The Four State Pledge (A Public Service Posting)

[TahitiNut]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/070831_Final_Pledge.pdf

[TahitiNut]

1. Cover letter ...

Dear Democratic Presidential Candidate:

Throughout 2005 and 2006, the Democratic National Committee worked diligently to establish a presidential nominating calendar that would ensure victory for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee, preserve the traditional role of retail politics early in the nominating process and to include the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity that makes this Party great.

In 2006, through a fair and open process conducted by the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina were selected for the “pre-window.” The calendar was approved by the full DNC over a year ago. We are in agreement that the states chosen by our party reflect the energy and diversity of our great country and our party.

Recent actions by a few states could dismantle this thoughtful and deliberate effort by the DNC. Presidential campaigns, county chairs, elected officials, activists and the media have reached out and asked for our help in bringing this uncertainty (and potential chaos) to an end. Campaigns need to make major spending decisions. County Chairs need to find precinct locations and precinct chairs. Elected officials need to finalize election logistics. As a party we owe it to these organizations and individuals to conduct a sensible and timely nominating process.

For the good of our party and our candidates, it is our desire to bring finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating calendar. We ask you to accept the attached four state pledge, steeped in established DNC rules, by signing and sending the pledge form by Thursday, September 6, 2007, via email to South Carolina Chairwoman Carol Fowler at [e-mail]. Please also mail a hard copy to Chairwoman Fowler at SCDP, PO Box 5965, Columbia, SC 29250.

We appreciate your consideration of this pledge which brings order to the presidential nominating calendar. We look forward to focusing on electing a President, rather than selecting dates. If you or your staff has any questions, please contact any of the four State Party Chairs or Executive Directors.

Thank you,

Senator Tom Harkin Governor Chet Culver

Chair Scott Brennan, Iowa Dem. Party

Senator Harry Reid

Chair Jill Derby, Nevada State Democratic Party

Chair Ray Buckley, New Hampshire Dem. Party

Congressman Jim Clyburn

Chair Carol Fowler, South Carolina Dem. Party

[TahitiNut]

7. Responses to "Four State Pledge"

Sep 1, 2007 4:02 PM
Clinton Campaign Statement

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."

Sep 1, 2007 11:04 AM
Obama Pledges to Honor Role of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina in Choosing Democratic Nominee for President

CHICAGO, IL - US Senator Barack Obama today announced his commitment to follow the presidential nomination process sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee.

Obama signed a pledge written by the Democratic Party Chairs in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina saying the process ensured that candidates would be tested by the rigors of a retail political campaign while appropriately incorporating the regional and ethnic diversity of the Democratic Party.

“As I have campaigned across America over the last six months, it’s become clear that Governor Dean and the Democratic National Committee have put together a presidential nomination process that’s in the best interests of our party and our nation,” said Senator Obama. “I look forward to continuing the dialogue with voters and building the kind of grassroots movement in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina and the rest of the country that will send a clear signal to Washington that the American people are ready for change.”

Obama campaign officials also urged states in danger of violating DNC rules to adjust their plans to comply with the DNC’s calendar, so that every state contributes delegates to the nominating process.

“To become the Democratic nominee for president, a candidate must secure a majority of delegates to the national convention,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. “Because states that violate DNC rules will not be allowed to contribute to the delegate tally, we urge all states to ensure their compliance with DNC rules so they can participate in our Democratic nominating process. Our campaign will work within the rules established by the DNC to earn the support of Democrats across America and run a grassroots campaign to unite Americans around Senator Obama’s commitment to challenging the conventional thinking in Washington.”

Next week, Senator Obama will celebrate Labor Day in New Hampshire before kicking off a two-day swing through western Iowa. Obama is scheduled to campaign in Nevada on Thursday.

Aug 31, 2007 3:50 PM
Governor Bill Richardson Signs Four State Pledge Letter and Reaffirms Support for DNC Primary Process
Richardson committed to right and tradition of Iowa and New Hampshire as first in the country caucuses and primary

SANTA FE, NM -- Governor Bill Richardson today became the first Democratic Presidential candidate to officially sign the Four State Pledge Letter that promises he will not campaign in any state which schedules a Presidential election primary or caucus before February 5, 2008. The pledge was authored by Democratic officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina and is designed to support the Democratic National Committee's sanctioned primary and caucus schedule, thereby avoiding chaos in the nominating process.

