The Florida and MIchigan Compromise

It's taken all day, but the DNC finally came up with a decision on Michigan and Florida, but it's not going to be pretty:

Democratic leaders struck a compromise over the disputed Florida and Michigan primaries Saturday evening in Washington, D.C., agreeing to give both delegations half their vote at the party’s August convention — despite objections from the Hillary Clinton campaign.

A rules panel of the Democratic National Committee spent all day reviewing both states’ primaries, after they were initially stripped of their delegates for holding early contests in violation of party rules.

Clinton, who won both contests, was banking on the DNC meeting as one of her last chances to make up ground against Barack Obama’s huge delegate lead.

Though she wanted both delegations counted in full, the campaign seemed satisfied with the Florida plan. But the deal on Michigan drew sharp criticism from a top Clinton surrogate.

“This body of 30 individuals has decided that they’re going to substitute their judgment for 600,000 voters — now that’s what I call democracy,” said Clinton adviser and committee member Harold Ickes, saying the Michigan plan would be “hijacking” delegates from Clinton.

Ickes added that Clinton has “instructed me to reserve the right to take this to the Credentials Committee.”

That means the Clinton campaign may be considering appealing the decision and drawing out the dispute to the August convention, something party leaders dread.

Didn't the original Constitution count blacks as 3/5ths of a person? The Florida and Michigan Dems didn't even get that good a deal.

I don't think this is over. The Michigan portion of this compromise will likely be contested by Clinton. If nothing else, this will give her an excuse to continue until the convention.

UPDATE: I was just joking around with the 3/5ths thing above, but look at this from Florida superdelegate Rep. Alcee Hastings:

. . [O]n May 31, 2008, a group of elitist insiders of the DNC have effectively said that some of my ancestors' progeny equal only 1/2 and that men and women in Florida who voted on January 29th are 1/2 also. For a Party which will crown its historic nominee on the 45th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, the DNC's decision today is tragically ironic.

As a matter of protest, I do not intend to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Me neither, brother. I feel your pain.