Sunday Snapshot -- Reserving The Right

All of the Sunday shows focused on the 5/31 DNC Rules and Bylaws Cmte meeting, where it was decided to fully seat the disputed delegates from MI and FL, giving each delegate a half a vote.

Clinton strategist Harold Ickes, asked if the Hillary Clinton camp will take the fight to the convo: "Haven't decided yet. I have not had a chance to talk with Senator Clinton at any length about it, and obviously this will be a big decision. But her rights are reserved. ... Yesterday's resolution took four delegates from her. It violates a fundamental precept of our delegate selection rule, which is fair reflection."

Ickes, on Clinton originally saying MI won't count for anything: "I guess the simple response to that is, one, circumstances do change. But Senator [Barack] Obama took his name off the ballot, but he was eager to get all 55 uncommitted yesterday, took them willingly. Argued for them, took them and, in fact, reached over and grabbed another four from Hillary" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/1).

Ickes, on the allocation of MI delegates: "Florida and Michigan are very distinct in nature and outcome. ... I thought that 1.7 million people who participated in the Florida primary should have full access to our national convention. ... It certainly is better than nothing. Michigan -- they actually took votes won by Hillary Clinton in a primary and gave them to Barack Obama. It is stunning. It is just outright hijacking" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

After the jump, more Flor-igan and Obama leaves his church (KATHERINE LEHR).

Obama surrogate/ex-Rep. David Bonior (D-MI), on Ickes' outrage over the four MI delegates that were "hijacked" from Clinton: "First of all, let me just say that I admire the strength and the persistence and the fight of the Clinton campaign. And I admire Harold Ickes for his fight for the things that he believes in. ... But I am reminded, just watching Harold and watching him yesterday, of the film 'Casablanca,' when the inspector says, 'I'm shocked. I'm shocked that there's liquor here."

Bonior, on the threat from the Clinton camp to go to the Credentials Cmte: "As you just heard from Harold, he said that he reserves the right to do that. And the Clinton campaign does. We're hopeful that that won't happen. This was an effort, yesterday, to reach a reasonable compromise. We think it's reasonable. A lot of people who were for Clinton, on that committee, voted for it" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

Clinton chair Terry McAuliffe, on the result of the DNC Rules Cmte meeting: "First of all, I never want to get in a fight with Harold Ickes. ... Florida was great. ... I for the life of me cannot figure out what they did in Michigan. The same people who created the problem in Michigan came up with this cockamamie result on formula. ... They took four of our delegates and just handed them over to Barack Obama. I have never in my life seen it. This is the Democratic Party, the foundation of democracy. And what they did yesterday you can't explain. ... So I support Harold Ickes 100 percent."

McAuliffe, on the threat to go to the Credentials Cmte: "We're going to keep our options open. This is a fight for democracy. It is a fight for every vote counts. I'm still incensed about what happened to Al Gore in 2000 when they stole that election, and we've got to make sure that people feel good about this process, especially in a state like Michigan, a must-win state for the Democrats" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI): "We made great progress yesterday, so, overall, we are satisfied. The Michigan delegation is seated. That was our main goal. ... We're going to fight for the full vote. We're assured we're going to get a full vote."

Levin, asked who assured him MI is going to get a full vote: "Both candidates."

Levin, asked if the fight will go to the convo: "I think it's very unlikely, but until she decides that she can't win at the convention and makes a decision, it's going to stay open. However, I think it's more than likely that within a week or two that Senator Obama will have enough votes to claim that he's going to be the nominee" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/1).

Clinton adviser Mandy Grunwald: "What concerned us is ... the way delegates were apportioned by the Rules Committee yesterday, they broke their own rules. And that's a terrible precedent. That's a terrible precedent. That's why our campaign has said we will consider taking this fight to the convention" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/1).

ABC's Stephanopoulos: "The Michigan leaders said they are confident the full delegation with full voting rights will be seated. Has Senator Obama assured them that they will be seated, with full voting rights? And if so, doesn't that really undercut the authority of the Rules and Bylaws Committee?"

Obama comm. dir. Robert Gibbs: "I think any nominee may make some decisions at some point regarding those delegations, but what I think you saw yesterday was what our campaign had wanted for a long time,
and that is for the delegations from Florida and Michigan not only to participate in the nominating convention in Denver, but also to have a strong voice in who that nominee's going to be. I also think you saw the party take a giant step forward in becoming unified for the fall campaign."

Gibbs, asked if they have the votes in the credentials cmte to beat a challenge by the Clinton camp: "I think that's a decision that the Clinton campaign will make on their own. ... And I think sometime this week, we'll probably have a nominee for the Democratic Party, and we can get about talking about the need to bring change to this country" ("This Week," ABC, 6/1).

Fox's Wallace: "We're talking about four delegates. ... She believed she got 73. She got 69, in fact, from the rules committee. That's four delegates and two votes."

Clinton comm. dir. Howard Wolfson: "Well, there's a principle at stake here, and it's a principle that is the bedrock principle."

Wallace: "And you're going to keep the whole Democratic fight going on for three months over two votes."

Wolfson: "It's not over two votes. It's over a principle. It's two votes that were taken away from us, and it's 55 votes that were given to Senator Obama that should have been uncommitted. But there's a principle at stake here. Senator Clinton hasn't made a decision about whether to appeal this or not. She said she reserves the right to do that, and we do reserve the right, because if the Democratic Party doesn't stand for fairly apportioning votes that were cast in a primary, what's to prevent the next set of folks from taking more delegates away from a candidate?" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/1).

PAIRING UP

DNC Chair Howard Dean and Rules Cmte. Co-Chair James Roosevelt Jr. appeared together on "Late Edition" and "This Week."

Dean, on Ickes saying Clinton has instructed him to reserve her rights to take this to the Credentials Cmte: "Well, I think we ought to think about the positive things that happened yesterday. ... This is the beginning of the unification of the party, despite what you just saw on television. ... I particularly want to commend the Rules Committee for seating the entire delegation. ... We think this is fair. We think this is the beginning of the healing of the party that has to take place."

Dean, asked what happens if the Clinton camp takes the fight to the convo: "Having raised two teenagers, you never answer hypotheticals unless you have to. So, we'll see what happens, but I expect this to be wrapped up sometime in June."

Roosevelt, on Ickes saying having uncommitted delegates is a recognized status going into a convo: "I kept waiting in our discussions all week and then our lengthy discussions this weekend, for Harold to come up with a better plan to how to represent the voters of Michigan. He never did that. ... I've been on these committees with Harold for more than two decades. Harold always fights for his candidate and his position to the very last breath. But we came up with a plan that was asked for by the people from Michigan and supported by both Obama and Clinton supporters in Michigan" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

ABC's Stephanopolous, to Roosevelt: "If Senator Obama comes in, as his campaign has signaled, as the Michigan and Florida delegations certainly seem to think is going to happen, and reinstate their full voting rights, doesn't that undercut your authority, No. 1, and make it more likely that next time around a state's going to jump the line again?"

Roosevelt: "It was our duty as the Rules Committee to honor the rules so that we don't have chaos next time. We did that last night. What any candidate does at the end of the whole process to unify the party is his or her decision" ("This Week," ABC, 6/1).

Meanwhile, Clinton supporter/Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Obama supporter Chris Dodd appeared together on "Late Edition."

Nelson, on the result of the DNC Rules Cmte meeting: "At least it's done. Florida and Michigan are done and will be seated, and Florida is being seated proportional to the almost 2 million people, in the way they voted."

Nelson, asked if the MI decision should be challenged: "I'm not going to speak for the campaign. ... I'm happy with Florida. I would have preferred it to be that all the delegation got a full vote instead of a half vote. ... I can't speak for Michigan. I know Carl Levin, our colleague in the Senate, tried to work a compromise and had most people, the Democrats in Michigan, signed up on the compromise. So I'll have to defer to Carl Levin on that."

Dodd: "Bill Nelson has the right answer for this. If we get into the weeds on these things, we could probably never answer everyone's question. And it's never going to be perfect. We understood that. ... We now need to move beyond that" (CNN, 6/1).

NEXT QUESTION...

Clinton camp members were asked whether Clinton would leave the race if Obama reaches the magic number of 2,118. Their responses:

NBC's Russert: "If, on Wednesday morning, Barack Obama has enough elected delegates and committed superdelegates to put him over the 2,118, will Senator Clinton congratulate him as the nominee?"

Ickes: "We expect to get the nomination. We don't accept the premise of your question" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/1).

McAuliffe, asked if Clinton will get out of the race if Obama gets to 2,118: "Well, I reject the premise. ... We think we're going to be the nominee. We think we're going to get that number. ... So you should be asking Robert Gibbs, will he get out when Hillary Clinton hits the snub" ("This Week," ABC, 6/1).

Wolfson, asked if Clinton will end her camp if Obama reaches the magic number: "I'm not going to accept the premise of the question. We're going to work as hard as we can to convince superdelegates, who, in the end, are going to decide this nomination one way or another, that Senator Clinton is the best nominee" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/1).

"NOT A POLITICAL DECISION"

There was also a lot of chatter about Obama's decision to leave Trinity United.

