Protesters at the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee express their dissatisfaction at the decision made concerning Florida and Michigan’s votes and delegate allocation. *note- contains the word “Goddamn”* (2:14)

Harold Ickes, senior campaign advisor to Senator Clinton and DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee member, speaks before the vote on the Michigan delegate plan which would give each delegate one half vote and would allocate 69 delegates to Senator Clinton and 59 to Senator Obama. A proportional allocation according to the vote would give Clinton 73 and Obama 55. Ickes says that a lot of people did not vote but that that is not an excuse for overriding the views of the voters, and points out that the DNC Charter mandates “fair representation.” He says that “hijacking” is not the way to “start down the path to party unity.” He says that Senator Clinton reserves her right to take this dispute to the credentials committee. (6:01) (Note: contains two instances of the word “ass”)

 

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Alice Huffman, discussing the Florida delegate plan that would give Florida delegates half a vote each, says that it is the “next best thing” to democracy (in contrast to the already-voted down plan that would have given each delegate a full vote). She says that the world is not perfect and people must compromise. (0:29)

 

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Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner, speaking on behalf of the Clinton campaign on the issue of Florida delegates, says that she “want[s] it all,” meaning she wanted the Florida DNC delegates to have a full vote. (0:34)

 

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At the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee hearing, political activist and strategist Donna Brazile says “my momma always taught me to play by the rules” and that her mother also taught her that if you try to change the rules, it’s called “cheating.” (0:39)

 

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At the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee hearing, Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich) says when there is only one name on the ballot, that’s not appropriate. What we’ve done is what you have wanted us to do, which is to say that we tried to fix it, and we’re here as a reform group, and we’re proud that we tried to reform the system. We’re not going to back away from that, but how do you have a fair reflection of a flawed primary? (1:02)

 

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Harold Ickes, Senior Advisor to the Clinton campaign, yawns during today’s meeting of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee on the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

At the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee hearing May 31, 2008, an Obama delegate (Eugene Kinlow) and a Hillary supporter (James Quinn) told TRNS what they wished to see as a result of the hearing. (2:39)

We’re in an overflow room watching the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting on a video feed.

They wouldn’t let us into the actual meeting room even an hour before the meeting, just to see the layout. I saw big-name people try to get in, and they’re shutting all radio people out.

They wouldn’t even give us DNC press credentials, so we have to get an escort if we want to leave the radio room. Dawn was able to talk her way into getting one, but the rest of the radio reporters are having to get permission to go to the bathroom.

Outside the Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, protesters and supporters gathered in a crowd as the Democratic National Committee held a hearing to discuss the votes of Michigan and Florida. I asked them, “Why did you come?” (2:03)

 

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