"This process is completely out of control and only an agreement by the candidates can restore sanity," Governor Richardson said. "I hope no candidate tries to manipulate this situation for his or her own purposes. The DNC rules were established for a purpose -- to allow retail campaigning in a few early states and choose those states based on geographic and demographic diversity. Each candidate for President should do whatever possible to preserve the established rules. Anarchy in the nominating process does nothing to further the cause of changing America."

Aug 31, 2007 4:23 PM
CHRIS DODD SIGNS PLEDGE TO EARLY CAUCUS AND PRIMARY STATES
Calls Commitment to Retail Politics More Important This Year

WASHINGTON, DC – Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd today signed a pledge from the Democratic Parties of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina to honor their status as the early primary and caucus states as established by the Democratic National Committee’s 2008 nominating calendar. Dodd reaffirmed his belief in the power of retail politics and the serious thought and weight that citizens of these states put into their consideration of the candidates.

“I believe that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada offer a cross-section of America and allow for voters to probe the experience and vision of candidates in a meaningful way,” said Dodd. “In this year, where the national media focus seems to be on celebrity and bank accounts, the role of these states is more important than ever. I am committed to the DNC nominating calendar and preserving the first-in-the-nation status of Iowa and New Hampshire.”

Aug 31, 2007 5:04 PM
BIDEN CAMPAIGN ISSUES STATEMENT ON EARLY STATES DEMOCRATIC PARTIES PLEDGE

Wilmington, DE (August 31, 2007) – The Biden for President Campaign issued the following statement from campaign manager, Luis Navarro, in response to the pledge released by the Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina Democratic Parties.

"It is time to end all the maneuvering around the dates of the early primaries and caucuses. We intend not only to sign the pledge, but to honor our pledge to Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina to respect their primacy to the process,” said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro. “They played by the rules of the DNC. We respect those rules. The public despises this kind of maneuvering for political advantage. If the Republicans want to play this way, let them. But we will not be a party to it."

Sep 1, 2007 10:19 AM
EDWARDS SIGNS FOUR STATE PLEDGE

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards today signed the “Four State Pledge” to show his support of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. By signing the pledge, Edwards has agreed not to campaign in any state, other than the 4 designated early states, that schedules a presidential primary or caucus before February 5, 2008. The pledge is written and sponsored by the State Democratic Parties in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.

“This election, more than any other, is about real change and choosing the candidate who is going to fight for that change,” said Edwards. “Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina need to be first because in these states ideas count, not just money. These are places where voters get to look the candidate in the eye and measure their policies, ideas, and integrity. That’s why I am signing this pledge. This tried-and-true nominating system is the only way for voters to judge the field based on the quality of the candidate, not the depth of their war chest.

“I strongly encourage my fellow candidates to support this four state pledge. The Democratic Party is the party of ideas, not money; Main Street, not Wall Street; and real people, not Washington insiders, and signing this pledge reaffirms that.”

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/chrnothp08/pledge083107resp.html

[pbca]

2. What do you expect?

At least Hillary has the honesty to start breaking promises during the primaries - no one thinks she's actually going to do the things she says anyway, Bill certainly didn't. But they're um...pale

[FrenchieCat]

4. So let's kick this....make sure that media folks looking in

can see and read it clearly.

So, K&R.

[bunnies]

3. This is precisely why Hillary will never win my state.

All McCain has to do id exploit her hypocrisy in NH and she will lose my state handily. But we're a small state, so Im sure we dont count. :eyes:

[FrenchieCat]

5. She would lose Iowa as well........

and Nevada.

Those are three swing states.

bu-bye Hillary!

[bunnies]

14. No doubt.

I guess she's thinking we're to dumb to remember.

Nothing new.

Her whole campaign is based on the premise that people are idiots. OTOH... Obama gives people a lot of credit. Hmmm. Which to chose? The one who brings out the best? Or the one who takes advantage of the worst.

Enough of her!!!! I cant wait till this is over. Go away Hillary!!!!

[FrenchieCat]

15. Yep. I was having that conversation earlier today in fact.......

My daughter was reading that pledge, and she said, why is Hillary doing this?

I told her, because she's relies on LIVs.


LIVs? She asked.

I answered, yes, Low Information voters.

[bunnies]

17. Hey... but you and I...

We are thinking people. aka Elitists. Therefore we dont count.

Shit... I didnt even fall for her weeping on my primary eve. I STILL voted for Obama! Yet those LIV's saved her butt.

