Disenfranchised Florida Voters To Confront DNC Leaders

Buoyed by the results in Pennsylvania, bus loads of Floridians -- mostly backers of Sen. Hillary Clinton -- will head to Washington for an April 30th rally before the Democratic National Committee's headquarters. The group is looking to confront party leaders and argue that the Sunshine State's disqualified January primary results should be counted. They are asking that all 2ll Florida delegates be seated at the August convention in Denver, a decision that would help in the delegate-numbers-game for the New York senator.

'How dare they not count our 1,749,000 votes, says Linda Bird, a Fort Lauderdale
realtor and Democratic activist, who adds, " Do they want a fight for our rights at the
convention in Denver?"

Bird is one of dozens of Floridians organizing rallies across the state to be held
Saturday (April 26), a warm-up to the departing caravan of buses scheduled to leave Tuesday
from several Florida locations, carrying some 700 protesters determined to "make our point." The protesters -- a broad mix of independents, Republicans and Democrats being organized by a new non-partisan group called Florida Demanding Representation (FDR) -- are expecting to meet with several Congressional leaders on Wednesday for the 10 a.m. rally.

Lyn Carpenter of Clearwater Beach, a business development executive and Democratic volunteer, said that voters from several locations -- Jacksonville, Tallahassee, South Florida, Orlando, the Tampa Bay area -- would be aboard the buses.

The Florida bus convoy is the latest in a series of activities which has evolved from wrath at the DNC's action in punishing Florida because it held its primary voting a week ahead of Super Tuesday -- even though the date was really set by the Republican-dominated legislature.

FDR founder Jim Hannigan, a marketing executive from Palm Harbor who is not affiliated with the
Democratic party but who is angry that his vote is not being counted, called a meeting of some
dozen citizens six weeks ago and launched a webpage for the fledging organization behind the Washington caravan. FDR is dedicated "to protect the voting rights of Florida citizens."

Hannnigan says FDR is not campaigning for any one candidate, only to get Florida's Jan. 29 primary vote validated and accepted by the DNC -- although most participants admit that the majority members lean to Clinton. The group's webpage is being credited with spurring several rallies and protests -- all targeting the DNC's "unfair punishment."

Hannigan said he had a difficult time getting information from the DNC and had to threaten to go to the American Civil Liberties Union to get data from the national party, including a membership list of the party's Credentials Committee, which he said should be available to the public, "not shrouded in secrecy."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), headquartered in Washington, a widely respected Hispanic civil rights organization, has announced that it was so impressed with the effort by FDR to recognize Florida's vote, it volunteered to fund the buses, food and hotels for the protest in D.C.

State Coordinator for LULAC Jose Fernandez, of Orlando, said that independents as well as adherents of both parties -- "anyone who believes that their voting is being violated" -- are welcome on the bus trip.

In addition to this weekend's protest rallies in several Florida counties and the bus caravan to Washington, FDR is also organizing five State-wide rallies for May 31, just in case the Florida delegate situation is still unresolved.

"Any voter regardless of political affiliation should be concerned," the FDR webpage declares.

Despite the unfulfilled promise of National Party Chairman Howard Dean to recognize the Florida vote; despite the fact that no one knows how the delegates will eventually be allocated; and despite the fact that the DNC refuses to designate a hotel for Florida delegates in Denver for the convention, Aug, 25-28 -- Florida's party bosses still are proceeding with the final phase of selecting delegates and alternates based on the January results.

The final delegate selection will be in Tampa on May 17. That caucus will be held to fill the remaining seats (based on January results) so that a representative group of men, women, seniors, minorities, veterans are chosen. Earlier, delegates were selected from Congressional districts, but many say they are in a quandary as to whether to make air travel and hotel plans for Denver. There have been constant complaints that the DNC won't even release the name of a Denver hotel supposedly assigned to the Floridians

Dean has said Florida would be seated once the two candidates are in agreement, but
there is general feeling that he is just waiting until all the primaries are over on June 3 "or until there is an eventual nominee," which remains only a probability at the moment. Clinton favors seating all of the Florida delegation while Sen. Barack Obama has said "no" because the state thwarted the party rules and, as a result, not all of the candidates campaigned there, believing the voting wouldn't be counted toward the nomination.

"That could backfire," one unaffiliated Superdelegate explained. "The DNC's action is playing right into the hands of the Republicans." He said that voters are angry and may stay away from the polls in November. Florida--the fourth largest state in the nation and the most sought after "swing state" -- has 27 electoral votes. Republican strategists have been saying quietly that the delegate controversy has been a blessing for their nominee-in-waiting Sen. John McCain and would likely be a campaign issue for the GOP in November. "Vote the GOP -- We care about your votes!"

