AP: Florida goes ahead with delegate selection, despite sanctions

[seafan]

Florida goes ahead with delegate selection, despite sanctions

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
AP Political Writer

February 29, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Democratic Party is going ahead with plans Saturday to select delegates for the national convention, even though the state had no delegates at stake during the Jan. 29 presidential primary.

The state party wants to be prepared in case it succeeds in efforts to have delegates seated when the convention begins this August in Denver. The Democratic National Committee stripped the state of its delegates because it violated party rules by holding its primary before Feb. 5.

"We said from the beginning that we're going to move ahead with our plan because we were forced into this election date. We're trying to comply with the rules," said state party spokesman Mark Bubriski. "We remain confident that our delegates will be seated and we plan to appeal to the nominee or the credentials committee to seat our delegates."

Florida's Republican-led Legislature passed a bill to move up the primary and Republican Gov. Charlie Crist signed it.

The state party will hold caucuses in each of Florida's congressional district, during which any Democrat can vote on who should serve as delegates. A total of 121 district-level delegates will be chosen based on how the state voted in the January primary. Sixty-seven will be assigned to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, 41 to Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and 13 to former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

Despite the possibility that none will be seated, Bubriski said interest in the selection process is high. He speculated that more people are aware of a process largely ignored in the past because of attention given to the dispute with the DNC.

.....

The DNC didn't immediately comment on Florida's plans. Even if the credentials committee decide to seat Florida delegates, it wouldn't have to apportion delegates based on the results of the primary.

This is a powder keg that is just waiting........

[CyberPieHole]

1. Those voters chose Senator Clinton and they should be seated...

anything less will dis~enfranchise their votes.

[Kittycat]

2. No they should re-vote.

Many voters didn't turn out, because they had no stake in it. Unless they were homeowners, they were told it wasn't necessary since their vote wouldn't count.

[GarbagemanLB]

3. Won't happen, sorry. Even if it does, it will be 50/50.

[CyberPieHole]

11. Clinton won more votes in Florida. Obama came in a weak second. So, no 50/50.

[movonne]

25. Are you crazy or just trying to start a fight....of course they shouldn't

be counted but if they are it would have to be 50/50 or have another primary...you can't change horses in mid stream...and I believe that if it was run again Obama would win...

[Zachstar]

45. What the hell did she win?

It is disgusting how some Clinton supporters here want flawed results counted.

Do you want a re-vote or do you want flawed results to be counted?

Why is a re-vote so bad? Are you scared that Obama will somehow win? Is that a reason to try to shut down any attempt at a revote?

[tandem5]

49. flawed... the rules say that, by default, half the delegation can be counted...

just like the Republican's primary in Florida that also violated their party rules. It was only a handful of people in the DNC that unilaterally decided to prohibit all the delegates instead of half. I find it ironic that super delegate discretion is seen as anti-democratic, but the decisions made by only a handful of individuals to go out of their way to fully disenfranchise those that did take the effort to vote is seen as okay. Where are the advocates for the American voter?

[Exilednight]

4. They were warned of the consequences if they chose to move ahead. All parties agreed.

[RiverStone]

6. To seat them would disenfranchise a lot more...

It would make a mockery of every state that follwed the DNC rules.

FLA voters got screwed by arrogant state party leaders - their vote should count - but it needs to be counted in a legal election.

RE-do the primary - the only fair solution.

[backscatter712]

30. Wow, a Hillary howler monkey made the first post.

Didn't take long for them to start advocating disenfranchisement of all the other states that did follow the rules when they held elections.

On the bright side, it's not going to change anything - Obama's still going to win.

[tekisui]

5. No worries. Even if they are seated, as is(which I don't see happening.

Hillary still loses. Obama delegate lead has eclipsed the gain she would get from FL.

[JackORoses]

7. Damn Hillary for not shutting the door on this issue!

She is not doing this for the People of Florida.
It is amazing that her followers can delude themselves into believing that this is the case.

