Florida Dems: Plan To Seat Delegates Almost Complete

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Democrats say they're on the verge of finishing a plan to have the state's delegates counted toward the party's presidential nomination.

Thursday's news comes after Michigan Democrats came up with their own plan. The Democratic National Committee stripped both states of their convention delegates for holding their primaries too early in violation of party rules.

State party spokesman Mark Bubriski told The Associated Press that Florida officials have been talking with campaign representatives of Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton about recognizing all, or part, of Florida's 211 delegates.

Clinton is trailing Obama in the race for the nomination and is seeking to close the gap with delegates from Florida and Michigan.

Comments

[Tallytowngal]

Do you people even know how the FL & MI primary dates got moved to before Feb 5th (super Tuesday) ? ?????

It had nothing to do with the Democratic Parties in our states, nor the voters. Our Republican led legislature, placed the Jan. 29th date as an Amendment to the Bill to make mandatory a paper trail for all voting machines in FL. We the people, nor our party had any say in this move. And now you people want to disenfranchise 1.8 MILLION voters in FL alone... Unbelievable.

The Republicans and most Democrats know that without FL, OH and PA it is impossible for a Democrat to win the WH. And there is now way in hell that Obama will win any of these three states. The Republican did a great job dening our victory in NOV.

A total of over 3.5 MILLION Americans voted in MI and FL and the Obama supporters don't think we matter. WELL HOLD ON TO YOU HATS FOLKS... you will be in for a rude awaking in NOV.

[philosopherkingtomas]

Florida and Michigan parties cheated, seat them with only a TENTH of a vote, and next time play by the rules!

[YRM]

That Sen. Obama has rejected every effort to resolve Florida and Michigan to date either with new primaries or seating the delegates as they stand speaks volumes about which candidate is actually "destroying the party" this year. Without those states, he won't win in the fall, and you can bet the G.O.P. will run attack ads in all 50 states about how he placed his own personal fortunes before the voting rights of 2.3 million people. That Howard Dean and the Dem. Party would allow one candidate to veto a re-vote in these two big battleground states is equally inexcusable. Even calling it the "Democratic" Party seems like false advertising at this point.

Here's what should happen: Since Obama has forfeited twice on participating in Michigan primaries (the first time when he voluntarily removed his name from the ballot), Clinton should get all the delegates for that state. Else he can agree to a primary during the state's upcoming Aug. 5th election. This is a no-brainer. Florida should be seated following the original vote tally, since he advertised on TV in the state for two weeks before the election, thereby also forfeiting any claim of unfair treatment. And the required pledged delegate threshold now goes from 2025 to 2209, which neither candidate will reach, thereby kicking the race over to the convention in August. It's not OK for Obama folks to follow the rules only when they suit you. Let's be consistent.

[northeast73]

Can Obama supporters think objectively about this?

We have almost a 50/50 split among Democrats as to who the nominee is. FL and MI represent 12% of the electorate.

So you want to declare Obama the winner with 88% weiging in.....with 100%, its Clinton. Even with a revote (as Obama himself knows)....she woudl still win these states.

Clinton IS the choice of most voters, but you want to decalre victory however you can.

Now, MSNBC is, every day, trying to say that Puerto Rico shoudl not count since they dont vote in Novemvber.

I noticed when Obama won the Virgin Islands in February this was counted as one of his "11 wins in a row".

The rules of the DNC state that only HALF of the delegates would be stripped......Miss Donna Brazile made sure it was all of them... I wonder why??

[solarenergy]

I support Obama. But I think Hilliary should get 55% of Fl delegate, BO 45%, and then each delegate counts a half vote. In MI, 53% for her, 47% for him, and each delegate counts as a half vote.

Doing this (half vote count) recognizes the Dem rules that prohibit moving primary day before Super Tuesday, which was, and is, the rule.

Giving BO some MI delegates recognizes that he played by the rules, and she didn't (broke her pledge to remove her name), but still recognizes that she out-polled "undecided."

The FL vote -- with no campaigning, no focus on our issues, etc. -- was largely a name recognition contest, which she of course won...it was still Jan.

This way, delegates are seated, but rules are followed. She gets a slight advantage for this arrangement, but it's academic at this point anyway.

[NuOrigin]

Hillary only got 55% of Michigan with no one else on the ballot. Also, who knows how many Republican voters would have went for Obama. I think in a revote, the Hispanica and old folks in Fl would put her over the top, but she would lose Michigan in a FAIR FIGHT. Of course, fair to her is she get all of the votes and he get none.

[Grannysue]

Note to Hillary, the train's left the station and you missed it, see YA!

