Florida Superdelegate Introduces New Argument To Seat The State's Superdelegates

Starting to percolate on the newswire is an appeal by DNC Floridian Jon Ausman. He is stating that DNC rules prohibit the Rules Committee from:

a.) stripping Florida's superdelegates of being seated at the national convention and
b.) stripping Florida of all of its pledged delegates. He states that the penalty called for is a penalty of 1/2 of delegates (similar to what the RNC did to Florida and Michigan).

Keep reading.

Comments

[apresdeluge]

So Obama's "new kind of politics" means that only people who support him have their votes counted. Gee, that system has been around for a long time.........only not in America. I guess he really did agree with his spiritual mentor and advisor when he said "God Damn America".

[anthonylee]

Stop with the whining already . . . . . your candidate, with or without MI & FL has lost her bid for the nomination. Scapegoating Obama for Clinton's shortcomings is intellectually dishonest. . . . . you should do a little research on Doug Coe, Hillary's spiritual mentor to see how much she actually agrees with his plan for America.

[Ozarks]

Florida primary was in violation of DNC Rules. There was a judicial finding upholding this DNC rule. I see no "quote" of any DNC Rule, section of a Rule or even wording , statements ,sentences, phrases etc in DNC Rules that Jon Ausman is attempting to rely on with this allegation. Mr Ausman is using what I call a "smoking cruiser" argument. He is shooting his mouth off and generating a lot of smoke ,probably in attempt to save his political future. After all he is the Florida DNC and he approved this Florida primary in violation of DNC rules. He will go the way of the "smoking cruiser"0- sunk to the bottom where his political future belongs.

[Thurber]

I actually think this is not a bad idea, give them the same punishment as the GOP, seat 1/2 the delegates and move on. That way, the states don't get rewarded for voting early (and it won't encourage other "rogue states" from doing it in the future. The residents of both states would feel like they got an even shake from both the Democrats and Republicans. Not a perfect solution, but probably the only workable one left.

[afgail]

Spoken like a true Obama supporter. If all the delegates are counted Hillary gets 34 more delegates than Obama. Cut them in half and Hillary gets only 17 more than Obama. This doesn't punish the state of Florida or the party it punishes Hillary. Just what Obama wants, and is no way fair. If the party is going to seat any delegates they should seat ALL of them. What the Reeps in Florida did is not germaine. They already had their nominee. We Democrats are still picking our nominee.

[dvdpt]

Huntington Post:
I do not expect sensorship on my comment
I am a moveon member I will have a chat Blog. on your sensorship when the the fact are true !
Huntington Post you have moveon members shame on you ( Huntington Post )
dvdpt

[dvdpt]

FLA & MI should not have a right to have their delecates seated for the following reasons:
1. they broke the rules established by the DNC.
2. When they were told their vote would not count, they should have immediately filed a law suit against the DNC to protect themselves in future elections.
3. Hillary agreed to the DNC and signed a pledge not to have their votes counted, as did most of the other canidates.
4. Rules and laws are put in place for good reason. When we disagree with a law or rule we come together as law abiding, caring, concerned people to change the law/rule in a court of law.
5. American voters have always been disinfranzied to a degree. Instead of us fighting with one another, we should take a good look at a politicians who caused these problems.
FLA & MI we love you, but don't try to make the rest of us pay for your mistakes. Suck it up and get it to gether for the next election. Howard Dean show some little back bone by not breaking your own rules after you have asked others to abide by your rules. The American people are tire of flip floppers when the shoe does not fit. dvdpt

[afgail]

Another Obama supporter heard from. Yawn, what else is new?

[Prophesy]

I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a candidate that is being indicted later this year. With a history of legal complications that her and her husband has had, I would not support yet another potential embarrassment to this country. Having regretfully voted for Bill the first time, and Bush both times, I swore I would research my choice much more thoroughly. I also swore that I would never, ever vote for a candidate that I did not TRULY believe in with all my heart.

In regards to those in FLA and MI, I feel bad for the residents. I DO understand that this was not their choice. Their reactions should be vocal in future election cycles. Coming from NH, I've seen the full spectrum of how Hillary and Bill were so very supportive of our role as The Primary State. Now, we see their duplicity to serve their own purposes. They've now, essentially, called us the villian for our tradition of being the first primary, which they claim denies other states "their fair turn". We all know that there is no matter of a "fair turn" that isn't first negotiated. Were all primaries held the same day, we would not understand a fraction of the issues the candidates represent, nor would we see various reactions to problems that surface during campaigns.

