Queen of Mean

The late Leona Helmsley famously was reported to have said, "We don't pay taxes.   Only the little people pay taxes."   Because the rules that apply to the rest of us, like the one about paying taxes, don't apply to truly superior people like the Helmsleys.  Now comes America's current and equally repellent Queen of Mean with the same attitude.

Last August the Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of its delegates to the 2008 convention, for setting an early primary date violating DNC rules.   The Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton, signed pledge to not campaign in Florida, as the DNC requested, and none challenged the national committee's ruling taking away the state's delegates.   But that was then.

This is now.   After her South Carolina embarrassment by Barack Obama, Clinton showed up in Florida anyway, to give a full-blown "victory" speech in what was no more than a "beauty contest" primary.   Speaking to the crowd, Clinton vowed "to do everything I can to make sure . . .Florida's Democratic delegates [are] seated."

A classic Clintonian move.   All of the candidates pledge not to campaign in Florida, and don't.   So Obama and Edwards forbear from any campaign against Clinton.   Then, only after Clinton wins the beauty contest, she announces she'll pull out all the stops to seat the Florida delegates.   If the nomination is still unresolved by convention time, whether or not Florida's 210 delegates get to vote could make the difference.

As ever, concepts such as pledges, rules and truth are meaningless to the Clintons.   That nonsense is only for the little people.