What an appalling abdication of leadership by a senator who should know that a bitter credentials floor fight contains a high potential for total disaster. Levin, Nelson, and others who are pushing this issue to the brink are risking the election of a Democratic president simply to avoid personal embarrassment, by not having to say that they made a mistake in defying the DNC rules on primaries. Cooler heads in Washington, Florida and Michigan need to sort this out. Thanks for nothing, Senator.

Levin's comments are not surprising, given that he was one of the ringleaders in changing the Michigan date. His position all along has been to present a fait accompli to the DNC. In an earlier statement, he supported the date change in spite of the DNC's warnings, basically saying that the party would not dare alienate his state and would eventually accept the results. He has a cynical and opportunistic approach that is truly Clintoneque.

Has Senator Levin endorsed? I know the other senator from Michigan is a Hillary supporter and so is the governor. Michigan is the one state that is really screwed up since Hillary and Dennis were the only ones on the ballot. Most didn't even vote or voted uncommitted. There is no way in hell that Hillary should get these delegates. No way.

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR HILLARY!!!

Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey says hello too.

Senator Levin, as usual, is right on the money. New Hampshire got us into this through its intransigence.

It is tragic that Michigan might be lost to McCain/Romney this year due to Michigan's resentment of it's treatment by the DNC, but I sense that most Democrats right now don't give a rip.

Senator Clinton learned well from my nearly fifty years of running in elections in my country on how to win: make sure you are the only candidate on the ballot while her opposition withdrew from the ballot in the Michigan Presidential Primary allowing her to win uncontested. Congratulations, Senator Clinton. You win all the delegates just as I did in my decades here in Havanna.

Fidel, all those years in Havana, and you still can't spell it?

If you run it, you dont have to spell it.

I have been a long-time supporter of Carl Levin, most recently hosting a fundraiser for him at my house, but I am very disappointed in his stance on the Michigan delegate selection mess, which he helped to create. There can't be a "do-over" in Michigan, because there never was a "do." We had an illegitimate, meaningless beauty contest which should have no bearing on the awarding of delegates. We should either: 1) Have a new, legitimate delegate selection process; 2) Seat a state delegation with equal numbers for Clinton and Obama, so the state gets to participate, but the bogus primary has no effect; or 3) Take our lumps for the game of chicken we played with the DNC and lost, and have no delegates at the convention.

I have called the DNC. And told them they can not do a re vote up in MI. Or legal action will be filed. Voter in MI was ask to cross lines and vote for weakest republican. My brother was one of these.
TO hold another vote in MI would let them pick the Republican and Democrat Nominee.
Something no other state is allowed to do.
Yes may be that some Republicans in OHIO and TX crossed. BUT they did so not being able to also vote for the republican of their choice…

Fl has the same prob. They were told their vote would not count. SO MANY VOTED REPUBLICAN. NOW to let them vote again>.??? MAIL in ballets? That could be taken out of mail boxes and changed?

NO WAY… The GOP NEED’S TO STEP UP. And get the lawyers ready… They made the rules they agreed to the rules. NOW because it may go to convention. THEY WANT TO CHANCE THE RULES ???

Good grief I feel bad for those in MI and FL. But once again It should have been fixed before this point. There is no Fix by a re vote now. That would be fair to the republicans that could have been hurt by the Dem vote. HAD MI Dem’s not voted for Romney or McCain. Could Huckabee did better?? Because the Dem’s in MI did not want him messing with Abortion.. I DONT KNOW DO YOU???
COULD RUDY HAVE WON FL ?? If those cross overs had not voted.. I don’t know do you.???
FOR SURE THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING… AND they should not be able to vote for a Dem. and a rep….

GET THE COURTS READY… WE NEED TO PUT UP A FIGHT>>>>..

The irony is that had Michigan simply waited and held their primary as per normal, like Ohio and Texas, they would have been huge kingmakers.

D'oh!

I volunteered for Levin's first Senate campaign back in 1978, when I was still practically a child, and now I'm in my 50s. I think it's safe to say it's time for him to move on.

You Obama supporters are great. Why not just say what you mean -- youdon't want to votes to count. You want the voters to two large swing states to not be a part of process. People voted, and you don't want those votes to count.

Michigan is an odd situation, because Obama and Edwards chose to pull themselves from the ballot. That was their choice, but I see the reasons for concern there. But everyone was on the ballot in Florida. To say that Clinton won by name recognition -- after CNN and MSNBC have been almost non-stop campaign coverage since December, where there had been, at that point, 15 televised debates, that's just silly. And, for the record, Obama did run ads in Florida. Maybe not as many or the kind he would have, but his ads did run there.