[Maribelle]

10. Hillary has nothing at all to do with what the FDP is doing.

Your cursing at her, and your lies about her merely show off your political bias, nothing more.

[JackORoses]

13. She has everything to do with this. Senator Bill Nelson is a full-on Hillary supporter.

He is the prime person pushing this. He already failed in one lawsuit.

He is doing his best to deliver Florida for Hillary.

She is the one pushing this, do not delude yourself.

[Maribelle]

14. FDP is continuing with the schedule it established last year just in case ....

It has nothing to do with Hillary. It has nothing to do with Nelson. It has nothing to do with any lawsuit.

According to the DNC rules, once the convention starts, the nominee can have the delegates from Florida seated. FDP is merely preparing in case that happens. Nothing more.

[JackORoses]

16. Why would they continue as scheduled when the delegates have legally been stripped?

The only reason they are doing this is because Nelson is pushing his suit again.
The only reason he is doing that is to deliver Florida for Hillary.

What is the point of pretending this isn't what is going on?

[Maribelle]

20. Wrong and wrong.

And wrong.

No one is pretending anything. The FDP has been clear about this since last year. Sorry - - it's you that doesn't seem to know what the FDP has clearly expressed all along.

[MagsDem]

37. It is SO offensive that Obama wants 1.7 million voters ignored

and even MORE offensive to hear someone suggest Nelson cares more about a presidential candidate than the does about protecting his constituent's right's to have their voice heard. Obama supporters are off the rail at this point.

[madfloridian]

43. So you are also one who wants the Supreme Court to decide again.

Congratulations on that. We have a precedent..It is called Bush v Gore.

[UALRBSofL]

56. MagsDem It's Dean's fault

He stripped Florida and Michigan of all it's delegates and said the people of these states votes wouldn't count. The republican party's RNC did not do this. Dean is just being a dweeb whereas the RNC was respectful of there voters.

[Captain Hilts]

18. It's Dean's fault for not having the skills to avert this shut out of MI and FL. He's the skipper.

[madfloridian]

21. He did avert it....he sanctioned them. But they keep suing.

Over and over again....they are going to take it to the Supreme Court

Check out my journal for the latest appeal on March 17.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1864

[dogman]

22. Who would expect Floridians to want their vote to count?

Hasn't w taught them better?

[madfloridian]

24. Florida is no more important than any other state.

They just have a super-ego.

If you don't see the danger in trying upset one Supreme Court precedent and establish another during a primary campaign....that scares me.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1864

And read this and in the comments...they want it to go to the Supreme Court.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2945930

[dogman]

29. Nor less important.

All I know is that, as an American citizen, I expect my vote to count. If I am disenfranchised by any one, for any reason, it is un-(D)democratic and un-American. I don't expect this SC to make the correct decision because of their history, but that does not remove the right to seek justice.

[madfloridian]

31. Florida wants courts to decide instead of voters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2945930

[dogman]

32. The voters have decided, they want the courts to make their votes count.

Democracy.

[madfloridian]

33. There is already a SC precedent. Why try to overturn it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2945930&mesg_id=2945930

[dogman]

35. They want their votes to count, Democracy.

[madfloridian]

39. So if the Supreme Court decides....will that make them happy?

I am worried that none of you seem to care that another SC decision might be in the future.

[dogman]

40. If their vote counts, they should be happy.

And so should all believers in Democracy.

[madfloridian]

42. Tell me again...you really think taking it to the Supreme Court will be good?

Just checking how far this will be carried.

[dogman]

47. What ever it takes to count the votes.

Otherwise, we might as well stay home on election day.

[madfloridian]

53. What will you call it? Clinton v Obama?

How it will rip us apart.

[dogman]

54. Citizens of FL v anti-Democracy.

[madfloridian]

55. But the court will be deciding.

That is the tragedy. Florida leaders broke the rules.