[wilburbudd]

I'm in Michigan. Okay. And I am sorry, kids, but Jimmy Carter is right. Michigan's and Florida's delegates SHOULD NOT BE SEATED. Now I do NOT believe 'party rules" should take presidence over State Law, but for now they do. And both state's governors, OURS A DEMOCRAT, knew this, AND knew that the delegates would not be counted if they moved the primaries ahead in time. They were told this, repeatedly, before they did it. They did it anyway, thinking that knew best, and they would prevail. This from a governor that has (almost) single-handedly run our state (MI) into the toilet, and halfway down the pipe. SHE KNEW the outcome going in, and therefore should HAVE to take the consequences.
ALSO: in light of the rules, none of the candidates campaigned here, and all said they would not put their names on the early ballot. Hilary, however, let her name stand on the ballot, AFTER she knew that Obama had taken his off. Her first mistake here. Keep on lying Hil, and trading in Karl Rove, C.R.E.P, Nixonian politicing; it shows your true colors. And I like her.

[athenasword]

Thanks. Well said. I liked her too... but I am clear that she is only self-interested now. Changing the rules to suit her (after the game has been played) will disillusion SO many people.

[RacePace7]

Understandably Hillary wants to cast the DNC and Obama as the evil villians in this movie. But if Florida and Michigan were allowed to get away with thumbing their noses at the DNC's rules that apply to every other state, I can only imagine what would happen in 2012. Florida and Michican could very well schedule their primaries in November, 2011--and the DNC couldn't do anything about it.

[abby4ever]

Just resign yourselves: Hillary will get them seated. She won't drop out now because she expects huge wins in West Virginia and Kentucky and will probably get them. Then she will say---again!---that she has renewed momentum. Counting the Florida and Michigan delegates will, she hopes, put her over the top as far as the popular vote goes. This crap story about her dropping out by the middle of June is just a ploy to stop superdelegates from rushing to Obama now. I don't know why anyone would continue to trust this woman on anything, we have been burned that many times.
Politically, she is deadly. Emotionally, she is unstable and consumed with things like jealousy and revenge and her 'right' to the presidency. Stay away from her--or get burned all over again.

[faretheewell]

When will the petulant child throw a full-fledged temper tantrum? We can all hear the shrieking child's voice, "Its Not Fair! I was supposed to be the nominee! Mommy their being mean to me!"

Bill, Hillary needs a good spanking.

[abby4ever]

Don't you see? Everything negative that she has been doing is a tantrum. And Bill has thrown some as well. The Clintons, like wee brats, must get their way, or the tantrums begin. Emotionally, they are about 8 years old.

[Micaanab]

Rules are made before the game starts. They are not made during the game. I learned that when I was six years old. Why is this so hard for everyone to understand? END OF STORY. Simple, isn't it. Why must we have to get all complicated to protect some state elected official that broke rules. I feel bad for the voters but thats between them and who they elect into their states office.

[northeast73]

Its not a game.

[madhatter123]

http://www.democrats.org/contact.html
We can all send an email to the DNC re: this issue. Tell them that changing the rules will subvert any ability to control the primaries in the future. This should not even be an issue - the rules are the rules. Please contact them now.

[Micaanab]

Thanks for the link.

[mdcolli]

What would have happened if the roles were reversed? If Senator Obama's name had been on the ballot in Michigan and Senator Clinton's wasn't. Clinton would be throwing fits detailing how unfair the process is. All the Clintons do is lie and spin things to get their way. Clinton still thinks she has been annointed to the position.....The queen needs to get off of her thrown.

[Umungus]

Each day, Senator Clinton seems to invent a bigger gaffe and lessen her standing.

Is this the Hillary you know?

[RezidentBivrip]

It's the Hillary I've come to know. I never knew Hillary before, I just (Like most people, Herself Included) Assumed she'd be the democratic nominee.

Obama came along and upturned that idea and now we see her for what she truly is. I hate to say it, but as far as Hillary is concerned, the Neo-cons were right.

[JimmyCrackcorn]

The Democrarts only need to look as good as the Republicans on FL & MI.

The GOP split the FL & MI delegates in half for moving the primary.

If the Democrats split the Delegates from FL & MI in half as well, they would not affect the results at this point and can be seated.

The real issue with FL & MI is that the Democrats need to remove that from the GOP's toolbox in November. If the Democrats do exactly what the GOP did they can point to it and use it against the democrats.

[DSully]

I swear she going to be calling for pistols at sunrise before this is all said and done. Below are the five stages of grief. I think she is still in denial and I think when she hits anger we are going to see her crack. She is almost losing her mind making comments about how Obama can't win "hard working white people." Pretty damn near racist and insulting to everyone. Soon, she will get caught saying something way out of line and that will be the end of her.

Denial: "It can't be happening."
Anger: "Why me? It's not fair."
Bargaining: "Just let me live to see my children graduate."
Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"
Acceptance: "It's going to be OK."

[rimofheaven]

Why can't Americans ever hold themselves accountable? The rules were set, they were broken, the consequences were laid down, and the candidates accepted. If this were taking place in Zimbabwe or China it would be all over NPR, and president Bush would publicly scold the said nations. Yet once again, America shows the world what a hypocrite she can be.

[dumboldfarmer]

Didn't we hear that the DNC was going to meet and discuss the Michigan and Florida delegates but without the presence of Obama and Clinton? If true, would this be why Hillary is pushing the issue now?
I thought that letter she sent to Obama was terrible.