CT Blue

Apparently, in the wake of her low turnout victory in Puerto Rico and the decision on Michigan and Florida, Hillary Clinton’s folks have adopted yet another spin point about how we should count to determine who is ahead in the popular vote count.

I have been puzzled about this line of attack for some time, because it presumes ignorance on the part of those to whom it is addressed. Let’s assume for the moment that being the popular vote winner means something in the overall context of this race. The argument, for instance, that the Michigan votes cast for Hillary should count, and that Obama should get none from that state, might make a fine spin point, but only if it is addressed to people who have not been paying attention. But at the moment there is only one audience that counts: the uncommitted delegates. Almost by definition, they are people who have been paying attention and know that Clinton’s argument is total bullshit. Not an insignificant number of them must be ticked that she is trying to change the rules, that she and her people supported, now that things are not going her way. It is hard to believe that the “popular vote” lead (which Obama still holds, using any rational measure) means much to these people, who have a more sophisticated understanding of the political scene than the average Clinton voter who worries about flag pins or bowling scores. Even if it ordinarily would, they are acutely aware that Clinton is spinning the numbers in an unconscionable way.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see the point. You can’t spin people who know the truth.

On a related note, don’t be fooled by the media’s attempt to make you believe that the Democratic party is totally fractured by the Michigan/Florida outcome yesterday. The folks who were demanding that the DNC break the rules for Hillary’s benefit were promising 10,000 demonstrators, they produced a few dozen, including one whack job who spewed some racist invective. Hillary is over. One must wonder whether some of her delegates from the early primary states have been turned off by her tactics in the late going. In any event, she doesn’t have the votes and it seems pretty clear that the party leaders are, at this point, ready to step in and tell her to step aside.