Florida and Michigan
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No organization in this land has the constitutional authority to dismiss the clearly cast ballots of voters in Florida and Michigan. Neither does any organization have the power to diminish the value of a voter's ballot giving it half value, nor does any organization have the constitutional authority in our democracy to redistribute the tallied votes or the delegate count in a 50/50 split in contrast to the voter's clearly cast ballots. Millions of voters in Florida and Michigan voted in their states' primaries. All of the democratic candidates were on the ballots in Florida. Only Obama broke the DNC rules when he campaigned in Florida by purchasing national television ads that aired in Florida when no candidates were permitted to campaign there. Edwards and Obama decided in their own best judgement to remove their names from the ballots in Michigan. That was their choice to do so. Voters still voted. Their votes must be counted. Their votes must be recognized as legitimate and fully weighted and all the delegates must be seated at the DNC from these crucial general election swing states. The DNC has made a grave error in judgement. The citizens of Florida and Michigan are full citizens of this country and have every right to have their voices heard and their votes counted. To do otherwise is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and unethical. Count the Votes!

Reader Comments
  
PLEASE KEEP POSTING
By Sandi May 16th 2008 at 2:13 pm EDT
Please keep posting.
  
MI & FL
By MICHAEL on The Beach May 16th 2008 at 2:17 pm EDT
MI & FL delegates will NOT alter the outcome but, as I have said for months, they will be seated in some form.

Good chance Obama crosses 2025 before May 31....
Re: MI & FL
By 0000000 May 16th 2008 at 2:27 pm EDT
I want everyone that keeps posting about Obama and the delegate points to understand this...IT DOESN'T MATTER IF HE IS THE NOMINEE....that's the first,second I live in Ohio we didn't vote for him the first time and aren't going to vote for him the second time and I'm quite sure there will be several added states to the ones that ddin't vote for him the first...Him being nominee means absolutely nothing. And if you're just glad IF he wins it to see him win over Hillary since Obama calls people racists for not supporting him....I call you sexist because it's clear you aren't voting for Hillary JUST because she's a woman.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...
By reggieinseattle May 16th 2008 at 8:53 pm EDT
....the only thing that makes sense is to let Florida and Michigan replay the 2008 Capitol One Bowl Game where the Florida Gators lost 41-35 to the Michigan Wolverines. I lost $200 on that game and in this instance ONLY, would support a "do-over."
Re: MI & FL
By Donia19 May 16th 2008 at 9:25 pm EDT
Obama has "NEVER" called anyone a racist for not supporting him. You can make your point without lying.....
Re: MI & FL
By Woman at Large May 16th 2008 at 2:37 pm EDT
Michael, this is what I learned about you from your profile. It reveals your thinking about American life:
"I want to keep you with me so I will show the light we must follow. About one in six dollars now goes for health care; 33% of the USA’s public schools had classrooms in portable buildings in 2005 & as far as far as energy we simply must conserve. A good start with energy would be passing a law that no car will be built or imported to the USA after…say 2010 that gets less than 50 MPG. Our country must look inside her boarders and fix the public school system. Making an argument for building more schools & raising teachers salaries should be the politicians delight. Not skyboxes & domes! In short, we demand a population that has access to quality safe & free education. Since we are at the trough, we also want our entire population to have access to efficient health care. Our Lady USA will become as she was many years ago when we have a widely dispersed healthy & educated population. People we need a renaissance. Stop government giveaways throughout the USA & there will still be professional sports. One result of my call to action will be that municipalities will have more money for education while the salaries of professional athletes will fall. The system as it is now is a transfer of tax money to wealthy team owners & athletes. I say again…end this and the ball games will continue. Do not change and our country will continue to crumble. The forecasts of Kennedy in ‘Rise & Fall of the Great Powers’ are now in our face. The path I have given is simple. The result will be a population that cares more about the environment and less about celebrity tabloid gossip. "

To begin with, who ever told you education was free? It's just inclusive. But somebody pays for it - you and I do. And in Ohio, we're really paying. Our former Governor, Bob Taft, promised that the state would pay 66% of the cost of new schools (with our tax dollars, of course) built in our districts. If we didn't go along, he'd be sure to condemn our districts and force consolidation. So now you can find $8 million schools in the poorest districts of northeastern Ohio ... we, of course, pay the final 33% as well as the first 66%. And when he was re-elected, guess what? The governor found a huge deficit and had to raise taxes to cover it!
Then you call for stopping government giveaways ... watch Obama pad the budgets for Affirmative Action, entitlement programs, etc. He's promised to take care of "his people," and he will. And you and I will pay for it.
As for the sports stars and tabloid celebrities, I couldn't agree with you more. Just an example of the rapid dumbing of America.
wow michael
By Cheryl/Michigan May 16th 2008 at 7:15 pm EDT
You have come a long way when you state that they will be seated in some way. I am impressed.

