, (2), in the Senate.

Regarding the issue of the seating of the Florida and Michigan delegates, the party rules and nomination schedule was clear to all before these two state party organizations decided to ‘buck the rider’. We are a nation of laws and rules and regulations. Without which, we would have anarchy and chaos. Having said this, nobody wants to disenfranchise any voter. But, the solution has to be fair to both candidates, considering past and current factors. It certainly would not be fair to one candidate, to seat the delegates of a ‘renegade’ state, especially when that candidates name wasn’t on the ballot! Both candidates are dedicated to full participation for all voters. The solution should be resolved with both candidates and the national organization.

One more point, ANDERSON, when discussing the ‘tactics’ used by the candidates to ‘convince’ the superdelegates to support them, you referred to Hillary’s campaign as The ClintonS, on more than one occassion. Is this an admission on your part, or, the part of CNN that Hillary has a distinct advantage with her ‘three-pronged’ campaign?

The DNC clearly established rules regarding when states could begin holding their nominating contests. That date was February 5. Florida submitted a plan to hold an event on January 29, several days before the window opens. The Florida Democratic Party was given an opportunity to change their event, but refused to do so back in January. They knew the consequences of their actions and I believe it is imperative that we stick by those consequences. FL & MI should not be counted. Sorry, but rules are rules…..

A Florida and Michigan primary, which followed the rules, originally, would have given Senator Clinton a lead in the delegates and the popular vote. Senator Obama would be the one playing catch up. Needless to say, the rules were broken by GOP legislatures to diminish the momentum of Hillary. Now we can not come to a reasonable solution, meaning a fair Democratic primary, because Obama’s machine knows the results would immensely favor Clinton. How can we disenfranchise nearly 9% of the nation’s Democratic vote and expect to win in the general election. Obama knows a revote would give Senator Clinton a minimum win of a 60% to 40% in both states and put Clinton ahead in the popular vote and perhaps the delegates. I understand, why Obama would not agree to let our states vote and cause him to be in a potentially losing position? Both candidates want to win, respectfully so, but let the delegates be seated fairly - representative of the voters in each state. Florida and Michigan are dominated by Clinton supporters and well-suited for her; a primary revote will confirm these facts, so splitting the state’s delegates is purely senseless. One additional fact is the Automatic (Super) Delegates need to look at Senator Clinton’s favorability in the states where she can carry the core Democratic constituency, necessary for the general election. Right now, if Hillary and Barack were running the past states as primaries in a winner take all format, the race for the nomination would be in favor of Hillary. Fairness is all I ask. I applaud Mr. Dean’s attempt to bring the party together towards a solution and hope if legislative measures are needed, the Dems can convince the GOP legislatures in MI and FL to amend their election rules to get the Democratic primary votes to count. If we can send men to the moon, I think our great country can conduct a fair re-vote for two states essential for our Democratic Party and National well-being. The whole process has favored Obama from the beginning, from open caucuses to verifiable media bias, so how can we say we have fairly nominated the best Democratic candidate for the general election against John McCain. Mr. Dean, I submit a solution to run 10 to 20 independent polls by legitimate polling agencies to determine how to seat the delegates after all the other primaries are concluded, if we can not get the desired revote and conform to party rules. My passport is ready, if this problem can not be resolved fairly. We are a union of 50 states the last time I counted.

I think Jason is like a lot of Obama supporters.They are the only ones that count.
His candidate ran ads in Fla. and that was not suppose to happen ,those ads are called campaigning.Yes, they would be happy to split the votes because Obama didn’t win those states.
We must count all votes not just Obama’s.

what is democratic about not letting fl and mi votes count? i have always been a democrat…..is the democratic party making their own rules and not following the constitution? jason what have you learned about the sen from chicago? i have watched several of his speaches and the only plan i have seen are a carbon copy of sen clintons…..except for the fact his plan is going to cost 800 billion….ive heard him say that coal should be taxed……well my electric bill is high enough….it seems to me that having him for president will put the country in the worst shape than its ever been……well he can always invite wright to the white house to pray……..i cannot believe that the democratic party would try to peddle this joke of a candidate on the american people…….

