Dean: Dems Will Seat Fla. Delegates

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Associated Press

By KEN THOMAS – 32 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean says the party is committed to seating Florida's delegates at this summer's convention.

Dean met Wednesday with Florida lawmakers to discuss ways of allocating delegates among Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The party stripped Florida and Michigan of their delegates because they ignored party rules moved their primaries to January.

Dean says the party is "committed to making sure that we do everything in our power to seat a delegation from Florida."

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igrYLRrHG3P6lIbs2E7pSH0bxhvgD8VPQ6S80

[wryter2000]

1. How's that going to work?

I adore Governor Dean, but how is he going to divide them up?

[movonne]

24. I love Dean too....and I'm sure he will do the fair thing...

[jasmine621]

44. They will seat only the delegates for O bama. That's how it will work. nt

[seriousstan]

2. Voters didn't count, so they have an arbitrary formula. Let's use the formula to determine the vote

nationally. Fuck, just use the formula and then nobody has to vote.

[NMDemDist2]

3. K&N, this is big news people! n/t

[onehandle]

4. Good. Votes should count. And Obama supporters, it won't help Hillary anyway. nt

[hisownpetard]

5. I just don't understand this. The DNC stated the rules (which were approved), that FL & MI

would be penalized if they moved their primaries up.
FL & MI ignored the rules, moved their primaries up and were being held accountable by losing the right to have their delegates be seated.

Now, a compromise is in order? Why?

[NMDemDist2]

6. so that millions of voters aren't disenfranchised? n/t

[CPschem]

7. actually that's misleading.

technically no one's being disenfranchised. A vote was held and everyone had the opportunity to cast their votes. That's the equivalent of saying that people who continue to vote for John McCain in the repub primaries are being disenfranchised.

[damntexdem]

18. Nonsense: Dem voters in FL and MI were disenfranchised -- doubly so:

1) many didn't vote because they did not have full slates to vote for and were told that their votes wouldn't count anyway;
2) those who did vote were still told that their votes would not count (and shouldn't, because of others who were disenfranchised under #1).

By contrast, GOPers who continue to vote for McCain in GOP primaries have their votes counted and delegates elected.

[1monster]

32. This is a BS argument. Florida had record turnouts for the primary election.

For both parties.

There was a VERY IMPORTANT State Constituional Amendment on that ballot regarding property taxes. Unfortunately, it passed and our schools are now feeling the bugetary pinch.

People came out for that.

Since the voter turnout was record breaking, it is patently a falsehood to say that voters were disenfranchised because they believed their vote for the nominee of the party would not be seated.

Second: We had a full slate of candidates. No one was removed. All eight candidates for the Democratic nomination WERE ON THE BALLOT.

I am not invested in either Clinton or Obama. I voted for Kuncinich and Edwards was my second choice. I don't see much difference between Clinton and Obama and will vote for whichever one gets the nomination.

Regardless, the vote count should stand as it is. The Democrats of Florida have spoken. They should be heard.

[JDPriestly]

37. In Michigan, only Hillary and maybe Kucinich were on the ballot

and could be voted for. I remember that there were very complicated discussions about what Obama supporters and supporters of other candidates should do. I think they had to vote uncommitted. So Michigan's vote was not fair at all. Neither was Florida's. Candidates other than Hillary did not campaign. Naturally, mostly Hillary's supporters voted. I'd like to know how the percentages of voters who voted in the primaries in Florida and Michigan compare to the percentages in other states.

[Duncan]

13. I don't get it.

How many people stayed home because they were told the delegates wouldn't be seated?
To count the vote now "disenfranchises" all the people who didn't vote because they thought there was no point.
Or maybe I don't get something?
WTF?

[1monster]

33. See post #32 just above yours.

Florida had record turn out for both parties. All the candidates were on the ballot.

The only disenfranchisement was that which was threatened by the DNC in the power struggle with the DLC... Apparently, the DLC doesn't have a problem with using the voters as pawns in their little game.

I'm cautiously glad that the DNC is seeing that disenfranchising the Florida voters is a serious potentional disaster in the general election.

[hisownpetard]

15. No one is being totally 'disenfranchised,' to the extent that they can vote in the

General Election where their votes will count (or are supposed to).

The Democrats in FL disregarded their own party's rules.
Should there be no consequences, at all? If that's the case, why even have a DNC?
(Reminds me of the current administration...)

[damntexdem]

17. Because the Party screwed up when it penalized the states.

It penalized voters for the sins of Dem leaders. But once it did so, it screwed up the faux primaries that did take place, so their results cannot be simply accepted, as HRC supporters want. Revotes and recaucuses have proved impossible in the charged atmosphere of the campaign. So something else needs to be done, some sort of compromise. Nothing (short of expensive new primaries) can undo the disenfranchising of voters in two states; but partial recompense can be made.

[LiberalFighter]

26. They might back off and only penalize them 50% of the delegates?

I believe 50% is the current penalty... but they may have increase the penalty for something else.

[MaineDem]

30. I think this is quite possible

Give them 50% of their delegates.

I'd keep the supers out, though.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

8. Most of the candidates conformed to the rules and weren’t on the ballot.

How could the outcome of the FL and MI primaries ever be considered the choice of the people?

Even splitting the delegates wouldn't seem right.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Which candidates were not on the ballot in Florida?

http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/s_ballots/012908dem-eng.html

:shrug:

[demo dutch]

10. All the candidates were on the ballot in Florida. The law in Florida is such

that candidates must be on the primary ballot in order to be on the GE ballot in Nov.

[BearSquirrel2]

12. A half rule ..

The Republican "half" penalty would work for Florida since all names were on the ballot. In Michigan, they would have to use some formula to allocate delegates. You're screaming insane if you think they can give Hillary her cherry pick.

Hopefully, This will be settled in Indiana and Pennsylvania, Supers will break for Obama and they can just seat the Florida delegation. Michigan would have to be by formula as the delegates also help form the party platform and rules. There are serious difference between the DLCers and the Progressives in the party.

[LiberalFighter]

27. If there is a brokered convention resulting in a candidate

such as Gore?

There is nothing in Florida statutes that require a presidential candidate to be on the primary ballot to have their name on the GE ballot.

In addition, in all states the voters do not vote for the President. They vote for the electors representing the candidate for each political party.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

22. Boy is my face red...all this time I thought Obama left his name off of the FL ballot.

I just assumed (I know, I made an ass out of me and me) that FL was the same as MI. In that case, the voters made their choice. If we're trying to find a way of not punishing the states for pushing up their primary dates, we should treat their votes like we do any other state.

[1monster]

34. All of the candidates were on the Florida ballot AND Florida Democrats turned out in RECORD

NUMBERS!

I can't believe how often this has to be repeated on DU. That old meme about disenfranchisement due to "not all the candidates were on the ballot" and "Dems stayed home because they were told their votes wouldn't count" is like a Trojan Horse on a computer. It just keeps coming back and replicating no matter how many times it is deleted or locked in a virus safe.

[susankh4]

11. I see that our party has finally gotten a grip

on the serious nature of this situation.

Good for Dean!

:applause:

[liberal N proud]

14. Still mixed feelings on this.

They were warned and did nothing until the Democratic Party followed through on their threat.
Florida Democrats should have been fighting for their right to be counted before the primary. They tried to call the Democratic parties bluff and lost.


But then again I feel every vote should count and that everyone should get to vote.

This still will not solve the nomination prior to the convention. Exercise in futility.

[hisownpetard]

16. I have mixed feelings, too. But if FL & MI are 'forgiven' for thumbing their noses

at the DNC and doing whatever the hell they pleased, and then are allowed to have their delegates seated anyway (in whatever
form of compromise), then that is setting a precedent for all future primary seasons. It will be a free-for-all, like exterminators
competing for first place in the phone book: AAAAAA-Pest-Control, at your service!