[lincat]

I;ve had it . Just seat the delegates 50/50 and get this over with.

[afgail]

Why not all of them 100% if the Florida Dems promise not to jump the gun next time?

[AnninCA]

Obama should apologize for what he has done this year to win. To brag about how he's defeated every plan for compromise is absolutely unacceptable.

Even if he wins the nomination, he'll always be the one who stole the election.

[hrayovac]

Nice Try. There's this club that reads the news every day...we took note of how both states moved their primaries up against the wishes and the rules of the Democratic party. This club meets often by the way..we're called everybody. You were warned well before the primaries began. Hillary agreed in writing. Nice job, Ms. chief executive.
The Hillary loyalists want an adjustable democracy ....a sort of Spandex to save a dying culture. Whatever will put Hillary back where she feels she deserves to be is okay to do.

[apresdeluge]

It is obvious that the idea pf "adjustable democracy"comes from the Obama camp. Disenfranchisement has never been a part of the Democratic Party's purpose until the Obama candidacy. I sincerely hope it is not a new trend in the "new kind of politics".

[drheelin]

can you please provide a link to the bragging about defeating plans comment. I have been looking around and cant find anything that backs up the bragging claim

[Thurber]

Another Clintonesque lie. No proof, just a big ole whopper laid out there waiting for someone to find video that exposes it. Honestly, I'm really trying to understand the pathology here. Why do it? You must know that everyone reading these comments is a political junkie. Did you post under durress because of the Sniper Fire or what?

[NorVaGal]

No wonder you are a Hillary supporter. You deal out nothing but untruths and dishonesty just like she does. Hillary refused to agree to compromise options also, (a proposal for caucusing or a 50/50 delegate split are two that she negated). Barack has just as much right to veto proposals that he feels are unfair to him as Hillary does. They are both intelligent people. He would be a weak fool to agree to accepting tainted election results.

I don't hear HRC apologising for ANYTHING, including being caught in a bald-faced sniper fire lie on VIDEOTAPE! Fortunately for us, we don't need to depend on people like you for fact-finding. There are numerous sources of information that we can and do access on a daily basis. Stay in your dream world if you must. But the rest of the wold marches on.

[afgail]

Exactly why seating all the delegates legitimizes his nomination if he wins it. But, then every Chicago street organizer knows that the ends justify any means fair or foul. Honor and fairness don't count only winning. Read Sol Alinsky's work on organizing in Chicago. It's the Machiavellian guide to Chicago politics.

[dax49]

i'm sick of this crap- why don't they just force the republican legislatures in both both states to pay for a re-vote. why hasn't the media spot lighted that these are the people responsible for this mess

[BitJam]

The reason that is not reported in the media is because it is a lie. It was the Democrats in Michigan who fouled things up, not the Republicans. It was Clinton supporters in Michigan who quietly worked behind the scenes to prevent a re-vote in Michigan.

[Pjsandiego]

You are absolutely right. Remember Obama was more than happy to have a caucus which could have been accomplished without legislative involvement and the difficulties posed by having a second election. And Michigan had prior to this year apparently used a caucus process. Clearly Clinton knew she could not do that well in Michigan if there was a new election. She has also apparently turned down a 50/50 split on the delegates- further indicating that she doesn't care a hoot about Michigan not being able to participate, she just wants to be able to argue that Barack's candidacy is not legitimate. Same thing in Florida, in fact Clintonista's did not care about the voters they wanted to be able to argue that Obama was stopping a re-vote that would have hurt him, when in fact the only thing she cared about is being able to argue- as Bill is now doing- that Barack doesn't like Floridians! Bullshit. She is in reality a real Monster- no doubt about it.

[SonofLiberty1]

Nope sorry you don't get a cigar:)

Do you really WANT to make the DNC the 51st State?
That's what you are doing when you agree that Dean was right!

[txn4hillary]

Hmmm...let's see...both Obama and Hillary will need superdelegates to get to the magic number. But if Hillary gets to the magic number, she is stealing the election. But if Obama does, then it is because he is the winner?

Oh, and by the way, Obama and his campaign are so confident that they will win the nomination that:
1. He drags his feet on responding to proposals in Michigan until he knows the legislature goes on their break - making it impossible to plan and execute a primary.
2. He and his supporters keep demanding Hillary to quit. I guess that really, that is what happens in life. I guess New York should have just walked off the field in the Super Bowl...after all the odds were stacked against them.

Do you think that John McCain is going to quit if Obama gets ahead? After all, we don't want to divide the country?

