Judge OKs DNC sanctions over Fla. primary, Dean wins this round

[jefferson_dem]

Judge OKs DNC sanctions over Fla. primary

Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle this afternoon dismissed Sen. Bill Nelson's lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee over Florida's early primary date. Hinkle granted to DNC Chairman Howard Dean a motion for summary judgment.

The ruling lets stand the national party's sanctions against the state that strips Florida of its entire delegation to the Democratic presidential nominating convention next year.

Hinkle said the Democratic National Committee has a right to set its schedule for primaries. The national party penalized Florida because it broke party rules by jumping the state's primary date ahead to Jan. 29.

To rule otherwise would be a free-for-all with all 50 states, Hinkle said. He gave the plaintiffs the choice to re-file under the voting rights act against the state of Florida if they choose.

"The judge has ruled, so the party bosses have had their say, they have prevailed," Nelson said following the ruling in a conference call.

Nelson said he disagreed with the ruling and insisted Democrats' primary voting in January would still be meaningful.

"At the end of the day a delegation is going to be seated and it will be representative of how the people of Florida vote on January 29," Nelson said. "We just hoped that was going to be today with a federal judge's order, but he chose to do otherwise."

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-05-florida-primary_N.htm