Nico Pitney
pitney@huffingtonpost.com | HuffPost Reporting From DC

McCain Camp Wants To Postpone VP Debate
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September 24, 2008 06:59 PM
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John McCain's campaign now wants to suspend the VP debate?

CNN's Dana Bash reports that McCain officials are "trying to negotiate with the Obama campaign and the presidential debate commission. What they are saying, and what he is saying is that they are proposing to instead of having next Thursday the vice presidential debate in St. Louis, to make that the presidential debate and then to delay the VP debate to another time. That is what they are proposing, they understand very well that both the Obama campaign and the debate commission have no intention of delaying Friday's debate, but both he and a senior advisor that if there is no bailout deal by Friday, McCain has no plan to go to debate."

I am all for the right to vote; however, I have a huge family and extended family in both Florida and Michigan who did not vote because they knew the vote was worthless. The combined total of all of these people is about 1,500 - who in turn know thousands more who didn't vote because of this reason. I wouldn't have voted either under the circumstances. What about all of these people?

Republican leaders in Florida caused their debacle. You cannot arbitrarily change dates of elections to suit your agenda. I emphathize with the millions of people in Florida and Michigan; however, rules cannot be changed in the middle of a race. Doing so will set a dangerous precedent. If the rules are changed, this will leave open for the next state to do their will. The thing to do is work toward a process that would keep it from happening again. Contrary to popular belief, rules are not made to be broken. I was a child during the 50's and 60's and remember the "Jim Crow" rules. Wrong - you damn right - but followed to the letter - until the rules or laws were overturned. Many good people were caught up in this unfair set of laws. Some individuals never lived to see the laws change.

As far as Obama not having his name on the ballot - he and Edwards "removed" their names from Michigan's ballot, and it was too late to remove their names from Florida's ballot. All of these candidates signed an agreement in reference to the DNC rules. Hillary even said herself - that she didn't need Michigan. Now, because the race is tight - the rules need to change. I'm afraid not! Nobody knows what the true outcome would have been in these states, had all the candidates - including Edwards had campaigned in these states.

I have not made my choice for either candidate; however, the uproar, name-calling, and division in this party is killing me. Obama is not to blame for what happened in those states, and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. The people of both states should call on the carpet their state leaders who are to blame - and not reelect them.

Why have a primary at all if anyone can vote and manipulate the process? Democrats should vote for Democrats, and Republicans should vote for Republicans! Anything in between is a travesty of the voting process. The Republicans in Texas who are trying to alter the process should really be ashamed of themselves. This type of behavior can only be exhibited by individuals with little or no class - and certainly no conscience.

Just remember what goes around - comes around! You cheated to elect Bush twice - and see what you got?