If all of the Candidates were not on the ballot in Florida how is it a fair election from the people of Florida. If there were no votes for Obama then there are no Delegates for Obama. I think if their are Delegates seated at the convention for Obama, than it’s politics as usual. ALL A LIE! ALL A MESS!!! They should not be seated!!!

Keeping them honest!!!!

I really don’t understand why all of a sudden Mrs. Clinton wants the delegates to be seated! I mean truthfully if the shoe was on the other foot and she had the lead we really be going through this uproar about seating Michigan and Florida! Now rules do matter and per the rules all voters including myself knew that when we went to the polls on election day that our votes weren’t gonna count, so why Mrs. Clinton do you really want the votes to be counted? Is it that you see yourself about to lose a race that you really thought was won before it even started? Or is it because you promised Florida resident in your victory speech that you will do whatever it takes to seat Florida and Michigan, and can’t wait until you get to the national convention and see those states in your winning column! Now what they really need to focus is the poor communities full of drug infested criminals, or fast food resturant workers that can’t afford health insurance or 401k, because they aren’t paid enough! Its like they have forgotten about the American people and are more focued on the numbers! I support OBAMA because he is the only candidate that seems to be for bringing America back and stop this Bush Cheney lobbying system!

Shame on Barack Obama! Dr. King would be extremely disappointed with an African American blackmailing and relinquishing the rights of any human being the right to vote.

I would hate to be Obama campaigning in Florida after not supporting a re-vote in Florida. All I can say is “Good Luck” because you can bet that if Florida doesn’t get a real and meaningful voice in the Democratic nomination process, Floridians will vote McCain. And if you think it will never happen - think again.

McCain is quite acceptable to many democrats - especially those who want to send a message.

David-are you kidding? Hillary- whom i beleive coined the term “Republican attack machine” has been going up against them - and succeeding for years–Obama has not been tested nationally - and given not just the racist comments, but particularly the ant-American rants of Obama’s long-time pastor, friend, mentor and spiritual guide -he will energize not just Republicans but many Americans like my self who do not trust him on patriotism,national security, judgement (his basic argument for election)and are determined, inspite of the liberal(and he is the number 1 liberal in the US senate so it’s no surprize)that he not be our next president.

Of course two of the largest and most populous states in the union should have a say in the nominating process. But we have to play on a level playing field. Once Hillary saw she was falling behind in this race, she changed her tune and wanted these virtual non-votes to count. Obama’s name wasn’t even on the Michigan ballot for g-d’s sake, and both candidates were told by the DNC not to campaign in Florida.

Why has there been no discussion of the possibility of a “focused trial debate” that was suggested by Todd Domke in the Boston Globe (”A Way to Fix the Stalemate,” March 27, 2008)?

Marcia, Pennsylvania April 2nd, 2008 9:55 pm ET

I heard the Republicans have been finding more dirt on Obama and can’t wait to use it. Should he be elected as the Democratic Nominee, he will have a steep uphill battle for the presidency. They will twist his campaign around to their advantage. And I don’t believe he’ll make it to the top of that hill.

Hillary is more electable than Obama.

why is there a question to florida and mich…..they broke the rules ….it cannot be undone…….what is happening to america .no rules in sports no rules by the lawmakers who make the rules……stop already …….and move on ………no big deal we knew the delegates would not be allowed to participate and so did they…..dean should be a man and follow the rules. ……………what

Mrs. Clinton is the best person for the job! I think as soon they come to a unstanding , they will make the right choice and pick Hillary!! Ameicans want Mrs. Clinton.

Jason:

You have portrayed yourself as this WIDE EYED clean hands young man lucky to be a Super Delegate…not exactly true now is it Jason?
You actually were involved in the voting that dictated what state could hold what primary when, are acutally supporting Obama because his wishes for Florida and Michigan would preserve the DNC power base of which you are a part of. Let’s have some full disclosure here before you trot out to the camera’s all these times acting all WIDE EYED and innocent.

Obama has not narrowed the lead to 9-points! You are not reporting on the MARGIN OF ERROR.

Clinton led in Pennsylvania 53 to Obama’s 41 percent. With a 2.5 percent margin of error.

NOW: Clinton leads in Pennsylvania 50 to Obama’s 41 percent… THAT’S WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

And note, Obama’s score DID NOT RISE!