Do you think that the hardest obstacles the republicans are going to throw at him are Wright and Rezko? If he can't stand this heat, he can't stand the republican attack machine.

I had said in the past, that if Hillary lost the nomination, I would support Barrack. I am not so sure anymore. But I would hope I could do what is right for the country....and getting a democrat in the White House is absolutely the right thing to do.

Let's let the remaining states vote. Then let's see what happens.

[Endora]

Ironic, isn't it? Hillary demands that the voters have their say, but then she and her supporters insist VERY LOUDLY that superdelegates, even pledged ones, should vote for how they feel even if it contradicts the voters and the popular vote.

Hillary is not interested in the will of the voters. She is interested in winning. Period. This is a person who will play dirty and do or say anything to get the office.

There is no way I would EVER vote for Hillary.

[IslandGyal]

Here, here, I can NOT in good conscience vote for Hillary Clinton under any condition, after how she has distorted everything that Obama's says. I will vote against my own self interest and vote for Nader.

[LeftRoss]

As an Obama supporter, I don't demand that Clinton quit. I just don't see, at this point, how she can win in a manner that won't alienate the majority of the Democratic party. Obama hasn't employed the slash and burn tactics that Clinton has, so I think the party could still get behind him.

Because of her present position, Clinton doesn't seem to have any means to win other than tearing down Obama. That just doesn't seem like a viable method for a Democratic victory in November. The current polling seems to agree.

I'll vote for the Democrat, whoever it is. But I'd prefer to be happy about it.

[pbeat]

Obama has never said that Hillary should quit. He is not responsible for what his supporters say. Just as Hillary is not responsible for what you say. You say you may not vote for Obama because of what his supporters say, yet believe that getting a democrat elected is "absolutely the right thing to do." I agree and I would vote for whoever the Democratic candidate would be. It is that important to America.

Sure, let the remaining states vote and tell Hillary to stop supporting McCain. She is becoming a liability for the Democratic Party. Most regular Democrats are aghast that she keeps propping up McCain as capable for the Presidency if she can't win. Her supporters are starting to echo her crybaby attitude. Me or you have to settle for that piece of crap. Not the way Democrats should stick together. I will stand behind Hillary if she is the nominee if you stand behind Obama. Take back Amercia and the world for peace and the people.

[Pjsandiego]

Right on. I find it amazing that Hillary can't see that it's in her best interest to drop out now and do it for the good of the party and in a fashion that she really looks like she is behind Obama. She has no realistic chance of getting the nomination without a blood bath at the convention- which does her no good, and if Obama does lose and we get McCain she will be in a fairly good position to say in 2012, now it's my turn. But if she wants to stay in the race that also is fine so long as she isn't crying like a baby all of the time; suggesting improperly that it's Obama that decided to cut Florida and Michigan out; that McCain is a stronger candidate than Obama or that McCain is in any fashion better for America. She doesn't need to say such things- even if she believes them- and she would show a lot more class if she didn't always appear to look like such a self absorbed individual.

[monique]

Do not be naive.

Obama is responsible for what his surrogates say.

Neither Dodd nor Leahy would be saying such things if he were not wanting them to do so.

[drheelin]

Just to be clear about the re-vote proposals in both states. Neither candidate needs to approve a re-vote. Right now, since it is past Feb 1, the state legislatures approve something, it makes it past the courts, and there is a revote. Thats it, end of story.

[byrok67]

O.K. Listen please. You support Hillary, while I support Barack. Both of us agree that this race is getting uglier by the minute and it's bad bad bad for the Democrats in November. We both should agree that either of these people will be better for our country than another "Bush" in office.
I'll make a deal with you... please, for the end of this "Bush, Cheney, Rove" mindset in our government... I'll vote for Hillary if she wins the nomination, although I do not want that. Will you pledge to me that you will vote for Barack if he wins?
If we can start to get each one of us that are so divided, to trade on promises to support the other's candidate if they win, a Clinton support for an Obama support, then we may be able to save to save this party that is so fractured.
It just takes a beginning. People, I know you're frustrated. I want to throw my t.v. through the window, along with my computer, everyday. But we've been through too much in the past 7 years to allow the republicans to fan these flames and win because of it.
I support Barack Obama. I pledge to support Hillary Clinton, no matter what, if she is the nominee. Can I get ONE Hillary supported to pledge the same?
Please, The stakes are too high. McCain and WHOMEVER he chooses in the white house?

[MrWinky]

I'll agree to that. I support Obama, but I am not going to let my disdain for Clinton's actions over the last year hurt us for the next 4 to 8. Spite is not a valid reason to let American troops die. I will vote for Hillary if she becomes the nominee, no questions asked, even though I would not want to.

