How come Clinton, Kucinich and Gravel are on the Michigan ballots

[question everything]

but not Obama and Edwards?

What was the mechanism to be put - or not - on the ballot?

Just curious.

Heard that Dodd is there, too.

[muntrv]

1. Obama and Edwards took their names off the ballot to honor the DNC

punishing MI for moving up its primary ahead of the February 5 date.

[graywarrior]

2. I was just looking at that.

Weird

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Michigan is being "boycotted", but ...

... the other candidates were probably on the ballot before the boycott was in place.

The boycott is over the state trying to "game" the primaries. If anyone knows more about it, please post!

--p!

[CyberPieHole]

4. Obama and Edwards are pulling a "Guliani" and they are skipping it in favor of Florida...

Michigan is a bit cold this time of year so the two of them are going off for a little holiday in the balmy Palm Beach sun.:evilgrin:

[question everything]

32. I thought that Florida was going to be "punished," too

One more reason to scrap the current system and move to rotating primaries.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. all were initially on the ballot

Then Michigan moved up their date, and they all agreed to not campaign in Michigan.

Then a few of them decided to pander even harder to Iowa and New Hampshire voters and have their names removed from the ballot. A few succeeded. Kucinich tried, but couldn't figure out the paperwork in a timely manner.

So the rest remain.

All of them have upheld their signed pledge NOT to campaign in Michigan except for Kucinich.

[CyberPieHole]

7. I realize the delegates will not be allowed to participate at the convention...

but what I am confused about is the voters in Michigan. Won't they feel that they have been dis~enfranchised? Regardless of the candidate~~~won't some (or many) voters stay home on GE day and fail to vote and perhaps give the vote to the repug? I don't understand how this won't offend the voters of MI.:shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

There are two separate primaries

one for Republicans and one for Democrats.

Yes, Democratic turnout will probably be very low, but that doesn't gain any advantage for the Republicans.

[CyberPieHole]

12. But since the Democratic voters are going to be dis~enfranchised...

won't they get offended? I know it was their state that wanted to defy the DNC and to move their date ahead...it just seems like a big mistake that may cost us the state in the GE.

[Liz7]

22. yes, we (MI voters) have been disenfranchised

And we are offended. It's a ridiculous and unfair situation. However, there is the option to vote "uncommitted," and there is an expectation that Michigan will regain its delegates at the convention.

[CyberPieHole]

25. Thanks for that info, Liz7...

I haven't heard about this...I'm going to the google to read about it...and welcome to DU.:hi:

[InvisibleTouch]

13. That answers my dumb question from another thread.

Thanks.

Weird, though. I don't see how it does any candidate any good to remove themselves from the opportunity for votes.

[CyberPieHole]

18. I hope it doesn't come back to bite us on the *ss, but I have feeling it just might...

these were back~room battles and I think the damage is done.

[rhett o rick]

6. Mich is being punished and will get no delegates. Clinton is defying the DNC and is on the ballot

whereas Obama and Edwards are supporting the DNC and withdrawing from Mich. don't know about DK.

This could be the split in the Demo party. DLC vs. DNC.

[jasmine621]

8. It's a silly move to diss MI voters. they are having it tought.

I don't see how this is good politics. Come the GE we will need all the votes we can get. Some other penalty could have been used...but no delegates? We are shooting ourselves in the face.

[CyberPieHole]

15. It doesn't seem very logical to me either...

we dis~enfranchise them in the primaries and then come back to them in the general election and say to them..."Hey we didn't care about your vote a few months ago, but we want it now"~~~they may just stay home and tell the party to go eff itself.

[CyberPieHole]

9. Kucinich is on the ballot as well...don't forget HE is running for president still...

I don't think this will play well with MI voters for our party.

[fadedrose]

14. There's something going around..

That Kucinich tried to get his name off the ballot and they wouldn't let him. Anybody know details...?

[CyberPieHole]

16. When the deadline approached he tried to get his name off...but misfiled or made some...

mistake and his name was kept on...he is on the ballot, still.

[MonkeyFunk]

17. he didn't file the appropriate paperwork in time

He's not the world's most organized candidate.

[MonkeyFunk]

10. Bullshit

she's not defying anything. There was absolutely no requirement or even strong suggestion that they remove their names.

The only requirement was that they not campaign in Michigan, and Dennis Kucinich is the ONLY candidate to defy that commitment.

[CyberPieHole]

19. That's what I read as well, though I don't understand why he is defying the DNC...

the delegates won't count. It's screwy.

[rhett o rick]

26. Ok, I should have said that in my opinion Edwards and Obama are supporting

the DNC by taking their names off the ballot and Sen Clinton isn't. Is that better? It isn't a secret that there is no love lost between Sen Clinton and the DNC. Or is is a secret?

[CyberPieHole]

28. I didn't know that...

why would they dislike one another?

[rhett o rick]

30. lol. You may think it is cute but sooner or later you will have to choose DLC or DNC. just sayin

[ramapo]

35. How dumb can the Dems be?

It seems there is no end to the ineptness of this party. Michigan gets totally disregarded? No delegates, a sham election. I don't know who is right, who is wrong. Just that this is a big screwup.

This disgusts me.

[riverdale]

11. They were trying to kiss the ass of Iowa

To punish MI for their insouciance in the face of the Iowa deathgrip on America's political candidates.

[CyberPieHole]

21. I disagree with the whole "Iowa is first" bull~crap too...

but this should have been resolved before the primaries began.*shakes head in disgust*

Michigan voters won't take kindly to this...come the GE instead of votes they may very well give our party the finger.

[Liz7]

24. unfortunately you're probably right

But I think it only applies to some independents, not die-hard Democrats or liberals who are dead-set on electing a Dem, people who are thinking big picture.

[CyberPieHole]

27. I hope so...

it just seems very un~American to dis~enfranchise voters like that.

[rhett o rick]

31. The Mich Demo party has to decide whether they are in or they are out. In, and you follow the rules

out and you can go vote repub and good riddance to you.

[question everything]

33. What about Florida? I thought that it, too, is being

punished?

[rhett o rick]

34. Yes I think Florida also but have no info. nm

[MadBadger]

20. Obama and Edwards are ethical, DK screwed up, Gravel is Crazy, and Hillary is all about herself

I think that sums it up.

[CyberPieHole]

23. Obama wanted more time to pander to the gay~hating bigot McClurkin...

and he wanted to be free to throw more gays under the bus. That's the sole reason he took his name off the ballot.

[MonkeyFunk]

29. and Dodd?

He's on the ballot, too.