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This is not a political question; it is a moral question. In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King marched in Selma, Alabama determined to secure voting rights for those who were wrongly denied them. Don't we owe the same to those who are wrongly being denied in Michigan and in Florida?
It was an egregious error to disenfranchise Michigan and Florida voters. Any issues with the Democratic leadership of those states should have been sorted out AFTER the Democrats had won the White House. Arrogance was foolishly placed ahead of unity.
The primary voters in Michigan and Florida went to the polls in good faith to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. They really had no choice; either you voted in the primary as it was scheduled, or you didn't vote.
Democratic voters in those states did not "break the rules". The state party leaders chose to defy the national committee, an act of arrogance that was out of the hands of the individual Democratic voters. And any rule by made by the DNC that ends with "...or else we will disenfranchise your entire state" is a rule that should not, and morally cannot, be enforced by a legitimate party in a democracy. It was foolhardy for the DNC to ever make such a rule because the actual enforcement of it is morally inconceivable. Disenfranchisement of voters is always wrong. The state and national leaders have a duty to re-enfranchise the voters of these states, or they should all be looking for a new job.
Disenfranchisement goes far beyond politics; it tears at the very fabric of our decency and of our democratic ideals upon which our great Nation was founded. It is impossible to justify not counting even one person's vote, let alone all the votes from 2 states! Americans throughout our history fought and died for ALL the stars on our Flag.
Whether in the primary or general election, whether Democrat or Republican, disenfranchisement is ugly and unacceptable. The disenfranchisement of even a single voter should gnaw at the conscience of each and every Democrat. All Democrats, no matter which candidate they support, must demand that their fellow Democrats' votes be counted.
We'll be better off when the cheat, lie cry, Hillary camp is out of the race.
If he wins, you can try to win without us. Your arrogance is equal to Senator Obamas'. Pfft.
Is she a liar or just a sore loser.
First of all, she has not lost...Obama has not won the nomination.
Secondly, she has been asking since 1/25/07 for the votes to be counted....The DNC rules violated their own rules....they should count 50% of the delegation and 100% of the popular vote....the rules only address the delegation. Where do you get that she wants 100% of the delegation in FL seated?
And we believe the DNC’s rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role.
Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar.â€
Clinton Campaign 2007
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She either lied then and/or she is opportunistically talking out of both sides of her mouth now.
I will write this slowly so you can all follow...
T H E Y A L L A G R E E D T O T H I S R U L L I N G. yes....even your precious Jr. Sen. from New York.
If you are so blind not to see this than it explains why your candidate is in her current condition. There were rules and they will be upheld. All of you know it and it is why you are so vitriolic in your tone and tenor.
If you want McCain to win, if you want a Republican Supreme Court, war to continue in Iraq and Iran and this economy to destroy more families... go ahead, go to your rooms and cry like the children you are.
There is a country to save and we Obama supporters will work to save it with or without you.
So re-read your candidate's statement and answer your question.
Obama only wanted his way or no way.
He wanted 50% of the delegates.
But he never would have won that.
Demographics would establish that.
He just wants the win.
Its not about fairness.
its about accumulating power.
the party is proving to be as dirty as their opposition. We once fought for count every vote, no longer.Its count them if we can get what we want.
Just like those undemocratic caucuses where only the voice of a few count rather than the whole.
Primaries are whole. Caucuses are exclusionary.
Florida State Democratic representatives voted along with Repuks in the screw up that got them punished.
Florida Democrats, need to vote for better State Reps. You made the first mistake electing George Bush's stupider Brother back then, now it's your State Reps. Too much sun stroke?
I call for the expullsion of the dishonorable Hillary Rodham Clinton. She has single handedly set back the perception of woman as strong and able to compete.
I have sent Hillary and Obama a copy of your response accusing the voters of FL and MI of being dishonorable. You should refrain from those kind of insults, as maybe someday you will need us to rescue you when your state screws you.
Let's say that there are no consequences for Florida and Michigan.
What happens in 2012 if several of the other 48 states who did follow the Primary calendar say to heck with that. We will just hold our primary when we feel like it?
Will the DNC chairman say: "No this time we really really mean it. This time there will be consequences. We made an exception to the rules in 2008 because Hillary needed that help, but this time in 2012 she doesn't so we won't seat any state who disregards the calendar."
What could the DNC chairman possibly say?
Rules are there to protect the process, the voters and the candidates. When states vote out of turn, they not only disinfranchise the voters in their states, they disinfranchise all the voters of all the states and the candidates as well.
They don't care. They want to thrown their Queen. They believe it is her birth right to be President.
They could care less that we fellow Democrats voted for the other candidate, that he leads in every conceivable measure, contests, popular votes, elected delegates, super delegates, donors and money raised.
They wish to do to us exactly what they say they do not want for Florida and Michigan.
Their fairy tale is coming to an end, you know it, I know and..... they know it too.
Why do you appear scared? If you are so confident, why do you get so bothered by our clamor for fair elections?
As long as I have seen this primary season with its undemocratic caucuses, with the non counting of votes, with cries of racism and indignation at the very concept of sexism and the appalling lack of honesty by party leaders and the media I am more and more disenfranchised.
I am now just ashamed of everyone.
This once loyal democrat will no longer be blindly loyal and the check book is closed.