How ironic is it that she owes the fact that shes made it this far to NH... yet NOW she wants to tell my state to fuck off.

I want a do-over.

The sympathy for her here now is nil. Fake tears or not.

[TahitiNut]

34. "The public despises this kind of maneuvering for political advantage." - Joe Biden

Describes Hillary to a 'T.' :puke:

[pbca]

6. K & R (everyone please join me) n/t

[Johnny__Motown]

8. bring finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating calendar.

again.. that is the part I am focused on.


How can this be reconciled with going to the convention in a hopeless attempt to overturn the outcome of the elections?



(my post from yesterday on this subject)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6069449

[BanzaiBonnie]

29. WHy is no one going after HRC

for breaking her pledge? There is the line about "participating" and by leaving her name on the ballot, that looks to me like she was participating.

Of course, that all depends on how you define participate.

[TahitiNut]

35. Leaving her name on the ballot and CLAIMING the votes is exactly that.

There can be no other sane and reasonable way of looking at it.

[KAZ]

9. K&R!

[DemGa]

10. Right, no campaigning

Can someone show definitively that the names should be removed from the ballot?

"The candidates are allowed to visit Michigan to raise money and can send their spouses to campaign, but they can't run advertisements, hold rallies or do most of the other things that would help give them a leg up on their opponents."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101100859.html

Now, if the preceding article is correct, how is one a candidate if the candidate's name is removed???

[GarbagemanLB]

18. Are you having some difficulty with what 'participate' means?

[DemGa]

20. I've asked someone to show that means removing the name from the ballot

I'm still waiting.

[GarbagemanLB]

23. Whatever else could it mean? If you don't 'participate' in a primary, you aren't on the ballot.

[DemGa]

28. Does the Washington Post story have it wrong?

How can one be a candidate without a name on the ballot? I see a lot of condemnation but nothing definitive.

"The candidates are allowed to visit Michigan to raise money and can send their spouses to campaign, but they can't run advertisements, hold rallies or do most of the other things that would help give them a leg up on their opponents."

[TahitiNut]

21. You have an amazingly selective reading approach.

Did a hangnail on your reading finger get in your way? Is the word "participate" absent from the dictionary in your outhouse? Too bad.
:nopity:

[scarletwoman]

11. Excellent post, TN! Thank you! Rec'd!

Man, you are GOOD! :*

:hug:
sw

[TahitiNut]

25. Allow me to commend 'zulchzulu's thread to you ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6063329

[rucky]

12. "Finality, Predictibility and Common Sense to the Nominating Calendar"

That's my favorite part.

[Johnny__Motown]

13. Mine too

[TahitiNut]

22. High comedy. Truly.

:puke:

[AtomicKitten]

16. Hillary doesn't have a legal (or moral) leg to stand on.

Thanks for posting Exhibit A that exposes her big fat lie de jour in her misguided self-serving quest for the throne.

K&R

[Tatiana]

19. RECOMMENDED for factual information and not BS. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

24. It depends what you mean by a Four state pledge and a signature

On a document.


Liars and cheaters don't care.

thanks good post....

[TahitiNut]

30. Well, Hillary thought it meant ...

... hold four fundraisers and a campaign appearance in Florida within a week of signing it. Then she postured to the press that it didn't matter because those states woudn't count anyway. She sure is a slippery liar.

[swishyfeet]

26. K&R!

[Johnny__Motown]

27. K.... it won't let me R again.....

[Skip Intro]

31. What follows, "Therefore I, ....., Democratic Candidate for the President, pledge..." ***?***

not to campaign, that's what. That is what the pledge was, and all candidates, with the exception of Obama's "whoops" ads that ran in FL, held to that pledge.

For the record, the only Dem campaigning that went on in either state was one against Hillary Clinton in MI - the "vote undeclared" campaign. And I wonder who was behind that...

[DemGa]

33. Yes, Obama is the only one in violation

Emphasis mine:

b. A presidential candidate who campaigns in a state where the state party is in violation of the timing provisions of these rules, or where a primary or caucus is set by a state’s government on a date that violates the timing provisions of these rules, may not receive pledged delegates or delegate votes from that state. Candidates may, however, campaign in such a state after the primary or caucus that violates these rules. “Campaigning” for purposes of this section includes, but is not limited to, purchasing print, internet, or electronic advertising that reaches a significant percentage of the voters in the aforementioned state; hiring campaign workers; opening an office; making public appearances; holding news conferences; coordinating volunteer activities; sending mail, other than fundraising requests that are also sent to potential donors in other states; using paid or volunteer phoners or automated calls to contact voters; sending emails or establishing a website specific to that state; holding events to which Democratic voters are invited; attending events sponsored by state or local Democratic organizations; or paying for campaign materials to be used in such a state. The Rules and Bylaws Committee will determine whether candidate activities are covered by this section.

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/chrnothp08/sanctions.html

[TahitiNut]

37. You're posting like an intellectually dishonest ass, again.

Hillary IMMEDIATELY held four fund raisers and a campaign appearance in Florida after signing the "pledge."

Leaving her name on the ballot in Michigan AND claiming credit for the votes cannot be seen as anything other than "participation." Asserting otherwise is sheer dishonesty.

[Skip Intro]

40. Got links?

[TahitiNut]

47. See post #44 below..

Be SURE to provide links for YOUR assertions, too.

[DemGa]

43. I see insults, but no proof of your assertion

This is a necessary part of the discourse - call it intellectual honesty.

[TahitiNut]

48. See post #44 below.

You apparently wouldn't know "intellectual honesty" if it flew up your nostril.

Go blow your nose.

:eyes:

[MonkeyFunk]

55. fundraisers were allowed

specifically. Obama had fundraisers in Florida, too.

I don't know what campaign appearance you're talking about.

You're posting like an intellectually dishonest ass.

[myrna minx]

32. Doe for President!

K&R. If the rules committee caves to her demands after she signed this pledge and her very own statements on this very issue, then they are essentially worthless.

[MonkeyFunk]

36. Thanks

People should be reminded that Obama broke the pledge by campaigning in Florida.

Luckily, we have a candidate who held to the pledge - Clinton.

[TahitiNut]

38. Hillary held five fundraisers AND a campaign appearance in Florida within days of signing the pledge

Leaving her name on the Michigan ballot AND attempting to claim the votes can only be regarded as "participation." To assert otherwise is an outright lie.

Like Hillary, her shit-eating sycophants lie with abandon ... demonstrating no intellectual integrity whatsoever.

[MonkeyFunk]

42. Fundraisers were explicitly permitted

and she had no campaign appearances there. Don't fib.

Obama had fundraisers there, AND he had a press conference - in violation of the pledge. Then he ran commericals in violation of the pledge. The guy's word just can't be trusted.

The pledge said nothing about taking their names off the ballot. Nobody at the time - not Obama, not Howard Dean - nobody - claimed that Clinton, Dodd, Gravel and Kucinich were in violation of the pledge by being on the ballot.

Obamafans couldn't even recognize the truth. A bigger bunch of hateful liars never existed. It's sad.

[TahitiNut]

44. She had a campaign appearance at the Century Village West in Boca Raton.

That was within DAYS of signing the "pledge." Shove your claim it's a "fib" up your ass.

http://blogs.dmregister.com/?p=8569

[Skip Intro]

49. Your own link betrays you.

Ben Smith, blogging for Politico.com, broke the story Monday morning by reporting: don’t think this is in violation of the letter of the agreement with Iowa and the other early states about not campaigning in Florida; that apparently doesn’t kick in until the DNC’s deadline runs out at the end of this month.


----------------------------------

[TahitiNut]

51. Total, utter horseshit. Ben Smith can call a dog turd a Baby Ruth bar and it doesn't make it so.

He's in the bag for the Clinton campaign. It only takes an IQ of about 80 to know that her campaign appearance vioated the pledge ... but apparently Hillbots don't quailfy.

[Skip Intro]

53. When did she campaign and when did the pledge take effect?

That'll prove this one way or the other.

[TahitiNut]

60. The DNC ruled on Aug 25th; she signed on Sep 1st; she campaigned about a week later.

The pledge was deemed to be effective immediately upon signing with respect to Florida. Michigan was ruled out-of-compliance by the DNC in November. At that time, the pledge THEN took effect for Michigan.

You can also read this ... http://www.slate.com/id/2188985/

[MonkeyFunk]

67. So what about Obama's press conference?

Why do you attack clinton but ignore Obama's violations?

[TahitiNut]

68. A person would have to be mentally deranged to draw an equivalence between ...

... a candidate leaving an approved fund-raising event and stopping to respond to questions from the media and press assembled behind a rope line and another candidate who arranged a standard campaign event to solicit votes. The Clinton campaign was quick like a buzzard to leap on Obama - indicating that THEY had some superior comprehension of the rules - and quick like cockroaches to cover up their own violations. Obama apologized for misunderstanding the restriction for even ad hoc responses and, the very next time he was peppered by media questions, indicated he was unable to respond.

