Floridians still disenfranchised in 2008 primary

By: relawson
Published On: 9/11/2007 11:17:49 PM

I don't want to hear a single Democrat complain about votes not being counted - unless they are doing whatever it takes to count Florida's delegates.

Every last resident in the state of Florida is being shut out of the national debate.

I hope people get nausiated hearing about it.  I am saddened that nobody seems to care that the nations 4th largest state is being barred from the DNC.  True Democrats would do whatever it takes to make sure we have fair elections.

Comments



No sympathy from me (humanfont - 9/12/2007 2:14:05 AM)
Not content with their electoral votes and their massive impact in the national eleciton; Florida decided to move its primary up ahead of the prescribed schedule.  They can vote on Feb 5th like everyone else and be totally enfranchised.  Maybe we should change our nominating process to have a national primary; maybe we need a rotating first in the nation status.  The way to change that is through the DNC; not by arbitrarily moving their calendar around.


Our massive impact? (relawson - 9/12/2007 12:13:07 PM)
Are you kidding?  We have no impact on the primary.  By the time we decide, the decision has been made.  All of the cattle line up behind Iowa, New Hampshire, and the token few states chosen to select our next king.

I agree that everyone should vote on the same day.  But do you believe that this REPUBLICAN controlled legislature in Florida will change anything?

Why aren't you making it a top issue for ALL STATES to vote on Feb 5th.

If Florida were the only state not voting on the 5th, you may have a point.  But we are being singled out.  Apply the same standard to Florida that you apply to all states.  If you want to not count Florida's vote, then you need to stop the count of every state voting before the 5th.

Florida is, as it stands now, voting on the SAME DAY as South Carolina.  Tell me why South Carolina is so special?

You guys supporting this aren't being honest with yourselves.  You aren't being fair.  And you are allowing a broken system to continue.  If you want to apply rules, then apply them fairly.  Otherwise, you are just like George Bush - the Decider.

Democrats are going to be punished if they don't count votes.  Mark my words.



We want you guys to participate (DanG - 9/12/2007 9:48:08 AM)
Call your state legislators and demand they move the date of the primary back!


They are REPUBLICANS (relawson - 9/12/2007 12:14:34 PM)
And half their delegates are being counted.  I think they believe it is worth it - watching Democrats unfold in Florida and them taking the state.


Well see there's your problem (humanfont - 9/12/2007 4:59:55 PM)
Don't let the Republicans make the rules for how you vote for your candidate.  Just have the primary the republicans setup be non-binding, and then hold your own event at the appointed time (Feb 5th or later) via a cacaus or private ballot.  Don't expect the DNC to play ball with a Republican state house.


New Hampshire gets special treatment - Selective enforcement of rules!!! (relawson - 9/12/2007 3:32:36 PM)
The selective enforcement of rules is unfair, undemocratic, and Howard Dean should be impeached for his misleadership of the DNC!

http://ap.google.com...

Letter: DNC Silent on N.H. Primary Move
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON - 18 hours ago

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Democratic congressmen from Florida and Michigan asked national party chairman Howard Dean on Tuesday why he has been silent about punishing New Hampshire if it moves up its presidential primary while their states may lose all their delegates.

A letter sent to the Democratic National Committee chairman said Florida had been receiving threats months before state Democrats said they would choose their presidential delegates during the Jan. 29 primary that was set by a Republican-led Legislature and GOP governor.

But New Hampshire is talking about moving its Jan. 22 primary to stay ahead of Michigan's Jan. 15 primary and South Carolina Republicans' Jan. 19 primary, and the DNC is saying nothing, the letter said.

"Will the DNC now tell New Hampshire Democrats that they risk losing 100 percent of their pledged and unpledged delegates, in the same way Florida was threatened?" the letter asked.

The DNC has said Michigan also will be stripped of delegates if the state party uses the Jan. 15 primary to select its delegates.

New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner has said its primary will have to be moved to no later than Jan. 8 because of Michigan's new date.

Democratic Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before Feb. 5, except for Iowa on Jan. 14, Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29.

Democrat candidates, including former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, have signed pledges that restrict campaigning in states that violate DNC rules. Florida has until Sept. 29 to come up with a new delegate selection plan.

The letter asks Dean whether candidates also will be asked to restrict campaign activities in New Hampshire.

"We are proud Democrats, insisting on fairness, and we will fight the selective enforcement of our party's Delegate Selection Rules," said the letter. It was signed by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, Michigan Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and most of the states' Democratic House members.

A DNC spokesman refused comment.