How Is The Dilemma Solved, Count The Votes Or Change The Rules In The Middle Of The Game?
The constitution of the United States make it clear that the states elect the President , not the political parties (not even the popular vote). The National Democrat party has no authority to tell the states when to hold their primaries. With Florida and Michigan being “excluded” how is that fair to those states and the voters? If the delegates from those states are seated with Obama not even on the ballot in Michigan, how is that a fair representation of that state? Every vote counts, only when the DNC likes when and how they are cast. Even worse the process gives more weight to party bosses and political hacks. If this is the best these people can do, how the heck can they run a country? DNC in a nut shell, do what we want, do it our way regardless of what is fair or just, or true to the constitution. I say toss the whole bunch out and start over! What this country needs is 5 or six major parties, that way ideas will win elections and not blind trust in the untrustworthy!
You are correct the U.S. Constitution does not recognize the DNC or make provision for any political party to make rules that would prevent the citizens of any state from choosing delegates.
It is my opinion that any group of individuals/citizens from either Florida or Michigan would have standing in federal court to sue the Democratic party for civil rights violations. Moreover, it is most likely that any candidate elected under the circumstances that now exits in those states could be successfully challenged in federal court.
I agree we must have more political parties to represent the citizens. We are a republic not a democracy and states rights are supreme under our laws and attempts by any party or governmental agency to take away the people’s right to select their representatives/delegates is a criminal act and should be acted on by the Department of Justice.
It unfortunate that our educational institutions no longer teach a U.S. Government curriculum that would inform students as how our systems is supposed to work. To teach the constitution would not be in the best of those mostly left wing professors who have no regard or respect for our way of life. We have to many people in our country that have no idea of how our government functions. Sad!!
The primaries are far different than the general election. Political parties are private entities. They can select nominees anyway they want. If the GOP or Dems want to have a spitting distance contest to choose the nominee they can. If they want to pick their candidate by bowling, they can. The Greens, Libertarians, Socialist, etc parties don’t have primaries.
it’s a simple rule that should of been followed. What is the purpose of trying to have the primary held a month early?
Rules are set in an effort to be fair so all votes will count. These state officials knew the rules, why put their citizens’ votes in jeopardy? Reckless.
There is no dilemma here. Rules were broken consequences followed. let’s move on.
All of the votes should count. No matter what agreements were made. We are the strongest country in the world, and we did not get this way by following the rules. We come from a long heritage of strong people who have a history of re-writing the rules. Leaders, not followers.
Whose fault is it that Obama was not on the ballot? OBAMA’s…that’s who. He made a choice.
You’re mixing rules for general elections with rule for choosing candidates to run in general elections. The DNC does have the authority to set out rules for how and when states weigh in on the nomination process. Otherwise FL and Mich wouldn’t have allowed the DNC to sanction them. Hello?
The DNC will decide the fate of MI and FL on May 31 in DC. My opinion, if they further promote Obama’s idea to not count their votes….you will see a lot of longtime Democrats registering as Independents. That may be the end of the DNC.
Tell Hillary to go away. Problem solved.
Rules are rules! And it appears that many democrats want to break the rules. I guess it is a life style as the political affiliation of the prison population proves out.
The candidates pledged not to campaign or participate in the early primaries. There never was a contest and therefore the votes are invalid. The votes are meaningless. How can you count meaningless votes?
Yes, all votes need to be counted, The fear of who will win, I believe is the problem here. Hey !! Good idea, I never thought of that.
Screw the dems and their BS nominating process. Florida will be McCains column come November. Once Michigan wises up and gets rid of Levin, Granholm and Kwame, then they will see the light too.
You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game.
the dnc has no right doing what they did. what is next criminal party take over of the country by the dnc? you win by votes not by rules.
I agree completely but the fact remains that those people voted and they are Americans, just like voters in the other 48 states. We cannot disenfranchise the voters of two states! The rules may be the rules, but if they’re unfair and stupid, why let them stand?
And to the Obama supporters who keep chanting, RULES ARE RULES … how do you think he is going to do in those crucial states (in the general election) if they know you helped keep them from being counted? Do you think the voters of Florida and Michigan will just accept this and be OK with it? They’re already marching with big signs … they are angry … and we must recognize and appreciate their plight.
Why is it this argument was not raised by someone, anyone before the primaries began and this rule went into effect?
Just a note: Terry McAuliffe, who is Hillary’s campaign manager, instituted this rule when he was head of the DNC before Howard Dean in 2003. Funny how adamant he is to have the votes counted now that Hillary needs them. Where was the outrage in the beginning? I never heard it. They all agreed to it, including Hillary.
I agree that process needs to be changed, but it CANNOT be changed in the middle or end of the game!
Primaries are not elections. The DNC has every right to decide how to determine their nomination for the presidential race. They can make whatever rules they want. Primaries are not part of the presidential election. They are a method of choosing who will run in the actual election.
Take notice of how third parties don’t have any primaries.
So what we’re left is essentially what you said in there. There is no way to solve this at this point. If they decide to seat the delegates, then what about all of the people that didn’t vote because they were told that their vote wouldn’t count? I know an awful lot of people that didn’t bother to go out to vote because of that.
I’m in MI and I’d rather they keep it like it is now. Anything else makes the DNC look weak and too willing to break rules. I do wish our governer could be removed from office along with anyone else involved with moving the primary ahead.
Of course the DNC has no authority to tell states when to hold their primaries. But then again, the states have no authority to tell the DNC that the delegates chosen in the primaries MUST be recognised. It is unfortunate for the voters of Michigan and Florida, but it is not the DNC’s fault, it is the fault of those states themselves. Get angry at the right people!
The ironic thing is that it is the LATER states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, etc) that have received the most attention on their particular issues rather than the EARLY states this year. Do you think Clinton or Obama remember the slightest thing about local concerns in Iowa or New Hampshire at this stage?