She could tear the Democratic Party apart
So writes Ezra Klein of the liberal The American Prospect about the controversy brewing over the seating at the convention of delegations from Florida and Michigan. Those states were stripped of their representation by the Democratic National Committee for holding their votes too early. The DNC also asked candidates not to campaign in either state, something they all agreed to, though Hillary left her name on the Michigan ballot.
Now she wants to rewrite the rules in mid-campaign:
"I hear all the time from people in Florida and Michigan that they want their voices heard in selecting the Democratic nominee.
"I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats in these states to win the general election, and so I will ask my Democratic convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Florida and Michigan. I know not all of my delegates will do so and I fully respect that decision. But I hope to be President of all 50 states and U.S. territories, and that we have all 50 states represented and counted at the Democratic convention.
"I hope my fellow potential nominees will join me in this.
"I will of course be following the no-campaigning pledge that I signed, and expect others will as well."
Klein rightly points out what a sneaky move this is and how, should it work and the readmitted delegates put her over the top for the nomination, it could shatter the party:
...if this pushes her over the edge, the Obama camp, and their supporters, really will feel that she stole her victory. They didn't contest those states because they weren't going to count, not because they were so committed to the DNC's procedural arguments that they were willing to sacrifice dozens of delegates to support it. It's as hard as hardball gets, and the end could be unimaginably acrimonious. Imagine if African-American voters feel the rules were changed to prevent Obama's victory, if young voters feel the delegate counts were shifted to block their candidate.
Not only is the prospect of open conventions for both parties intriguing, but I'll confess to a bit of schadenfreude when it comes to the Democrats. They've spent the last five years putting party ahead of country in a time of war; they've spent the last 15 years excusing and defending the wretched personal behavior and destructive politics of the Clintons; and they've spent the last 40 years shamelessly exploiting the politics of race and identity. Now all those chickens are coming home to roost.
I have to give the Clintons credit for one thing, however: when they play to win, they spare nothing. Forget "take no prisoners." Hillary and Bill are willing to call artillery fire on their own position if it means they'll win.
This should be fun to watch. 
(hat tip: Memeorandum)
LINKS: Q and O, Josh Marshall, Michelle Malkin, Blue Crab Boulevard, Lawyers Guns and Money, and Captain's Quarters, Riehl World View.
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