Because the superdelegates -- the powerful clique of Democratic party insiders -- will probably select the nominee, Florida media have been paying special attention to that select group. Florida has 25 superdelegates. They were identified by name and photo on a full page editorial in the April 20 edition of The Miami Herald under the title "Power Brokers." Of the 25, seven were identified as pro-Clinton, four for Obama and 14 as uncommitted.

Chairman Dean, meanwhile, has made televised remarks urging superdelegates to make their choice public now. But several say they won't be pushed into a decision. Terrie Brady of Jacksonville was quoted in the Miami Herald as saying, " I don't care what Howard Dean says," asserting that he will take his time to come to a decision.

Local party leaders, meantime, say they have had no communication from the DNC regarding the recognition of the elected delegates and constantly remind the DNC that all Democratic candidates were on the Florida ballot, despite the fact that the election was held seven days early. Supporters of Sen. Clinton -- who handily won the Florida primary in January by 17 percentage points -- says Florida deserves its full recognition.

With Florida's delegates and vote count, Sen Clinton would be ahead in the national popular vote and pick up much-needed delegates.

Michigan was similarly penalized by the Democratic Party. But it is the Florida controversy that continues to get most of the headlines, fueled by angry constituents such as FDR members, who are intent on getting public attention.

Should holding a primary a week early disenfranchise so many voters? asks one of the protesters. "I want my vote to count."

Comments

[alvdh1]

I have no doubt that the protest at the DNC HQ was organized by Clinton surrogates. She was for the rules before she was against them. Now that her butt and campaign are on the line, she wants to franchise the popular vote and delegates who were, at least in Florida, were disinfranchised by the Republican party. We have had 7 long years of a president who doesn't know the meaning of obeying laws or defending the constitution. So, Clinton is going to follow the precedent of our defective president.

If there is anyone in Indiana with a twit of sense, then please take Clinton to task on this and her pandering for votes gas tax holiday plan and show her the door at the voting booth. Does she really believe the price of gas will go down by 18.5 cents per gallon of gas or 24.5 for diesel? As soon as the tax is removed, the price will fall briefly. But within a week or two it will arrive safely back at or above the price before the holiday. If it doesn't, there will no doubt be a major fire at a refinery to make sure it does get elevated. Make gas cheaper and people will drive more creating more demand. If people really wanted to make gas cheaper, they can start planning there trips better, take mass transportation 1 or 2 days a week and refuse to drive their car at least one day per week.

[ChoadNamath]

"The Florida bus convoy is the latest in a series of activities which has evolved from wrath at the DNC's action in punishing Florida because it held its primary voting a week ahead of Super Tuesday -- even though the date was really set by the Republican­-dominated legislature."

Can we stop repeating this fallacy? The bill to move the primary date may have been introduced by Republicans, but the Democrats also overwhelmingly supported it. Seven Democrats co-sponsored the House bill, and the only two Senators that voted against it were Republicans. Florida's Democratic legislators are just as responsible as their Republican legislators.

[OriginalScreenName]

When Florida finally figures out how to vote, I'll finally start listening.

[DofG]

This is a classic example of when it suits people, they see what they want to see! If Florida voters want to blame someone, they should start with their governor, and other officials in their own community, not the DNC.

The only reason they've made this leap in logic is that Hillary R. Clinton, from her advantaged position, told them to do so.

Once again, the "herd", being possessed by self-interest, can be so easily led into the abyss of exploitation, once you've shown them how!

[duze]

When she thought she was winning didn't she say those votes don't count anyway.
Guess not Obama's name wasn't on the ballot only hers. To bad Hillary, the chickens are on their way home to roost.

[duze]

Obama doesn't have to do anything. A presidential candidate cannot have charges of fraud against
her in superior court. Rerun of another case of Clinton history. Guess Hillary will have to do her own time. Susan McDougal will sit this one out How stupid could someone be to vote for an obvious criminal.

http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civilcasesummary/index.asp Case # BC304174

[duze]

Again Hillary lies and tells half truths. She will have a difficult time convincing anyone of anything while her trial is going on. I don't think a presidential candidate can be on trial for fraud, deceit unjust enrichment, unfair business practices and civil conspiracy. Seems everywhere the Clinton's go charges of fraud, deceit, and conspiracy follow.

http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civilcasesummary/index.asp Case # BC304174

[biglith]

Remember the Republican operatives led by now Chief Justice John Roberts intimidating the recount folks in Miami in 2000. Different year, now the DLC, same scenario.