I cannot imagine a president elected with only the count of 48 states. He would not ever be considered the legitimate president by millions.

I have to say once more that barack chose to remove his name and chose not to run in michigan. He did not have to do that. Yes, they all agreed not to campaign but being on the ballot or not was not a part of the agreement.

Technically he is not entitled to any delegates because he did not run in michigan. But that being said, no matter how they dice it up - he will receive 45% of the uncommitted votes at the convention because our delegate convention has already been held and he ran people and won for al those spots. So that does not really matter.

What does matter is that the democratic process counts everyone's votes. It is the only way that this division in the party will heal. It is not about either candidate - it is about the DNC abiding by their own agenda on the fundamental tenets of democracy. It is stated above under agenda.

They need to pass a resolution that will sanction the officials who violated the timing rules (see rules section 20C) and restore the votes that were unjustly taken from people who did not violate any rules.

They have the option of fining the state committees, suspending national committee members from both states and witholding support and funding for those elected officials who voted to violate the timing rules.

But not the vote - never the vote. When it is found that a bad, unjust rule exists it is incumbent upon those who have the power to pass an immediate resolution to correct the unjust rule.

I will stand on what I have said repeatedly on here - there is NEVER, not EVER a correct time to suppress even one vote from one voter in this country. Doing this means that your votes is only as secure as the people in charge allow it to be and sets a horrible precedent that at any time in the future, for any reason, the DNC can suppress votes. THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!!
Re: wow michael
By Edison Carter May 16th 2008 at 7:35 pm EDT
Dean said that they would be seated, which doesnt really mean it will happen. But what it means is that there is no point whining aboit it and if they dont get seated the same people trying to use it to hurt the democrats can go ahead and call him a liar. It wont matter because democrats believe that private organizations should be able to make their own rules about who they are going to support.
Re: wow michael
By charctine May 16th 2008 at 9:30 pm EDT
Exactly. Thank you for such a smart logica, and well written reply that speaks nothing but the truth. If we let this go on, it could ahppen to any of us at any time.
Re: MI & FL
By charctine May 16th 2008 at 9:21 pm EDT
Michael, it's not about the delegates being seated. It is about the VOTER'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS! The voters, didn't do anything wrong! They did what they were told. They Voted. That's it. Now, if you want to punish someone, punish the OFFICIALS who moved the priamry. TO not count the votes is unfair and Unconstitutional. Period. If we lose our voting rights, what do we have left? how would you like it if you felt so passionately about this and was told YOUR vote didn't matter? Especially if it was because of something someone else did, something YOU had NO control over? Who knows, it could actually even end up being more favorable for Obama to actually count the votes in Florida. Not in Michigan mind you, but that is because of a choice he personally made.
  
Yea but...
By VTDem May 16th 2008 at 2:22 pm EDT
Primaries are not elections so your point isn't valid. Florida and Michigan are welcome to vote in the General because the law of the land says it's their right.

Each party makes up their own rules for primaries but they aren't the rule of law. Since they broke the rules of this party they are disqualified from only the primary.

Nobody has been disenfranchised yet because nobody said they couldn't vote in November and nobody would or has the right to do so!
Re: Yea but...
By Woman at Large May 16th 2008 at 2:27 pm EDT
Except that, they can only vote in November for the party's chosen nominee (or bolt the party in disgust, as many of us will, if the betrayal of Clinton continues), and their voice in that decision has already been taken from them. It must be restored!
Re: Yea but...
By VTDem May 16th 2008 at 2:43 pm EDT
She'll get Florida and Michigan on the 31st but it won't help. The voters voted for someone other than her in most contests and she lost. That's not Obama's or anyone else's fault. She should have run in 2004, she'd be looking at 4 more years now!
Re: Yea but...BULLSHIT
By jenniforhillary May 16th 2008 at 7:30 pm EDT
Hillary is leading in popular votes--so don't say otherwise unless you are a liar.

