Hillary is a lawyer - what are the chances that she did not understand the meaning of the pledge she signed not to "participate" in certain primaries? She now argues that "participating" does not mean claiming victory, claiming votes or claiming delegates. She can do all these things without "participating".
Does this hold up under an analysis of the language of the pledge itself?
THEREFORE, I (Hillary Clinton), Democratic Candidate for President, pledge
I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential
election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa,
Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as “campaigning” is defined by
rules and regulations of the DNC.
participate
v. to invest and then receive a part or share, as in business profits, payments on a promissory note, title to land, or as one of the beneficiaries of the estate of a person who has died.
"...and then receive a part or share." Is Hillary now trying to "receive a part or share"?
participate
Main Entry:
par·tic·i·pate Pronunciation: \pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt, pər-\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): par·tic·i·pat·ed; par·tic·i·pat·ing
Etymology: Latin participatus, past participle of participare, from particip-, particeps participant, from part-, pars part + capere to take — more at heave
Date: 1531
par·tic·i·pate Audio Help [pahr-tis-uh-peyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, pat·ed, pat·ing.
–verb (used without object)
to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually fol. by in): to participate in profits; to participate in a play.
–verb (used with object)
Archaic. to take or have a part or share in; partake in; share.
[Origin: 1525–35; < L participātus (ptp. of participāre to share), equiv. to particip- (s. of particeps) taking part, partner (see participle) + -ātus -ate1]
par·tic·i·pate (pär-ts-pt)
v. par·tic·i·pat·ed, par·tic·i·pat·ing, par·tic·i·pates
v.intr.
To take part in something: participated in the festivities.
To share in something: If only I could participate in your good fortune.
v.tr. Archaic
To partake of.
[Latin participre, participt-, from particeps, particip-, partaker : pars, part-, part; see part + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots.]
par·tici·pative adj.
par·tici·pator n.
participate
A verb
1 enter, participate
become a participant; be involved in; "enter a race"; "enter an agreement"; "enter a drug treatment program"; "enter negotiations"
2 participate, take part share in something Category Tree:
act; move
╚participate, take part
╚partake in
╚experience; undergo; see; go through
...to "take part" or take a part.
Hillary Clinton pledged not to "take a part or share" in any election
Hillary said in October, 2007 before the Michigan primary:
"It's clear this election they are having is not going to count for anything":
And then there is the September 1, 2007 press release from the Clinton campaign:
9/1/2007
Clinton Campaign Statement on the Four State Pledge
The following is a statement by Clinton Campaign Manager Patti Solis Doyle.
"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process.
And we believe the DNC’s rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role.
Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar.
.
Now look at how Clinton deliberately tried to distort and mislead regarding the pledge she signed, in this January 2008 press release:
1/25/2008
Statement by Senator Hillary Clinton on the Seating of Delegates at the Democratic National Convention
"I hear all the time from people in Florida and Michigan that they want their voices heard in selecting the Democratic nominee.
"I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats in these states to win the general election, and so I will ask my Democratic convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Florida and Michigan. I know not all of my delegates will do so and I fully respect that decision. But I hope to be President of all 50 states and U.S. territories, and that we have all 50 states represented and counted at the Democratic convention.
"I hope my fellow potential nominees will join me in this.
"I will of course be following the no-campaigning pledge that I signed, and expect others will as well."
IT WAS NOT A "NO CAMPAIGNING" PLEDGE. IT WAS A NO PARTICIPATING AND NO CAMPAIGNING PLEDGE.
I will say that again. IT WAS NOT A "NO CAMPAIGNING" PLEDGE. IT WAS A NO PARTICIPATING AND NO CAMPAIGNING PLEDGE.
Sleazy.
In fact, extremely sleazy, given that Hillary has known all along what the rules were and her campaign strategist, Harold Ickes, was directly involved in the stripping of Michigan and Florida's delegates:
On Aug. 25, when the DNC's rules panel declared Florida's primary date out of order, it agreed by a near-unanimous majority to exceed the 50 percent penalty called for under party rules. Instead, the group stripped Florida of all 210 delegates to underscore its displeasure with Florida's defiance and to discourage other states from following suit. In doing so, the DNC essentially committed itself, for fairness' sake, to strip the similarly defiant Michigan of all 156 of its delegates three months later. Clinton held tremendous potential leverage over this decision, and not only because she was then widely judged the likely nominee. Of the committee's 30 members, a near-majority of 12 were Clinton supporters. All of them—most notably strategist Harold Ickes—voted for Florida's full disenfranchisement. (The only dissenting vote was cast by a Tallahassee, Fla., city commissioner who supported Obama.)
...
After ignoring Florida and Michigan for months, the Clinton campaign soon couldn't say enough nice things about them. "Tonight Michigan Democrats spoke loudly for a new beginning," then-campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle exulted over Clinton's victory there on Jan. 15. "Your voices matter. And as president, Hillary Clinton will not only keep listening, but will make sure your voice is always heard."
HELLO? FLORIDA? DID YOU SEE THIS PART: Of the committee's 30 members, a near-majority of 12 were Clinton supporters. All of them—most notably strategist Harold Ickes—voted for Florida's full disenfranchisement.
HELLO? HILLARY? DID YOU SEE THIS?
"I'm going outside the primary window," [Michigan Sen. Carl Levin] told me definitively.
"If I allow you to do that, the whole system collapses," I said. "We will have chaos. I let you make your case to the DNC, and we voted unanimously and you lost."
He kept insisting that they were going to move up Michigan on their own, even though if they did that, they would lose half their delegates. By that point Carl and I were leaning toward each other over a table in the middle of the room, shouting and dropping the occasional expletive.
"You won't deny us seats at the convention," he said.
"Carl, take it to the bank," I said. "They will not get a credential. The closest they'll get to Boston will be watching it on television. I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules. If you want to call my bluff, Carl, you go ahead and do it."
We glared at each other some more, but there was nothing much left to say. I was holding all the cards and Levin knew it.
[Source: McAuliffe, Terry. What A Party!, p. 325.]
Importantly, look at the preamble to the pledge, evidencing the intent of those who signed the pledge:
WHEREAS, Over a year ago, the Democratic National Committee established a
2008 nominating calendar;
WHEREAS, this calendar honors the racial, ethnic, economic and geographic
diversity of our party and our country;
WHEREAS, the DNC also honored the traditional role of retail politics early in the
nominating process, to insure that money alone will not determine our
presidential nominee;
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Presidential campaigns, the DNC, the states and
the American people to bring finality, predictability and common sense to the
nominating calendar.
Finality. All signatories agreed that the schedule was to be maintained to assure finality - and avoid a floor fight.
Is claiming victory in Michigan and Florida "receiving or taking a part or share"? Is it contrary to the clearly-stated intent of the pledge?
Is claiming votes from Michigan and Florida "receiving or taking a part or share"? Is it contrary to the clearly-stated intent of the pledge?
Is claiming pledged delegates from Michigan or Florida "receiving or taking a part or share"? Is it contrary to the clearly-stated intent of the pledge?
Is threatening a floor fight and blackmailing the Democratic party contrary to the clearly-stated intent of the pledge?
Lame. Dishonest. Lacking in integrity. Cheater. Hillary 2008.