There just isn't any comparison in terms of the chutzpah and lack of integrity demonstrated by the Clinton campaign. To claim there is is sheer intellectual dishonesty.

[MonkeyFunk]

57. LOL

God, you're so hostile!

From Politico, regarding the Boca visit:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Hillary_goes_to_Boca.html

"This isn't violation of the letter of the agreement with Iowa and the other early states about not campaigning in Florida; that apparently doesn't kick in until the DNC's deadline runs out at the end of this month."


Now, about Obama's press conference in Florida , and the commercials he ran - EXPLICITLY in violation of the pledge. Is that why you're so angry and hostile? You can't defend them, so you just blindly attack people?

[Vattel]

45. oops

"Leaving her name on the Michigan ballot AND attempting to claim the votes can only be regarded as "participation." To assert otherwise is an outright lie."

Obama left his name on the ballot in FL. So shouldn't you be accusing him of particiapation too?

[TahitiNut]

46. Florida provided NO avenue for removal of names fromthe ballot. Michigan did.

Are you REALLY that fucking obtuse or do you just play at it on DU??? :eyes:

[Vattel]

54. OOPS

I didn't know that.

[MonkeyFunk]

61. No, there is a provision to remove a name from the ballot

just an unacceptably onerous one. Are you really that fucking obtuse?

[Youphemism]

62. Yes, and Obama asked to be removed...

But it was a Florida ballot with a hanging chad.

[apocalypsehow]

39. K & R.

[Vattel]

41. Twilight zone shit

For all of the claims that Clinton has violated the pledge, I still haven't seen any evidence. Her name was on the ballot in MI and FL, but no one in the DNC has said that this was a violation of the pledge. Besides, Obama's name was on the ballot in FL. Did she campaign in FL or MI? I haven't seen any evidence that she campaigned. Obama ran a national ad that included FL, but his campaign did receive assurances from Fowler (who apparently didn't understand the rules) that he would not thereby violate his pledge.

I'm open to actual evidence that she violated her pledge not to "campaign or participate" in states like MI and FL that scheduled their primaries too early. But I ain't seen any yet.

[TahitiNut]

50. See post #44.

Take off the blinders.

[stillcool]

52. the violation of the pledge..

as far as I can see is that all Democratic Candidates agreed they would follow the Democratic Party rules, ..that they would not participate in those 2 elections, that the delegates would be stripped from those 2 states, that they would not be campaigning in those 2 states, and that the elections in those 2 states would not be a part of the nominating process... that has all flown out the window..according to Hillary Clinton's new rules.

[Vattel]

58. no

the pledge doesn't include all of that. The pledge was not to "campaign or participate in states" that break the relevant rule. That's all. Now that I realize that the candidates couldn't remove their names from the ballots in FL, the question is whether not removing her name in MI was an instance of participating in that state. I wonder if the DNC people ruled on that. Fowler was certainly generous to Obama in saying that his ad didn't violate the pledge. The pledge is poorly written, but on the face of it I would think that not removing one's name from the ballot would involve participating in the relevant sense.

[stillcool]

66. The removal of the name from..

the ballot was voluntary. That had nothing to do with the pledge.

[quakerboy]

56. a Question

How exactly is "campaigning" defined by the rules and regulations of the DNC?

[Douglas Carpenter]

59. thank you, very important!! recommended!! Let's give it maximal recommends!!

[ampad]

63. Excellent

K/R

[Tresalisa]

64. K&R !!!!!11!!11!! n/t

[phrigndumass]

65. K/R

:thumbsup:

[suston96]

69. That pledge is all well and good....But the punishment for transgressions violates the....

....Democratic Party Charter. To wit: ALL members of the party will be guaranteed full and equal participation in the nominating process.

The state party hacks who violated that so called rule should be punished but not - not ever in the democratic process the 2.3 million voters who showed up to vote in the election.

[FrenchieCat]

70. You missed the point.

Hillary is advocating as though she didn't make the pledge. She did.

[DemGa]

71. What has been violated in the pledge?

I mean beyond Team Obama running national ads that reached Florida?

[suston96]

72. Making a pledge to support rules in violation of the Democratic Charter has no legal merit....nt