Furthermore, she won EVERY SWING STATE, the BIG STATES, the RED STATES, and the most important voter blocs (seniors, working class, and white women who are over 35)....she is the winner and it is only BLIND Sexist ASSHOLES who cannot see this...

I am about to be sick to death of Obama and his stupid damn followers. IF this is America, and I sure hope it still is, Hillary is the WINNER!
Re: Yea but...BULLSHIT
By VTDem May 16th 2008 at 7:44 pm EDT
Hillary is 500,000 votes behind in popular vote. Stop blindly following what your friends and other supporters tell you and look it up for yourself. There's no need to yell or be angry about it.
Re: Yea but...BULLSHIT
By jenniforhillary May 16th 2008 at 9:12 pm EDT
NOPE...I think that FL and MI are still states in the USA and they are still AMERICANS...THEIR VOTES COUNT!!!

HILLARY FOR PREZ!!
Re: Yea but...BULLSHIT
By Edison Carter May 16th 2008 at 8:57 pm EDT
Yes but claiming she cant win is a form of intimidation. Intimidation is one third of Obamas agenda. Which means that a third of the issues we have, that is their answer for. It is good practice for McCain.
Re: Yea but...
By Democrat in New York, NY May 16th 2008 at 3:29 pm EDT
Actually, they are...."primary contests were in fact elections to which federal constitutional guarantees applied,10"
Link
I think there is a little glitch here
By Cheryl/Michigan May 16th 2008 at 7:26 pm EDT
There is a difference. CAUCUSES are paid for and ran by the party but PRIMARIES are elections paid for, organized and ran by the state governement. Both Michigan and Florida were authorized STATE elections and are therefore likely to be under the protection of state laws or even the constitution.

There are laws about descrimination that does cover primaries and caucuses - even though caucuses are discriminatory.

It just is not right what was done. Hopefully this will have brought about enough public awarenes that the DNC will be forced to change how they do things.

EVen though it is a primary election it results in the president. Ever single state should follow the same rules and use similar equipment with a paper trail. There has to be a system that will do away with the ability to manipulate and control and election.

I can't say that I support the DNC when they have deprived the votes of all Americans, black, white, hispanic, young and old, men and women - all of them - It took too long, it cost too many lives to bring the right to vote to the majority of these people and I cannot believe that the DNC has a rule that will deny the vote to those same groups of people. And I cannot believe that Obama, the great uniter agrees with it and has called the votes worthless.
Re: I think there is a little glitch here
By VTDem May 16th 2008 at 7:47 pm EDT
If she were winning none of you would be complaining. If the roles were reversed and Obama was behind and wanting FL and MI counted although Hillary never competed in those states you would all be saying "no way!, we won and he lost" so give all of us a break!
You are wrong
By Cheryl/Michigan May 16th 2008 at 8:07 pm EDT
I complained before the first election. In my family we had Obama supporters, Clinton supporters and Edward's supporters. AND EVERYONE ONE OF US WANTS OUR VOTE TO COUNT.

You can't just say that votes are worthless and not count them because you are behind. That is sad and is ridiculous. I am appalled that people feel this way - if he was behind you wouldn't feel that way?

I will tell you right now that my vote is more important to me than any single candidate or election. I value it. I never knew how much it meant to me until it was taken away.

It is insulting to hear you say that if my candidate were ahead I would not want them to count the votes.

What happens if next time officials in your state violate a rule and the DNC decided to throw out your votes? You can't complain - they have established the precendece to do this this year.

Do you realize that your vote is only as secure as those who are in control allow them to be.


I am only asking that all the votes be counted. If it gives Obama the presidency, fine. If it gives it to Clinton, fine - but to put a president in office while suppressing 2.3 million voters FOR ANY REASON will only give us another president who is not truly the legitimate president.

