An All American Convention

The Obama campaign must immediately address the lingering impasse over Michigan and Florida delegate selection if Barack Obama is to avoid continued criticism from the Clinton campaign and members of the press. Howard Dean’s remarks during the April 6th edition of “Face the Nation” addressed the necessity of resolving this issue prior to the Democratic National convention. Protracted argument over delegate selection between now and the convention, with a possible floor fight over delegate seating promised by Hillary Clinton, will bring only harm to Obama’s movement. Especially for the sake of disenfranchised primary voters in the affected states, the Obama campaign must immediately take a leadership role in finding a way to recognize Michigan and Florida delegates in the fairest way possible for both campaigns.

There are certainly justifiable arguments for the Obama campaign’s taking no action at all. The campaign did not create this situation, and both camps were equally wronged, though the Clinton side cries the loudest. While it is true that Clinton seemed almost certain to gain a majority vote in both states prior to their exclusion by the Democratic rules committee, it is equally possible that Obama could have pulled ahead during a full campaign. Obama did the only proper thing in Michigan by withdrawing his name from the ballot, while Clinton did not. Still, a good portion of the Michigan vote went for "uncommitted." For Obama to avoid the issue now, however, leads only to charges of election rigging in an all out attempt to win the race at whatever cost. It is of no consequence that opposing arguments are highly questionable.

One of the strongest attributes of the Obama campaign is inclusiveness. A position effectively excluding all Democratic residents of Michigan and Florida from direct convention representation only exposes the Obama campaign to criticism that it is acting against its principals. Counter arguments designed to absolve Barack Obama from responsibility will remain unconvincing to those feeling cheated of their vote if the Obama campaign does nothing to resolve the issue.

Obama’s team would do well to assemble a task force to develop creative solutions for this impasse if one is not already at work. An effective solution must provide fairness for state Democratic voters first of all and then reasonable accommodation for the opposing side, while not overly jeopardizing the Obama campaign. It will have to be one that can reasonably be seen as fair by all voters so that it cannot be refused without exposing the Clinton campaign as only self-serving.

There is no benefit to be gained by the Obama campaign's failing to propose a creative solution to this dilemma agreeable to all involved. Obama's willingness to effectively give ground on this issue - even permitting Clinton to take advantage of an increased delegate count - may work to his advantage in the long term. An equitable and balanced solution to this problem will not only benefit the Obama campaign by demonstrating Obama's concern for the involvement of all Americans in this more perfect nation - it will serve to embrace voters in Michigan and Florida that were excluded through no fault of their own from participation in this new community of hope.