For a campaign and "movement" that is all about hope and new politics, this is the most hypocrtical stance possible -- to actively and aggressvely try to not count votes. And that's all they are trying to do.

And one more thing, this mess is the DNC's fault. States get to choose when and how they hold elections. It's been the DNC's call to pout when the people of those stantes wanted to move their elections. This is the DNC's mess -- they need to fix it.

Do not generalize. Comments beginning with 'you Obama supporters' or 'you Clinton supporters' are polarizing.

Many people have stated on blogs, letters to the editor, etc., that they did not vote in FL because they were aware ahead of time that the delegates would not count. So we can't rely only on the votes cast--it would be unfair to those who stayed home, having been told their votes wouldn't matter. Counting the votes now changes the rules halfway through the game.

The Obama campaign, as far as I am aware, has always been open to a re-vote--the only fair playing field if delegates are to be seated.

Havanna gila!

Mazeltov, Senator Levin, on your continuing support for the idea that your constituents do not deserve to have input into your party's nomination process!

I imagine Clinton's internal polling is telling them to avoid letting Michiganders vote at all costs.

Senator Levin is a super-delegate who has already endorsed Clinton

It's irresponsible reporting not to mention that fact. Of course he doesn't want a re-vote. A re-vote wouldn't favor Hillary, because the original vote only had Hillary's name on the ballot.

"Senator Levin is a super-delegate who has already endorsed Clinton"

I don't think this is true.

In 2004, Michigan tried to preemptively move its primary and Terry McAuliffe told him in no uncertain terms that none of their delegates would be seated.

"Expletives were flying. The head of the Democratic National Committee was having it out with Sen. Carl Levin because Michigan wanted to crash the rarefied club of early presidential primary states.

Move your primary too early, Terry McAuliffe warned, and Michigan will lose half its delegates to the 2004 Democratic convention.

"The closest they'll get to Boston will be watching it on television," McAuliffe vowed. "I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules."

Now that is interesting. McAuliffe threatened to do what Howard Dean actually did do. Yet nobody threatened McAuliffe with a lawsuit. Why?

Because Levin & McAuliffe made a deal. Carl Levin, got a deal with Terry McAuliffe in 2004 that he would not make primary moves then if Terry appointed a committee to change the primaries.

Nobody bothered to point out that Howard Dean and the DNC were enforcing rules that had been in place since 2005, put there by a committee appointed by McAuliffe in a bargain with Levin.

Levin is not going to be able to talk his way out of this one.

All you political junkies need to calm down. I can assure you that your candidate sucks just as much as everyone else's candidate, and getting all worked up over every twist and turn in the primary season doesn't change that.

Matt Adams,

This mess is wholly the responsibility of state Party officials in Michigan and Florida. Their intransigence and greed set the stage and the inevitable conclusion. The dishonest lie that holding an early primary translates into greater influence is beyond the pale.

It's irrational; there's nothing to support that; it was a naked attempt to seize undue power and un-earned influence.

What's more, putting Florida at the head of the line--in Iowa's place--merely repeats the same 'mistake' the fact-free whiners in FL & MI complained of. By their own logic, they would then have more influence than anyone else. Thanks, but no thanks. When Florida learns to count votes and enforce American law, we'll talk. Until then, I'll go with the decidedly non-hysterical, less-corrupt, and proven good judgment of patriotic Iowans.

Every state has votes and proportional delegates. If you don't like the way Iowa and New Hampshire 'influences' the race for Prznt, then vote the other way. It's called democracy.

You have every opportunity to exercise it. If you actually believe Michigan would give that critical early support for Kucinich or Ron Paul rather than Clinton or Obama, well, you're deluded. Plus, Iowa would come along after and supply a much-needed correction.

Last: Michigan just held a so-called 'primary' with only one name on the ballot. How do you justify that as in any way legitimate?? The results are completely unsound. It misrepresents the choice of Michigan voters. It disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents. How do you defend that?

Count votes? Please--if only. Give democracy a try.

Hillary Clinton broke her word. Hillary Clinton now wants to break the rules by seating Michigan delegates from a rigged primary election, the results of which are wholly illegitimate.

State party officials showed little-to-no understanding of democracy and when challenged, attempted a power play anyway, in order to grab more than their share of influence. They lost. Deal with it.

But don't tell us WE don't want to count votes. Not counting votes is clearly the main goal of Michigan 'Democratic' Party officials.

I'm not even an Obama supporter. But this abuse of process, and of facts, has got to stop.

Last: Michigan just held a so-called 'primary' with only one name on the ballot. How do you justify that as in any way legitimate??

Exactly. And if Clinton supporters try to claim those delegates in order to gain the overall lead, her chances in the general election will be zip, zilch, nada, bupkus.

Levin should be voted out of office along with Govs. Granholm(sp?) and Crist. The Governors are solely responsible for signing the bill that moved the primary dates up after being warned repeatedly of the consequences. They gave the DNC and the rest of the country the finger, and now they're crying like babies.

Revote or don't. It's your choice and most of us don't care (we didn't get two chances). But those delegates are not going to be seated as is -- that has been made abundantly clear by Dean, Pelosi and others.

Bottom line. Clinton can't win without cheating and she has no problem doing that. She's no better than Bush.

So New Hampshire broke the rules and didn't get their delegates lifted?

Can you spell U N F A I R?

Debbie Dingell pleaded with Obama not to take his name off, he argued he couldn't win in New Hampshire.

Both he and Edwards saw political gain in cozying up to Iowa and New Hampshire.

Those who feel disenfranchised because Obama's name wasn't on the ballot were disenfranchised BY
Obama. He signed to take it off.

Further, it was well publicized in Michigan that voting for uncommitted would result in the ability to select delegates who would in fact vote for Obama or Edwards depending on who turned out the most supporters out for the Congressional District caucuses where the actural delegates to fill the slots are selected.

The cheater is Obama who wants to annul the votes of those who voted for Clinton because he made a strategic political mistake.

I'm sure Hillary would like a do over in Iowa as well.

We should agree to do-overs in Michigan and Florida only if Hillary gets to select two other states for do overs.

Not surprising; Levin is a big cheese in Hillary's DLC.

Members of the DLC should recuse themselves from any negotiation that might affect the election; of course when that happens hell will freeze over.

Michigan has a great comeback for the DNC: they'll just stay home, while the Republicans and Independents will be voting for Michigan's favorite son Romney for VP. Repubs know this, and are loving it.

Other Dems say, "Who cares. Obama (or Hillary) will win anyway..."

Ever wonder why the Democrats have lost 70% of the last 10 Presidential elections?

The last 2 presidential elections were stolen by the Republicans. The best solution for us Democrats would be fair revote in both Fla and Michigan. It seems to me a simple mail-in ballot (Clinton, Obama -- randomly reversed in order -- & Write-in) would not be that expensive.

All candidates agreed that the results in MI and FL wouldn't count. The end. All parties should live up to their signed agreements on this matter. If MI and FL are to be seated then they'll need to have legit primaries or caucuses. The Clinton camp isn't doing itself any favors with their whining about it now. They should have spoken up before they made the agreement that there would be no campaigning and the results wouldn't count.

The state parties screwed their voters. It's that simple. Democratic voters should punish the state party leaders that put them in this pickle. What a stupid power play.

Has anybody been listen for that last year? Obama is running to change Washington and against Hillary for all those reason. Obama can never bring her into VP...Or everything he stands for is out the window...

Hillary trolls who post about "disenfranchising" voters (who weren't given a complete menu of choices) know they are endorsing a lie. People who are savvy enough to read--and post to--political blogs aren't fooled. They know a troll when they see one, because the issue is clearly not really about fairly reflecting the will of the people. It's about Hillary getting awarded more delegates without earning them. And they're OK with that because they want Hillary to be the nominee. Period.

Hilbots! Don't insult us with your fake idealism and crocodile tears...we know what you want.

Carl Levin is the number 1 defender of the auto industry at a time when they need a different sort of defense. It is indeed time for him to move on(to the golf course).

I don't understand how anyone could argue that an election is free and fair when (a) some candidates' names are not even on the ballot, and (b) candidates were not meeting voters and their campaigns were not organizing voters, such that the person with the greatest name recognition will likely get the most votes anyway. I mean, these are the obstacles that minority candidates face in some of the most "undemocratic" democracies in the world.

MI Democratic leaders like Sen. Levin screwed up royally by trying to do an end run around the system. And now they are at it again, with a Democratic Governor attempting to spin the election towards Hillary. MI is now looking like FL in the eyes of the nation. I suggest that MI should not be allowed a do-over nor should their delagates be seated at the convention. The country no longer cares about such a state.