[Pjsandiego]

You know, as an Obama supporter I would probably close my eyes and vote for Hillary if I had to, but what pisses me off is the fact that Hillary will not simply say that she will support Obama if he becomes the nominee. Rather she is constantly through her surrogates suggesting if not outright saying that McCain would be better than Obama. We don't mind a rough fight with the Clintons- we do mind the kind of fight that sounds like the RNC attack machine. Obama could be much much harsher on Hillary to the point where it would be embarrassing- but he's kept it much more mellow not because she deservers it but to go where the Clintons' continually go would do nothing but help McCain. SO LET'S HERE IT ALL YOU CLINTONITES- THE FEW THAT REMAIN- WHOSE IT GOING TO BE OBAMA OR MCCAIN.

[lincat]

I understand exactly what you are saying. I will be deeply depressed if I have to vote for Hillary but we sure as hell don't need McCain in there.

[monique]

If Obama would quit pretending to be trying to do what is fair in Florida and Michigan -- which is a re-vote -- and actually do what is fair, and tell his lawyers to stop fighting efforts at a re-vote, I will consider voting for him.

Let the people and the states speak.

If they speak and it is for him, then I can vote for him in good conscience.

[afgail]

I would join you in the swap of pledges only if you agree to have Florida and Michigan votes honored and 100% of their delegates seated otherwise no deal. Make it fair and I'll shake your hand on the deal. Otherwise I'm voting for McCain. Right now I have a love/hate relationship with the party for screwing this up so royally and punishing Hillary for their incompetence.

[Grannysue]

It's obvious the FLORIDA DNC hasn't been able to get their act together in eight years, so maybe these people really do need to sit this one out, after all both the candiates agreed that they would follow the DNC'S rules, only OBAMA is a man of his word, apparently Billary gives her word but keeps her fingers crossed.

[pbeat]

Try to remember it is the Florida REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATURE that voted to up the primary. They were just having some fun. Not so much fun, when someone loses an eye, is it?

[stockgatorgal]

That may be so, but the legislation that passed was unanimous among both Republicans and Democrats...imo, the Florida Democrats didn't make any fuss about the DNC rules that would "disenfranchise" them, remember at the time it passed no one gave Obama a snowball's chance in hell to be anything but a novelty.

Par for the course, over confidence led to no thorough discussion of what the ramifications would be if the "inevitable" didn't runaway with the nomination...a close primary race between Hillary and anybody was not going to happen, so there was no Plan B--kind of reminds me of how we were going to be greeted as liberators in Iraq, with no Plan B

As a FL Dem who voted in the primary anyway, I feel we were cheated that we didn't get to see the campaign up close and personal.

[byrok67]

Please keep in mind, the people in Florida did not do this, our elected officials did. And not every one of us put THEM in office. We didn't have a say in it, just like "we the people" didn't have a say in what Bush has done to this country.
I'm a registered independent in Florida. My wife and I were going to change to "Democrat" so that we could vote in the primary. We were told that it would not count, so we didn't bother.
Whether one supports Obama or Clinton, you have to agree that "we the people" of Florida got screwed.

[TekTami78]

HuffPost's Pick

If you feel like you got screwed, then I suggest you vote out the Florida politicians who screwed you

[globality]

How about those that did not vote because they were told it would not count

I personally heard a Floridian call into the Ed Shultz radio show on the day of the election and say " I am going to vote for Hillary because she is coming to our state tonight and that shows she cared more"

Announcing you are going to the State on election day is breaking the pledge not to campaign there.

Either have a revote ( my choice) or forget about it

[PrdAmerican]

Desperate?

How about we seat the citizen delegates and STRIP the Supers....they are the ones who should be penalized not the citizens....of course, HRC would never do that because she stands to win more Supers from Florida than regular delegates.....still think she cares about the regular folk??!?!

[research]

The Florida and Michigan DNC's act as if they had been infiltrated by rethugs...

[markkraft]

Florida's Democratic leaders are truely the Rodney Kings of the Democratic Party.

They mess around, get beaten down badly... and rather than maintaining some sense of moral authority, they go on to other petty crimes.

After this kind of behavior, it's not surprising that nobody wants to hear them say the old, tired "can we all just get along?" once more.

[billrott]

Ok, so the people that are directly responsible for breaking the rules which caused the primary to be void and responsible for voting down the re-votes now want to have their voices heard. Please Dr. Dean tells these people to shove it.