Obama supporter/ex-Senate Maj. Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD): "I think it was the right decision. Too many times occasions like this bring people to the belief that somehow Barack shares that view. He's made it entirely clear, as emphatically as he possibly can, he's outraged and repelled by things like this. And the only real option he had was to resign, and I'm very pleased that he took that action" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/1).

Obama supporter/Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): "I think it was painful for him. The church is bigger than any given minister or any guest sermon. The church are people, who have done great work in that community. And I think it was difficult for him. But I think he fundamentally disagreed with what Reverend Wright said, fundamentally disagreed with the guest priest from last Sunday, and most importantly he wanted to take the political circus away from the church. And by doing this, I think he's hoping that many of the good people who attend that church will not have their lives disrupted as they try to worship God on Sunday. And so I don't think this was something that he relished doing, but I think he thought it was very important to take that step" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/1).

Clinton supporter/PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D): "I think he did the right thing, and I agree with Claire. I think the main thing was to just take the light and focus of attention off the church. Good grief. It must be so hard for those people to go to church on Sundays now. I think he did the right thing for the church and the right thing for himself as a campaigner" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/1).

Wolfson, asked if Obama leaving the church is enough: "I think voters will be the judge of whether it's enough or not. I think that the comments were outrageous. They were divisive. ... And voters in the end will have to make a decision about Senator Obama and his relationship with his church. ... I think he should have been stronger in condemning those remarks specifically. Senator Obama gave a fairly generic response to what were some very pointed and specific attacks against Senator Clinton. ... Senator Clinton has been clear for some time that if she had been a member of that church, she would have left it" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/1).

Dem strategist Hilary Rosen: "I think this will end up reflecting very well on Barack Obama. And, frankly, you know, his faith comes across as authentic. He talks about it in a natural way. He has been a loyal church goer. I think this is going to hurt John McCain over the long term, if the Republicans try to make this an issue" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

Gibbs, asked if Obama waited too long to leave the church: "No, I think obviously what Barack Obama made in the past few days is a deeply personal, not a political decision. ... He made a deeply personal decision that he thought was best for his family, best for the church. He'll look for a new church home, but his Christian faith remains strong" ("This Week," ABC, 6/1).

VEEPSTAKES

A number of pols were asked about the VP spot during appearances on the Sunday shows.

Obama supporter/ex-Senate Maj. Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD): "I have no interest in being vice president. ... None."

NBC's Russert: "You wouldn't accept it?"

Daschle: "Well, that's a different question. ... I haven't been asked and don't expect to be asked."

Russert: "But would you like to serve in government again?"

Daschle: "That's a possibility" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/1).

SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R), asked if he wants to be McCain's running mate: "No, I'm just trying to survive the week. I made it to Sunday. I got another week ahead of me. ... There's nothing wrong with being vice president. But it's not on my radar screen. I'll worry about that lightning strike if it comes my way" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/1).

"MEET THE PRESS" SECRETARY

And ex-WH press sec. Scott McClellan continued the TV rounds this weekend, appearing on "Meet the Press."

McClellan, asked if he would agree to release his grand jury testimony in the Plame case publicly: "I haven't thought about it. I don't know, I don't know if I have the authority to do that or not. I'm glad to, you know, certainly share my views, as I have in this book, and talk about it."

NBC's Russert: "The president said at the time that 'if someone committed a crime, they'd no longer work in my administration.' Do you believe the president should have fired Karl Rove?"

McClellan: "I think the president should've stood by his word, and that meant Karl should've left."

Russert: "Some have suggested because you were part of the propaganda machine that sold the war, that many people have died and been injured because of the war, you should donate some of the profits from this book to the families of the victims of the Iraq War. Will you do that?"

McClellan: "I do intend to. I've already ... made that decision. A portion. ... My wife and I look for ways to always support the troops, including sending care packages regularly to them" (NBC, 6/1).

ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP

The "This Week" roundtable discussed Obama leaving his church and McClellan's memoir (ABC, 6/1).

The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed McClellan's memoir, Obama leaving his church and the 5/31 DNC Rules Cmte meeting.

Fortune's Easton, on Obama leaving his church: "The problem is not just one comment by Reverend Wright, or several comments by ... Reverend Pfleger. The problem is the church tends to be a hotbed of black liberation theology. ... It can be very divisive. And Barack Obama's campaign is built on the notion of being uniting, particularly racially uniting. And if it didn't happen -- you know, if this happened now, it will come back to haunt him with other comments. ... This is going to keep coming. And as he said in his letter, he doesn't want to have to keep apologizing for every comment that comes out" (6/1).

The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed the 5/31 DNC Rules Cmte meeting, a unity Dem ticket and Obama leaving his church.

CNN's Toobin: "It is not likely to go to the Credentials Committee. ... I think there is really nothing left to fight about, even though some people are still upset" (6/1).