[dogman]

57. That is what courts do.

They will determine if the rules were broken and if the rules were Constitutional, if they choose to hear the case.

[JTFrog]

59. And that is how we got Bush. n/t

[Zachstar]

46. Then have a re-vote!

[dogman]

50. Just count the vote.

Or should we always re-vote until we get the desired results?

[Captain Hilts]

27. He should have sat TX, MI, CA, FL, PA and OH down and said...

it's not fair to minor candidates to have too many big states too early, yet, it's not fair to big states to be so far back in the pack. And it's not fair that CA has been allowed to move their primary earlier and other big states not. So, here's what we're going to do...we're going to put the six of your names in a hopper each four year cycle and the first one pulled out gets to go first. Two more will follow, then the rest have to wait for a chance to go early the next cycle. It's random and it's fair.

That wasn't so hard, was it?

The Primary schedule favors Red states.

[madfloridian]

28. Florida wants courts to decide instead of voters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2945930

[Cha]

38. Yeah, easy to blame Dean if you support

the dlc candidate, hilary. But, you have nothing to back that up as usual.

[dchill]

60. Yep. n/t

[Maribelle]

8. The DNC said the delegates would not be seated. Period.

The Democratic Party of Florida has every right to conintue with its delegate selection process.

[Exilednight]

12. Yes, and waste the time, money, and resources of the Democratic party. Florida needs to pick and...

choose their battles more wisely. This is a waste of time and effort and is using resources that could be put to better use.

[Captain Hilts]

17. A good chunk will turn around and vote for McCain. nt

[Johnny__Motown]

9. Super delegates should rebel against this and rally to Obama to counter this cheating

[dogman]

23. That'll teach'em, Out cheat'em!

[Zachstar]

48. What cheating?

The supers are free to choose who they want.

But as usual the spin is in high RPM.

No the only cheating going on is those calling for flawed results to be included. Until the rouge states decide to ask for a re-vote they can shove it. The people ought to be out in drove demanding a re-vote.

They went rouge and now Clinton decides she needs those states to keep this bullshit going on another 3 months.

IT IS OVER IT IS TIME TO MOVE TO THE GE!

[dogman]

58. You're for disenfranchisement, I'm not.

I believe in the democratic principle of the right to vote. Those voters are individual citizens, not rogues.

[madfloridian]

15. And this lawsuit being heard on March 17...just to screw things up more

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1864

[stop the bleeding]

19. good entry and great review of the issue with lawsuits in FL

thanks madfloridian

[madfloridian]

26. Florida wants courts to decide instead of voters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2945930

[MaineDem]

34. They'd be silly not to

Florida will present a delegation to the credentials committee so they need to fill that delegation. This is the way for them to select their delegates. It's the right thing for FL to do.

Whether they'll be seated is a separate issue entirely.

[seafan]

36. "I still intend to do everything I can to win.." ---Senator Clinton, February 26, 2008

I still intend to do everything I can to win, but it has been an honor, because it has been a campaign that is history making. ---Senator Hillary Clinton, Cleveland Democratic debate, February 26. 2008

Coupled with actions taken by the Clinton campaign, it's statements like this that are searing a deep anxiety among those in our party.

[dogman]

41. I wish Kerry and Gore had felt that way.

It would have meant much less anxiety for everyone.

[madfloridian]

44. That was different. They WERE the nominees.

I am to the point where I say to Hillary...go for it. Let the party be damned.

[RememberWellstone]

51. Good for them!

Nothing like MY vote not being counted and I AM in Florida!! I approve of this deeply!

[Obamanaut]

52. I am a Floridian also. I think we should vote out every single

incumbent who is running for reelection in Nov. They did this with HB537 - and it wasn't because there are more Republicans in the state legislature. There were almost no, that is nearly none, 'nay' votes on this in either the senate or house.

[billyoc]

61. They should be seated.

At the kiddie table. :rofl: