On May 31, 2008, and a stormy day in DC by all measures, Harold Ickes mounted an impassioned defense of Senator Clinton’s position at the DNC RBC Meeting. Asserting:
that we have one of the lowest voter turnouts in the world, and it’s hard to find an election in the US that isn’t flawed;
Ickes said those were:
not an excuse to overturn elections, nor to substitute their judgment for the voters. One election wouldn’t stand the test that’s been laid down here. Fair reflection: you cannot take delegates from one candidate and give to another. Not only will this motion hijack four delegates from Mrs. Clinton, it will take 55 delegates from uncommitted status, which is a recognized Presidential status under our Constitution and convert them to Barack Obama.
Finally, there’s been a lot of talk about Party Unity, not withstanding the flawed aspect of this, let’s all come together, wrap our arms around each other. I submit to you, ladies and gentleman, that hijacking four delegates, notwithstanding the flawed aspect of this, is not a good way to start down the path of party unity. One final word, Mrs. Clinton has instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the Credentials Committee.
That evening, following the decision of the Committe, after months of grueling appeals in attempts by Florida and Michigan voters to have their votes counted and delegates seated, Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy (my heroes) made the following statement on behalf of the Clinton campaign:
The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast
Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.
We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.
So, now the DNC RBC is both a decider and a mind-reader for 2.3 million people?
Lady Boomer NYC 
This is a bad path if it continues, clearly.
One wonders what can be done at the local, grassroots level. Many of us cannot afford to give significant amounts of money to campaigns – voting is the way to support candidates and make your sentiments (not only known but also) counted. If that doesnt’ work – if votes are tossed out or traded by high ranking officials whom nobody elects, how can one feel anything but betrayed? A representative government that does not reflect its people’s will – is that what we want? Is the political party that embraces such policy worth supporting? Is the fear of the unknown enough to stifle rebellion when it is warranted? How do we move forward in a political party that binds and gags us? The message is more than “Sit down and shut up, Hillary – you can’t win.” This is “Sit down and shut up, citizens – you have no choice.” With this precedent, how is the Democratic Party different than a microcosmic monarchy, and who wouldn’t fight against the tyranny to which it is subjecting its supporters?
Defcon Active Revenge