It is so childish to think that people think so little of their vote that they would only complain about it being suppressed if it helped their candidate. I CAN ASSURE YOU, IF CLINTON WERE AHEAD I WOULD STILL BE ON HERE COMPLAINING THAT ALL THE VOTES MUST BE COUNTED. This is driving me crazy that anyone in the country would ever throw out votes and not seat delegates - it's undemocratic.
Re: You are wrong
By VTDem May 16th 2008 at 8:12 pm EDT
They will be seated on the 31st and split evenly. If you say you want fair that is fair as only Hillary competed in those states. Agree?
Re: You are wrong
By charctine May 16th 2008 at 9:39 pm EDT
I don't agree! OBAMA CHOSE NOT TO COMPETE....HIS bad! Oh my gosh! He was WRONG! How can that be? Let the people chose who the candidate is. No matter WHO it is all votes should count!
Re: I think there is a little glitch here
By Democrat in New York, NY May 17th 2008 at 1:54 am EDT
In real life, information several states away about voting doesn't sink in for a while. So please don't use the excuse that I only care because not counting those votes hurts Hillary's position. I'm from New York. I support Hillary. I was certainly happy that she won Florida and Michigan. I find it very frustrating how much not having Florida and Michigan count have so obviously swayed the election and given "momentum" to Barack Obama.
The DNC selected their candidate long ago. Its obvious in all the positive unquestioning media coverage Barack got starting early on and seems evident in how little has been discussed or done about Michigan and Florida to date.
If votes weren't going to count period then there shouldn't have been a vote at all. It would have saved printing costs. I understand that there were other issues to be voted on, but obviously there was time in at least Michigan for some candidates to remove their names from the ballots so the entire Dem Primary Vote could have been wiped clean. A vote is a vote. What's done is done. People voted. Let their voices be heard.
  
YES THEY CAN
By Sue Sue's Straight Talk Express May 16th 2008 at 8:25 pm EDT
The Republican Party and the Democratic Party are both associations and are not bound by the constitution as it pertains to votes. They can do whatever they want. They can make whatever rules they want.
  
Florida Democratic Primaries' Ballots Should Be Counted in!
By Democrat in Lancaster, CA May 16th 2008 at 8:55 pm EDT
I fully agree with the Florida Democrat that Floridian primaries' ballots should be counted in, unless American public decided to overthrow democracy in the country.
Recent Californian election ballot contained no Republican or Democratic alternative to U.S. Senatorial candidate from California Conaway, who was the only single official candidate to seize U.S. Senatorial seat in a non-democratic, totalitarian manner, like this May 2008. I must also condemn reactionary and mean-spitited, hate-mongering, corrupt Democratic Presidential candidates U.S. Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton who are imperilaist butchers declaring their wish to win an imparialist hate-campaign against Muslim modjaheddins, labelling them Al Quaida. I urgently demand that corrupt, bribe-taking under four million dollars' bogus book deals U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama declared withdrawal of U.S. troops from sovereign Afganistan Muslim soil to avoid further severe losses of young American lives.
I also demand that corrupt and hate-mongering Democratic U.S. Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton gave up illegal four million dollar bribes from rich tax-evaders to U.S. Treasury to avoid federal indictments on corruption charges. This hate-mongering lackey of American imperilaism, U.S. Senator Barak Obama should raise minimum wages to a living level of 12$ an hour to handle galloping housing inflation, when U.S. workers pay rip-off fees for housing that exceed 14 hundred dollars per month for a small two-bedroom apartment. Instead, he proclaimed himself a cocaine abuser who learned to do cocaine before he learned to cook on Yahoo.com video clip last year. Mrs. Hillary Clinton should declare raising taxes 79% against the loathesome rich tax-evaders instead of inane and reactionary, mean-spirited agenda of a lackey of imperialists, as she took illegal donation of 800 thousand dollars from Chinese American corporate thief Hsu who was prosecuted by federal attorneys. Hillary Clinton is a miserable and disgraceful, hate-mongering Afganistan war-touting candidate of political reaction of USA. She is too dumb and weak to get elected. She only cares about her imperialist war on the American poor working classes with her war-mongering to " win in Afganistan" during the Pensylvanya primaries' public meeting and her mean rhetorics that don't help the American students to win public FAFSA loans for education, which codes were rejected by FAFSA.edu web site, as Republicans cancelled FAFSA grants, along with Pell grants. Will Hillary Clinton pay back her voters and supporters with liberal agenda? Or does she prefer to go to jail on corruption charges for taking four million dollars' bribes, disguised as a book deal of memoirs? This is some federally admitted evidence of corrupt Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama who refused to grant amnesty to eligible alien workers out of reactionary, human-hating sentiment of a nationalist with foul anti-immigrant intentions.
Will liberal ideals prevail?
Re: Florida Democratic Primaries' Ballots Should Be Counted in!
By charctine May 16th 2008 at 10:44 pm EDT
Um.....What?!
Re: Florida Democratic Primaries' Ballots Should Be Counted in!
By Democrat in New York, NY May 17th 2008 at 1:56 am EDT
I second that..."um, what?"????