So Clinton has a lead somewhere between 50 and 53 percent… EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE LAST POLL!

Anderson,

If the Democratic party actuall splits Florida and Michican 50/50…can you imagine how many Democrats will be angry with that decision? It will be better to let the votes not count for crying out loud. At least this way Howard Dean can blame the States for messing up with the process.
What is the point of splitting the delegates when it gets both candidates no where? Obama will still have a slight lead…and you will have very angry Democrats.
The Truth is that Obama just does not want a recount of the votes because he is afraid of losing another big state’s popular vote.

By the way, I am neither side of the Democratic party…I just thought I point out one of the most ridiculous things that I have heard on your show for a long time

Gary
Long time viewer

I am not necessarily politically savvy, however, in regards to the Florida delegate count, why is there so much controversy? If the state held primary votes without the approval of the DNC and most voters were aware that their votes may not count, and decided to not go to the polls - how is splitting the delegates votes fair? Neither democratic candidate campaigned there. There was a high voter turn-out (as has been reflected nationwide), but how much higher would it have been if they knew now what they knew then? My belief is, some of the voters, as many have, may have changed their minds at this point in the race. Or had the candidates campaigned, would the voters have a different view? Is there no other solution to the controversy than this? How about a re-vote (at the candidates expense)? Or maybe penalizing the state (which by the way, has been a controversial state in a few of the past elections, can someone say nepotism and George W?) I guess my point is no one should benefit, unless there is a revote. Then the playing field will be fair. Let’s put the ball back in the voter’s hands and not the political machines. Better yet, let’s see what happens in the democratic candidacy in the next few weeks and decide on a viable candidate. The longer this race is drawn out, the more ground the Repulblican Party gains. Just a middle-class, stay-at-home mom, small business owner’s opinion…

I get so angry when I think of Florida. Your state screwed up the election in 2000 and is trying to do so again. Take responsibility and get rid of your elected officials. Your primary election was not fair but your representatives insisted that your state should move to the head of the line. If a revote is what you Floridians want, pay for it yourself. Otherwise, split the vote and be happy that your delegates will be seated. And for goodness sakes, remember this in the next elections. And lay off Anderson. I have seen Kiki McClean and other representatives for Hillary on every panel.

News should not potray gossip or present bias—Journalism 101.

Anderson please present the facts and let the chips fall. Polls at this stage change so much that it is not worth mentioning. It also matters how polling is done. Gallop polls count, but they also change.

BTW there is a new video on You tube regarding OBAMA trying to change pledged delegate minds. Please check it out.

Anderson: The media will elect the new president. CNN has endorsed Obama as the new president with its biased election coverage. Why bother to vote?

Watched your bit on Florida/Michigan delegates, Anderson Cooper and, man, you outdid yourself on this one.

While it is totally obvious that you are an Obamaite, the LEAST you could do is to show respect to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.
You interruped and cut her off to give the floor to the Obama dude who did exactly what his “american idol” does - talk without saying anything. We were actually getting information from Schultz and you just couldn’t take that, could you?

I used to watch your show and admired your objectivity. WHERE DID IT GO? Some change within yourself or is it your Boss who is making an Obamaite mouthpiece out of you?

What a waste. You had potential of being a great journalist.

I will NEVER vote for Obama. He is the unknown factor. I would vote for McCain if it came down to it. I’m not swayed by sunshine speeches NOR am I swayed by the media or anyone else in which candidate I think could do the most for the American people. Like grandma always said, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”!

Contrary to what many of the others have said, I think CNN has done a far more fair job than any of the other networks as far as balancing coverage and refraining from subtly or not so subtly (depending upon your network of choice) endorsing any one candidate.

Any argument that Anderson Cooper’s interview with Sen. Obama demonstrates bias is unfounded in that he openly invited Sen. Clinton to participate in the same “day with a candidate” type interview.

I honestly think you get more from these type indepth interviews than you can from the interviews where talking points are regurgitated and sound bites are made.

By the way, I am a life long Dem., but have NO idea what I am going to do in this race.