[JDPriestly]

20. I wonder whether Edwards will get any Florida delegates.

I vaguely recall hearing that he won at least one county. Am I wrong about that? Unless one of the other candidates has a decisive majority, Edwards' delegates may have some power. It looks like Obama can win anyway, but who knows? Anything can happen at this point.

I also wonder what will happen during the next election cycle. Will every state follow the leads of Michigan and Florida. I also recall hearing, I believe on Thom Hartmann, urgent discussion by Michigan supporters of candidates other than Hillary about how they could vote for their candidate. There were various suggestions. The Michigan and Florida primaries were extremely unfair to voters other than Hillary. Especially in Michigan, voters who did not support Michigan were not totally disenfranchised, but they were not permitted to vote for the candidate of their choice, which is pretty close to disenfranchisement. Where is Hillary on this? How does she deal with that fact about the Michigan election?

[LiberalFighter]

28. It depends on how they determine the allocation of the delegates.

Each state is given several options to choose from with approval of the DNC.

[JDPriestly]

35. I'm wondering if anyone knows how Florida decides.

[demo dutch]

42. It's in the statutes

[LiberalFighter]

45. Allocation of delegates are not state controlled. They are party controlled.

[balantz]

19. On second thought,

never mind.

[woundedkarma]

21. I would like to point out...

That here in Michigan it isn't the entire state that ignored the rules, it is just the morons in power. I personally would have said NO if given a chance to hold the primary early. You aren't hurting the people in power, the morons who broke the rules, by denying Michigan (or Florida) their delegates. What you're doing is hurting the people who had no way to stop it from happening.

On the other hand, I am completely against sitting the current set of delegates and believe MI and FL shouldn't be seated or we should hold some sort of revote.

[Ytzak]

23. There is an answer...

(1) Remove all Florida Super Delegates from the list. They chose to ignore the rules, they should pay.
(2) Divide Michigan and Florida's elected delegates down the middle, so that no one gets a boost from these delegates.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Which rules did Florida's Democratic Senator and Democratic Congressmen ignore?

:shrug:

[LiberalFighter]

29. Hmmm where have I heard that solution before?

Wait a minute. I suggested point 1 about a month ago several times.

Point 2 is a wash either way. No advantage if they don't seat them and no advantage if split 50/50.

[1monster]

36. No. Certainly do not seat Florida's super delagates. But the Florida vote stands.

The primary carried ALL candidates and we had record turn out.

The vote was fair and should stand as is.

Let Clinton and Obama slug it out till the convention. It's likely they'll both be on the ticket anyway. It may be the only way to win.

[NMDemDist2]

31. I can't believe we haven't sent this to the Greatest yet!?! This is HUGE!!!! n/t

[bamacrat]

38. Just adds to our credibility as a party doesn't it?

We need to decide on something and stick to it. The DNC no matter what problems they have, made a rule, Florida was aware of the rule as was Michigan. They broke the rules. The penalty was loss of delegates, which they knew, and did it anyway. I think it really does suck that the voters in Florida and Michigan might not be heard but thats the rules. You don't think the pieces of shit that are the right wing won't latch on to this as another classic democratic "flip-flop", only this time it may be applicable.

[goforit]

39. Don't tell me Howard Dean has been Bushed.

[wingedearth]

40. Dean needs to explain how this will work

No details were presented as to how this will work, as several other DU'ers have noted. I personally don't think it would be fair to sit the delegates that resulted from the first "elections", because Obama would have the disadvantage that he did not campaign in Florida.
New elections are the way to go, IMO, and something tells me Obama would come out victorious.

[farmbo]

41. Watch this... Fla Senate Dems conspired with Repugs to switch primary

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/1/153956/6000

[HockeyMom]

43. Crist wanted that Homestead Amendment passed

stupid as it is for a state that is broke and facing massive cuts. People went to the polls in droves to vote for that.

So I do not want to hear that people stayed home because they knew their votes would not count in the primary election. They had another reason to go to the polls. WALLET issues alone will bring people to the polls.

National media is not talking about this issue at all.