Harold Ickes is still at it! Appearing on CNN's Late Edition today, Harold Ickes Denounced the DNC Compromise stating, "They hijacked four delegates from Hillary."
Referring to yesterday's DNC decision as "egregerious," Ickes said that the nomination will not be decided until Michigan is resolved making the accusation that, "They took votes and gave them to Barack Obama."
Harold Ickes on Late Edition: "They hijacked four delegates from Hillary
Ickes' justification to his claim, that "They took votes and gave them to Barack Obama" is beyond intellectually dishonest. As CarmenT breaks it down in her diary, "Analysis: Why Ickes is Wrong & Should Resign," Ickes is wrong. His justification simply is not valid:
Ickes:
"A fundamental premise of our delegate rules is that the delegates will fairly reflect the vote for the presidential candidate in the primary. That was violated yesterday in two ways. They took 55 from uncommitted and gave them to Barack Obama. Even more outrageous and egregious is that they reached out and hijacked four delegates from Hillary and gave them to Barack Obama when he voluntarily took his name off the ballot.
The fact that Ickes’ continued to hammer on the idea that Hillary is more electable, by saying Hillary has the "deeper, broader base to win the general election" and that "Hillary has the stronger set of demographic" seems to indicate that Hillary is seriously considering taking the fight to the convention, something that Ickes reiderated today.
Additionallly, the continued slams on Obama, such as Ickes' remarks on Obama's latest church incident don't point to unity.
Ickes speaking on Obama’s church situation, insinuated Obama's response was not adequate stating, "Obama never uttered Hillary’s name" with regard to his response to this situation.
Countering Ickes, Obama Campaign Advisor, Congressman Bonior offered a voice of reason.
Appearing as the second guest on Late Edition, Bonior sets the record straight:
"The fact of the matter is...Hillary said Michigan does not count. ...four of the candidates, Edwards, Obama, Biden and Richardson were not on the ballot."
"This race will probably have a victor sometime next week. I believe it will Barack Obama."
Congressman Bonior on Late Edition: There Will Be a Victor Next Week"
Ickes' resistance to unity and denouncing of the DNC decision, flies in the face of the majority of party leaders.
Howard Dean and Senator Chris Dodd today both commended the decision today and made it clear, that the party is moving toward unity.
Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have all sent the message that there will not (and should not) be a fight on the convention floor.
Considering the math for Hillary is unforgiving, she'd need to win at least 90% of the remaining superdelegates, it's completely unrealistic for her to take this fight to the convention. Waiting for a major stumble by Obama just isn't going to happen. As Jimmy Carter said, once the primaries are over June 3rd, it will be time for Hillary to "give it up."