March 9, 2008 - 12:18pm
Menendez says Dems need Florida and Michigan in November
By Max PizarroAppearing in a debate with Sen. Claire McCaskill on CNN's Late Edition, Sen. Robert Menendez argued that to better ensure the party's victory in November, Democratic delegates in Florida and Michigan must be seated in the primary season.
"We need them," said Menendez, who told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that if the party fails to enfranchise Michigan and Florida, Democratic voters in those states could repay the party in the general election by staying home.
"Voters should vote," said the New Jersey senator, speaking as a surrogate for his presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton. "We want them in our column, and so this is a critical decision."
McCaskill, who backs Sen. Barack Obama for president, agreed that Florida and Michigan should count. "Let the campaigns, the two states and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) decide," said the junior Missouri senator.
The DNC initially denied Michigan and Florida their delegates because those states moved their primaries ahead of Super Tuesday without authorization from the DNC. With Clinton and Obama now in a close contest, DNC Chairman Howard Dean concurs that delegates in Michigan and Florida should count.
Trailing Obama in the number of overall pledged delegates, Clinton claimed victories in Michigan and Florida when voters went to the polls on Jan. 15 and Jan. 29 respectively. But Obama's name did not appear on the ballot in the Michigan primary and neither Clinton nor Obama campaigned in either state.
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NOW THIS IS TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT!
How transparent can you be Bob?
You only want Florida & Michigan added back in because they were pro-Hillary states during the first election. However, this was back when Obama was just getting started. Florida and Michigan were advised what the ramifications were BEFORE they changed their election dates, now they and some pro-Clinton camps are crying foul.
You only want this because of Corzine's and your own personal adgendas, nothing more. I don't think you care about anyone in this state, besides your political buddies and special interest groups.
Hey, there are DUMP MENENDEZ bumper stickers available on-line. You just have to open up a search for them. Let's get rid of the legislature who are not protecting the citizen's of this state.
Menendez Agenda
Of course Menendez wants to change the rules - he's an NJ Dem and they never follow the rules and allow people to choose their candidates fairly. Observe:
First the embattled Toricelli was replaced on the ballot with Lautenberg after the voters decided on Toricelli in the primary.
Next Corzine Bought the Senate seat without allowing Dem's a true primary.
Then McGreevey resigned, but remained in office long enough to give Codey the job, thus taking away people's right to choose.
Then Corzine bought the gubernatorial nomination, eliminating any competition in a primary.
Once Corzine won the governor's office, he gave Menendez his Senate seat with no electoral process whatsoever.
NJ Dem's don't believe in rules or fair elections, so should it surprise you that Menendez wants to throw out the rules and make taxpayers fund another election?
"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." - Thomas Jefferson
Hillary, it is time to drop out!
it is obvious that the time has run out for Senator Clinton. It is time to face the music (voters) and get out of the race. Then, we do not have to worry about Michigan and Florida.
Hillary, be a (wo)man and make your decision. It is the time.
Menendez
Will somebody please check this Illegal Alien's green card?????????
Will somebody please check this Illegal Alien's green card??????
I've wondered that too. He is always implying that he and or family came to America to escape Castro's regime. But, if that is true, he was not born a U.S. citizen since his birthday is January 1, 1954. Castro assumed power in Cuba 1959.
Max
Do you really expect anyone to take you seriously?
Batista, Not Castro
While I am anything but a Menendez supporter, I must say that I do not ever recall Menendez claiming that his family fled Cuba following Castro's assumption of leadership. Menendez has tried to imply flight from Castro & his minions by saying that his family fled from a dictatorial leader. But that dictatorial leader was Castro's predecessor, Fulgencio Batista.
The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. - Thomas Jefferson
When did anyone change the rules?
This is our U.S. Senator? What a joke! Change the rules in the middle of the game? Jersey's Democrats did that before and have the balls to thing that it can be done nationally. Send ICE to Union City, Hudson County, and deport them all..."Undocumented" my ass.
Menendez/Cuba
>>>I must say that I do not ever recall Menendez claiming that his family fled Cuba following Castro's assumption of leadership. Menendez has tried to imply flight from Castro & his minions by saying that his family fled from a dictatorial leader.
Was Mike Kelly of the Record incorrect with his research? He reported his finding in 2005 that Robert Menendez's bios stated, “As the son of Cuban –American parents, who fled the brutal hand of Fidel Castro..." The article directly quoted the bio.
I never saw a retraction. Did I miss it?
Max aside
I feel that the NJGOP harbors such resentment againsts BM simply because he handidly defeated the second coming of Tom Kean. BM destroyed TKJR despite tons of negative press (generated by the pro-GOP Gannet Corp) and the political hack job by Christie. Now since BM is making waves all over the country and has significant influence in the Dem Party and the Senate the simply have nothing to complain about but the spilled milk. If the NJGOP can name one issue where Menendez hasnt been on the right side and in tune with the majority of NJ I'll be surprised.
Here's a great idea Bob
The Honorable Aaron Burr, Vice President of the United States
Why don't you move to Florida and help things out down there. Better for all of us.
Electoral sham.
Menendez and Hillary's suggestion the the FL. & Mich. delegates should be seated even though there was no competitive election there is a sham. Menendez is a bright guy and he knows this is an electoral fraud. Hillary should not have put her name on the ballot in Mich. Just because Hillary and her corrupt surrogates are going around saying they should be seated does not make it so.
Hillary is trying to win this any underhanded way she can. It is a slap in the face of our democracy and Corzine and Menendez are complicit.