Levin is turning into a Liebercrat. All confused about the war, presidential power, and the fact that America's rich and its corporations have royally screwed the country. Time for him to cross the aisle or retire.

Really, If the democratic party cannot figure out an internal problem they are not going to inspire any confidence in the General Election. This is stupid! Politics is messy but this needs to be solved

Doesn't Levin approve funding for the occupation of Iraq every time it comes up? Oh, but he thinks we can't afford elections in this country?!

Maybe its because his pal Hillary claims she won Florida by not taking her name off the ballot. That would be funny, if she wasn't a monster.

Can someone tell the Monster, in this country, it's not a 'win' if you're the only one on the ballot?

Michigan and Florida, you guys may think you are star players, but you got ejected from the game for breaking the rules. You've got to sit this one out.

Florida, why don't you just focus on the big game in November. It's not like the rest of us haven't noticed your choking in the last 2 elections. If it were up to me, I'd trade you to the south for Ohio.

Hillary's Michigan "victory" is about as convincing as Carl Levin's comb-over.

She really does want to take the party down with her . The way she and Bill are conducting themselves is an embarrassment to the country.

How bloody disappointing of Levin to say seat delegates. Right -- Hillary should get the delegates because she beat uncommitted in an unauthorized primary.
Carl Levin needs to face a challenger in his next election as he is not representing Michiganers anymore.

See, knowing that Michigan was screwed by the DNC, and will probably vote for McCain/Romney, this will force Obama to choose Levin for his VP...

Very, very clever....

I suggest that should Carl Levin run for re-election the ballot have the name of the GOP candidate and then "uncomitted" for him. And, oh yes, by the way, be sure and tell the electorate that the election doesn't count too, so it doesn't really matter if anyone votes or not.

Why didn't Hillary take her name off of the Michigan ballot, like the rest of the candidates? Was this the plan all along?

It's pretty much a cinch winning a primary "election", when your only opponent is Dennis Kucinich.

I attended a fundraiser for Levin in Michigan recently and he got an earful from outraged Obama supporters about the b.s. Michigan "primary." I don't think he was planning to be hit with both barrels, but he was. Which makes this Levin news all the more disappointing, because these people at the fundraiser paid $100 each to support HIS upcoming campaign.

Gov. Granholm urged everyone to vote for Hillary in the primary, I don't doubt that she hoped it would come to this. Still seems interesting that 40% of us bothered to go to the polls and vote "uncommitted." I notice at least on MSNBC's delegate map, they have Michigan & Florida marked as Hillary's.

I can't express how outraged I am about it. Levin and Granholm should have had this worked out and agreed upon with the DNC well before this primary season.

Levin, Granholm, et al are playing a game of chicken with the DNC. It's a game they're not going to win. Michigan voters should punish the elected officials in the state party that orchestrated this. They've screwed their own constituents.

Kitty Chi and Weidert.

Both of you were involved with fundraisers for Levin and can align with other Levin supporters who share your dismay, disgust, outrage......

You guys could have some real leverage if you choose to apply it.

Carl Levin needs to hear from ya'll.

So does every other Dem politician who rides with this gang of outlaws.

Barbara Boxer will be hearing from me about her obligations to the voters and the Democratic party. Feh on Di.

I am in favor of seating the delegates as is. There cannot be a "do-over" because as some other posters have commented, many people that I know voted Republican in the Michigan Caucus who would have voted Democratic if the votes were to have counted--if there is a "do-over" will these people get to vote again?
As for Obama not being represented on the ballot; his name was on the ballot until, under pressure from party officials, he caved in and removed it, showing his disregard for the voters of Michigan. It also shows a lack of judgement on his part because one would think that the Michigan and Florida delegates would have to be seated at the Convention or the DNC would risk backlash in the General Election in November. He did leave his name on the Florida ballot- the question is why. He also violated party rules and ran national ads that showed in Florida. His explanation that the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party said that was okay doesn't wash with me.
The delegates for the voters in Michigan who voted uncommitted can vote for Obama in the Convention if they wish to. They have that right.
The DNC needs to take a good look at the Primary process. It is ridiculous when 2 states that in no way are representative of the country as a whole always get to hold their elections first. They better change the system next time, or expect the same mess to happen again.

There were other important measures on the Florida ballot. The election did count and if people didn't vote it's their own fault and now they have an even crappier tax system.