Democratic Unity: Big Step In Florida

It was a great big united party -- even if the honoree didn't have it on his schedule.

If Barack Obama had attended the annual Florida Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson weekend in Southeast Florida, he would have enjoyed the reception. It has been a long-time since anyone had seen such a united voice for the party's nominee.

That doesn't mean there weren't some minor "family squabbles" over delegates to the national convention in Denver or the remaining signs touting Sen. Hillary Clinton for Vice President. After all this was a Democratic weekend and these meetings have a reputation for stirring the pot to make things interesting. But, this year's pot wasn't boiling. It was more like a few tempests in a tea kettle,

All in all, it was an Obama lovefest. Most of the 1200 attendees wore Obama buttons -- including a sprinkling of Veterans for Obama shirt pins, which touted the Florida Veterans Caucus -- the newest of 180 recognized caucuses in the state.

"Obama has a perfect record on veteran issues," explained retired Col. Lettie Binn, vice president of the new caucus, who passed out issue papers extolling the "excellent record" of the presumptive nominee.

At the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Hollywood, Calif. Saturday night, Keynote speaker Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, who had worked diligently for Clinton, echoed the "unity" theme. He urged all attendees to get behind Obama and to elect Democrats to local, state and national offices. 'The stakes are too high" to support anyone but the Democratic nominee, Rendell said, telling Clinton supporters the time is now over for being disappointed or angry. There was no mention that Rendell himself has been mentioned by a number of party insiders as a possible veep candidate.

The Florida event saw record turnout. There were caucuses and campaign workshops for women, Latinos, Blacks, Caribbean-Americans and a variety of other constituencies. Noticeable at the women's caucus were the Obama buttons and tee shirts being sported by representatives of the Florida constituency which had been the most ardent of Clinton supporters.

Several of he women still expressed high hopes that Clinton would be the running mate for the Illinois senator.

One minor dispute was squelched early on in the two-day event, evidence that the Obama forces were well in control. Tensions rose when several Clinton delegates were replaced to make way for more Obama enthusiasts. Actually seven previously elected delegates were dumped, but -- after being replaced by Obama loyalists -- the seven were promised floor passes at the Aug. 25-28 convention in Denver as well as free air flights there.

Leon County (Tallahassee) party chief Rick Minor -- one of those ousted -- was gracious in understanding the right of a nominee to approve at-large delegates "under party rules." In a well-orchestrated performance by Dem Chief Karen Thurman, Minor approached the podium to announce he would gladly give up his seat at the convention to inspire party unity.

He was one of the 211 in the Florida delegation which would have had one half a vote each in the selection of the presidential nominee. Another delegate who was dumped said "she understood the politics of it all, adding "He'd better choose Clinton."

Despite, Obama's personal absence, there was a telecast video message from him, saying he would be vigorously campaigning in Florida. Several Democratic office holders said that though the party seems headed for unity, Obama will have to spend considerable time in Florida, especially in wooing Jewish voters, Latino voters and those who had worked for Clinton (who handily won the Florida primary).

Congressman Robert Wexler, of Boca Raton, co-chair of the Sunshine State's Obama campaign and one of his earliest supporters, told the crowd that "those of you who supported Senator Clinton, in many ways, are the most important people here. Now, is the time for everyone who believed in what Clinton stands for, to join together in one family."

Justin Flippen, of Wilton Manors in Broward (the Peninsula's most Democratic county) -- a city commission candidate and president of the Dolphin Democrats -- noted that Florida--the fourth largest state in the nation -- and the most sought after "swing state" -- has 27 electoral votes.

"And those electoral votes, once again, could choose the next president," he said.

Comments

[schicklett3]

Florida really needs to get their act together - how many more elections are they going to look stupid!

[mvy]

The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do in closely divided swing states, but that we shouldn't have swing states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. Every vote should be equal.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote. Then all their electoral votes would be awarded to the candidate who receives the most popular votes.

The current winner-take-all states' system gives candidates no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or worry about the voter concerns in states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. Candidates concentrate their attention on a handful of closely divided "swing" states. Two-thirds of the visits and money are focused in 6 states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money goes to 16 states. 2/3rds of states and people are merely spectators.

The bill has been approved by 18 legislative chambers (one house in Colorado, Arkansas, Maine, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Washington, and two houses in Maryland, Illinois, Hawaii, California, and Vermont). It's law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland -- with 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

HILLARY DID NOT "HANDILY WIN THE FLORIDA PRIMARY" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO VALID DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WAS HELD IN FLORIDA ---

WHY DO YOU AND OTHERS INSIST ON PERPETUATING THIS FANTASY ??????????

[Researchguy66]

Any time Obama spends here in Florida is wasted, and for that I'd be grateful.

[dragonfly777]

Unity? Obama tried to get Florida and Michigan annulled from the voting process. Florida is still worth only 1/2 of everyone else....Ob­ama is a full blown windbag at only 47. How soon Florida forgets his betrayal against their struggle..­."If I only had a Brain!" What a bunch of BS Obama is...

[M3Man]

You sound like one of those Japanese soldiers rescued off an island in the 60's who didn't know the war was over.

Obama played by the rules in FL and refused to change them so Hillary could win. That is hardly a betrayal. At the Jefferson-Jackson event, all of those so-called betrayed half voting delegates were happy and unified. The only reason anyone ever cared about this issue was because it was Clinton's last ditch try to win by getting FL and MI people like you all riled up like she was their champion. She tried it, it failed, its over. Move on. All of the key people from Hillary on down have.

I'd think anyone who loved Hillary as a fighter would appreciate the fact that she gave it her best and it wasn't quite enough. Its called politics. Every poll shows the vast majority of Hillary supporters have. Dissing Obama serves only Republican purposes. Is that, indeed, your goal?

[Fabienne]

Obama had NOTHING to do with Florida getting only half the delegates. If you don't know this by now, you don't want to know this.

[Liberoservative]

Maybe you should change your name to dragonfly 527
you seem to be a troll....

[NorVaGal]

Thanks, Mr. Levitt. This is great news. Although I do believe that there will be a small % of Sen. Clinton's supporters who will not support Sen. Obama (or even actively work against his election), I truly have faith that the vast majority of Democrats WILL vote for our presidential nominee as well as up and down the Dem ticket. Too many Americans are suffering, and, it is clear that Republicans simply do not care for anyone except the very rich. I am extremely proud of the Florida Democratic party delegates' unity mission.