[Gumpster]

I have read a lot of entries, but I think I can best sum up the situation by saying:

FL AND MI WILL NOT COUNT! You break the rules, you pay the consequences.

It cannot be ended any other way fairly. End of story. Now move on Clintonistas.

[speciallady2003]

The Lokata Sioux have a tribal wisdom that says, "when you discover you are riding a dead horse, you dismount."
Politicians employ more advanced strategies, such as:
-Buying a stronger whip
-Changing riders
-Appointing a committee to study the horse
-Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride horses
-Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included
-Hiring outside consultants to ride the dead horse
-Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed
-Providing additional funding to increase performance
-Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses
-Giving the dead horse a leadership position
Florida and Michigan are dead. Spoken as a Florida resident with experience in my vote being a dead horse.

[Sparklez]

They causing all this ruckus and just dont know, there will also be Obama backers who will advocate for the delegates to be split in a fair way because rules were broken

I think Obama should just tell her just get a net gain of 10 above me and lets call it a day

Becuase just like in PA, she probably would have only netted 10 anyway

[cramos]

NO way sparky........They should be seated uncommitted and then the vote taken....OBAMA needs to pay a price for his willingness to leave them out

[rpass1]

What about the 2-3 million registered Democrats from florida (like me) who did not vote because the vote did not count. Hillary supporters are delusional. They broke the rules and if the votes are counted then what will happen next election is everyone gonna have their Primary in December or November the year before. Rules are Rules and everyone knew them.

[Amberlass]

I can only assume if you did not vote in the primary, that you are not a property owner. When we voted in the primary, we were also voting for or against Amendment One. It would not make sense to go to vote for or against the amendment, and not vote for the presidential candidates.

I am afraid that if the people who did go to vote finds out their vote for a presidential candidate did not count. - they will decide to vote for McCain in November, where their vote certainly will count..

[speciallady2003]

So. I am a Florida property owner and did not vote in the primary for a demo candidate. You are an elitist. I have no mortgage and a home with a value in the seven figures. While I understand all the hoopla surrounding property tax cuts they often underestimate the market value, how do you expect them to make up the shortfall? Maybe by raising the assessed value of our property.In some counties assessed value was doubled in anticipation of this. What were you thinking? It makes sense to cast a vote that counts and leave the one that doesn't, blank.

[StephenJK]

Good for them!! Here's a little known fact about FL and MI voters; they support Hillary Clinton and thats why Obama continues to fight for solutions which only favor his candidacy. That's another reason he DOES NOT want a revote. He'd get stomped unmercifully like he's been stomped in nearly every democratic stronghold.

[Sparklez]

Look at you

He already said whatever the DNC decides, he is with it all the way

Its your girl who wants to chnage the rules of the game

[cramos]

OBAMA is a hypocrite that is plain....more dirty Chicago style politics...this too will bite him

[biglith]

So you want him to support a revote so he can be beaten. Jeez, I don't believe you people.

[anthonylee]

These Florida protesters need to "shovel it" somewhere else! . . . . . where was all of this organizing, protesting, anger and bravado when their Representatives in Tallahassee were telling the DNC what they can do with their "rules"?

A day late . . . . and a dollar short . . . . how-about protesting your Legislature and voting the Repugs (that stuck it to the Democratic Party members in Florida), out of office? Isn't this the same bunch that gave us Bush's first term?

Counting the votes in an unauthorized primary is NOT AN OPTION. A re-vote in the State of Florida for Democrats only is NOT AN OPTION. Their time would be better spent coming up with viable "options" to get representation at the Convention than trying to push this absurdity off on all of the other states that played by the rules.

Is anyone organizing a counter-protest in support of the DNC's decision? If so, I'm there, where do I sign-up?

[Sparklez]

Go to Baracks site, im sure people will be down for the cause

[karaplanet]

I was thinking the same thing. I would like to print out, poster-szed, some of the articles in prominent FL newspapers from April and May 2007, detailing what the elected representatives were planning, and how they basically dared Howard Dean to punish them for it. It would be nice for them to be outnumbered in DC for their little protest; 700 is not insurmountable, even at this late date. I have no tolerance for these whiners. They did nothing at the time, and expect to be rewarded again for their vote bungling. A few other states would beg to differ.

[eej]

Because Floridians were told before the election that their votes in the primary would not be counted (per both Hillary and Barack), turnout was affected.

It would be very wrong to count Florida's votes now, and anyone who did not vote because of the knowledge that their vote would not be counted, would be cheated.