This is all very confusing. Let me see if I get this straight: In protesting a move by the state of Michigan to change the date of its primary election to January 15th, closer than the Democratic Party-approved cutoff date of February 5th, both John Edwards and Barack Obama wound up with their names off the primary ballot there, and aren’t campaigning in the state. I’ve read that they also didn’t turn in the necessary paperwork to allow write-in votes for them.
Isn’t that a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water?
I hope all the Michigan voters who would’ve voted for them will consider Dennis Kucinich rather than Hillary Clinton or Mike Gravel (or Chris Dodd, who has now dropped out). Maybe they will, because as Kucinich kicks off his campaign swing through Michigan, it appears that Kucinich was treated like a rock star in his Troy, Michigan campaign stop.
Mainstream media has ignored this development, to the point that even some Michigan residents aren’t fully aware of it, according to a caller from there to CSPAN on the night of the New Hampshire Primary.
Call me cynical, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, should this result in a Kucinich win there, mainstream media gives it short shrift as a mere technical fluke and dismisses Kucinich as unimportant yet again. And with what appears to be, from all I can tell, a possible lack of delegates for the Democratic National Convention up for grabs in the Michigan primary, this will mean a slap in the face not just to Kucinich, the most serious candidate I see in this Presidential race, but a slap in the face to Michigan voters as well, by both the Democratic Party and the mainstream media, and perhaps their own legislators, who knew the party’s rules when they made this decision — ridiculous as the party’s rules are, considering they apply no such rule to the dates of the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary.
I hope I’m right about the Michigan Democratic vote swinging in Kucinich’s direction and that I’m just confused and wrong about all the rest. I admire Dennis Kucinich for campaigning in Michigan anyway. At least by doing so he shows respect for Michigan voters, who apparently had little direct say in any of this.
Kucinich tried (like the other honorable Democratic candidates) to get off the ballot when the DNC punished Michigan for moving their primary early in the calendar. If Kucinich had his way, he would have been off the ballot. Google “michigan primary election wikipedia” for the fuller scoop. The entire move backfired on the Michigan Democrats who tried to change the date - although maybe this will affect future elections? For 2008, however, it is unclear if Michigan voters or politicians will have much if any influence on the outcome. Thanks a lot, Michigan politicos, for not getting permission before doing something to offend the DNC powers that be.
Comment by Darla — 2/4/2008 @ 11:41 pm
Obama and Edwards had nothing to do with the decision. This was straight from the Michigan Democratic higher-ups (Dingell-berries). They tried to move the primary against party wishes and got sanctioned. Those who got hurt are the Dem voters and any attention (at all) that might have been given to Michigan before its normal primary date. Now the Dem candidate won’t appear in Michigan until the national election. The Dingells and their cronies wanted to improve things but that doesn’t mean you just do whatever you want without any thought of the consequences. Short-sighted, non-politically-strategic, just plain dumb tactics.
Comment by 2ndThatEmotion — 2/4/2008 @ 11:54 pm