A very serious, grown-up warning to the Rules and Credentials Committee members: Federal crimes...

[CorpGovActivist]

... are spelled out at Title 18, Chapter 29, http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sup_01_18_10_I_20_29.html">Elections and Political Activities.

For example, Title 18, § 599: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000599----000-.html">Promise of appointment by candidate.

Or Title 18, § 600: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000600----000-.html">Promise of employment or other benefit for political activity.

Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit, provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit, to any person as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party in connection with any general or special election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

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http://www.demconvention.com/dnc-elects-standing-committee-leadership-for-2008-democratic-national-convention-2/">DNC Elects Standing Committee Leadership for 2008 Democratic National Convention

http://www.demconvention.com/assets/mainassets/standingcommittees.pdf">Current committee membership lists

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The laws are on the books for a reason. If you're approached with the offer of something of value to sway your vote on such matters as whether or not to seat sanctioned delegations, your best and most prudent course is to report it immediately. Because it's being watched carefully.

- Dave

[UALRBSofL]

1. WOW I guess the voters of florida are going to jail

Because they could have a sit-out in the GE as a protest against there vote not counting.

[CorpGovActivist]

2. Staying home in protest doesn't violate the law.

Offering something of value (e.g., a political appointment) is a different matter.

- Dave

[MediaBabe]

3. OMG!! Thank the good Lord you posted that!!!!!!

I'm sure that not a person in the Rules and Credentials committee had ANY IDEA at all that bribery is - what did you say - AGAINST THE LAW??!!! And since I AM POSITIVE that they poor over every word typed into DU any minute now you'll have grateful thanks heaped at your feet.

[CorpGovActivist]

4. All it takes is one committee member to refuse to "play ball," and report...

... being approached in such a manner, and the whole tenor of the convention would change dramatically.

- Dave

[Ivote]

5. Yes And Voter Intimidation Is A Crime Also

Telling people not to vote and it won't count anyway is also

[CorpGovActivist]

6. I favor full enfranchisement for all FL and MI voters who wished to vote...

... not just those who were in the know on the bait-and-switch on the rules.

- Dave

[GoldieAZ49]

7. yeppers, right down the toilet

lets hope they keep the lid down

[CorpGovActivist]

8. Preference #1: nothing even closely resembling this is going on; Preference #2...

... a delegate with integrity reports it, loudly, and publicly, if it does occur.

- Dave

[UALRBSofL]

9. Actually, what I read about it

There were several thousand mailers sent out in Florida and I'm guessing from a private group who was probably affiliated with the RNC in some way stating that the democrats vote wouldn't count and should be disenfranchised about it. It was suppose to be a way to keep people at home from voting. I didn't get a mailer but like I said, I read it in one of the florida newspapers on-line.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. Being told by the DNC and the candidates that the delegation wouldn't be seated...

... likely did much more to dissuade busy people from going to the polls than did any third-party mailer.

- Dave

[UALRBSofL]

11. The thing is I don't remember ever being told

our vote didn't count. The DNC didn't send out a mailer stating that. We got a absentee ballot in the mail and it had all the candidates on it but it didn't state in the ballot the votes didn't count. I mean, I knew because I watch CNN/MSNBC and post on GD-P but I don't think that many people do.

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Ah. Well. Then a do-over to capture all those who were confused...

... couldn't possibly hurt, could it?

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

13. For those wishing to discuss the names...

... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4618021&mesg_id=4618021">another thread was started focusing only on the DNC announcements.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

14. Oh, this is going to get intense scrutiny after today's idiotic plagiarizing meme.

[CorpGovActivist]

15. In light of reports that the Clinton campaign may be "pursuing" pledged...

... delegates, this bears kicking.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

16. Federal lawsuit to enjoin the delegate hub website...

... from breaking any of these laws gonna be necessary?

Easy to file, and huge splash in the MSM.

- Dave

[Johnny__Motown]

17. But who will enforce it? Bush/Clinton era justice overlooks things like this

[CorpGovActivist]

18. See #16...

... and bear in mind: sometimes the simple act of filing suit and drawing attention to a scheme that has the potential for criminal activity, fraud, and abuse, is enough to dissuade the would-be scofflaws.

I know my way to the Federal courts in both Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

This option has many, many layers of appeal.

- Dave