Florida and Michigan made their collective beds, knew the potential connsequences yet voluntarily ignored them. Lest we forget, the Republican’s also punished those states for thumbing their noses at the rules. I cannot envision a situation wherein any of the proposed resolutions turn our favorably. I am predicting a Katrinaesque flood of lawyers descending upon Florida and Michigan. At this point, nothing could be more harmful for this party.

this is to all you (so called) democrates that are going to change your votes to McCain in november umm hes a republican if you are a democrate thats what you should vote. or your are just as much a
flip floper as hilary

If Dean seat the Florida and/or Michigan delegates, two things will happen…. First, the DNC will prove that it has no teeth when it comes to enforcing election mandates. Therefore, states will take that to mean they can do whatever they want and get away with it. Second, this is obviously a Clinton back room deal that she is trying to push simply because she is behind and feels entitled to the White House. She broke the rules by placing her name on ballots in these states and she even campaigned in Michigan. Sorry folks, but seat delegates from these states sends Clinton a message that she can do what she wants when she wants and then get away without consequences later.

Furthermore, the person in this who has obeyed the rules and not campaigned or placed his name on ballots was Obama. So, we are to punish those who follow the rules and award those who don’t? Sorry, but this mentality is a central reason why there is so much wrong with our culture. If anything, we are sending our children an awful message that reinforces the idea of the privileged and the stepping on those who follow rules and laws, painting them as weak.

I was a big supporter of Hillary. She had many of us fooled. It was very hurtful to know that she does not want positive voters. All we are worth to her is a big fat lie. NOW HERE IS A NEW, ENERGETIC AND STRONG VOICE: VOTE OBAMA

I am from Florida, will someone please explain how having the choice of noncommitted or Clinton on the Florida ballot means that Obamas name was on the ballot? Michigan would not dare say let the vote count because Obamas name was not on the ballot! How can the choice of uncommitted mean a vote for Obama?

OK. Let’s get Constitutional. The popular vote should be all that is needed. That includes Florida and Michigan. Re-do Fl and Mich, then tally up the votes for the whole shebang, and Presto! You got a nominee! They should have done that with Al Gore, and the country would be in a much better position than it is now.

Andrea in Florida

I am a State of Michigan resident. If anything the votes should be split down the middle 1/2 and 1/2 for both candidates to seat Michigan and Florida delegates. Senator Clinton was well aware that the primary’s were not going to be held in Michigan and by no means should she receive any votes from our State. My husband and I were Republicans and voted uncommitted in January in order be able to vote for Senator Obama in November. As a former republican voter and an African American woman; I am looking forward to voting for Senator Obama this November. To be perfectly honest, I would not vote for Hillary at all and the reason is, she uses Afro americans as pawns, she is mean spirited, selfish like many women of her caliber I have met and worked with. They have this “All about me Mentality”, or I am Entitled. I truly believe Affirmative Action helped more white women than Afro Americans, many of them by no means at all have this attitude but a select few do. I will vote for him not because he is Afro-American but because I believe his spirit is right, he is definitely a gentleman and a scholar, has integrity, someone we could look up to for a President one who I believe truly cares about all people not just for what they can do for him. This status quo has to stop in our society, favoritism is wrong. All of us are human beings and we all are equal in this World, although some cultures still do not want to believe it. Racism is evil!!!!!!! God Bless

We are really making this harder than it needs to be …

Simply let both candidates run till the end (calling for one or the other to drop out is not fair to the remaining states yet to vote). Then tally up the popular vote (including Michigan and Florida) - no delegates, no superdelegates, no caucus - just the real, true popluar vote … and there is your nominee.

For once, take “politics” out of politics.

First of all, I think CNN has been very fair to Hillary. And the deal with Fla. and Michigan, is that if both are seated as is , it disinfranchises the voters who DIDN”T vote because they didn’t think it would count. We can’t only look at who did vote ,but who DIDN’T vote because of the rules of the primairies. If I was a cheerleader sponser or something I said we are going to have tryouts , but the votes won’t really count, but we want the girls to get the experience of trying out, and then we decided to choose winners from those girls and seat a squad anyway, there would be a riot between parents and the school .
Basically, it wouldn’t fly in the real world , and it shouldn’t apply in politics; politicians shouldn’t be able to change the rules whenever it suits them. Hillary wouldn’t give a flip about the 2 states if she were leading.