Old Politics, Obama Style

If you've read Big Lizard's post Chicago Rules, analysis of Barack Obama's favored election technique -- do anything you can to boot opponents off the ballot and otherwise turn things in your favor -- this will ring familiar to you:

The obstacles to a do-over election to pick Michigan's delegates to the Democratic National Convention seemed to grow Friday, after Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign officials told the state's top party official that they wouldn't accept Gov. Jennifer Granholm's idea of a party-sponsored primary.

Granholm had suggested a "firehouse primary," which would allow Democrats to cast their ballots again sometime before June. It would cost about $10 million.

It would be the same procedure Democrats have used in past Michigan presidential caucuses. Polls would be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and any eligible voter who hadn't voted in the state's Jan. 15 Republican primary could participate. The voter must be a citizen who turns 18 by the November election and declares himself or herself a Democrat for the day.

Obama's campaign doesn't like the idea, said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer.

"That's what I've been told by his campaign, but it's not my place to inquire about motivations," said Brewer, who said he thinks a do-over primary has serious financial and logistical problems.

"And we can't do anything without the agreement of both the campaigns," he added.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has done better in primaries, Obama in caucuses.

There you have it. Obama is prepared to stand in the way of giving the Democrats of Michigan an opportunity to vote in a straightforward primary just so he can gain an advantage.

This is the man of change? This is the man who asks us to trust him to bring a new political paradigm?

Not that Hillary is any less self-serving, but really, Dems are such suckers!