User login

You DO NOT need to register to VIEW articles and comments. To add a comment you need to register. Registration is FREE!

Visit BuzzFlash on:

Facebook

and

MySpace

click here

See All The BuzzFlash Premiums

DNC improperly punished innocent Michigan and Florida voters, and should fix the damage itself

Submitted by Chad on Wed, 03/05/2008 - 10:51am.

Be-Elected

BE-ELECTED
by Chad Rubel

Having children requires a certain bit of maturity, so when punishments need to be dealt out, the punishment should be appropriate to the violation. My late father worked as a social worker, and growing up around social workers, I heard enough stories (people's identities not revealed) of misguided punishments.

Let's look at two violations and see how the punishment was carried out. Two states decide to move up their primaries, not beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, but beyond South Carolina and Nevada. Let's call those states Michigan and Florida.

Now one "parent" told the "child" that half of the toys (delegates) would be taken away, but the integrity of the process would remain intact. Let's call that parent the RNC.

The other "parent" told the "child" that all the toys (delegates) would be taken away AND people caught up in the violation would be severely punished by having their rights (more important that toys) stripped from them. And these people were truly innocent victims. Let's call that parent the DNC.

Now I don't have children, but it's fair to say by looking at those "case studies" that one punishment is much harsher than the other. And having grown up in a household where even though I was the good kid, I was punished more severely and often for things I didn't do. So I tend to get really uncomfortable about punishments that aren't fair.

Parents aren't supposed to punish children in anger; they are supposed to be mature enough to let the punishment fit the "crime." And if the parent does go too far, they have the responsibility, the requirement, to do something about it, even if it means telling the child they were wrong. A child will learn more about life if a parent owns up to an improper punishment.

It's scary when the Republicans introduce a process in Florida where every vote counts and the Democrats introduce a process in Florida where no vote counts. Think about that.

Yes, Florida Governor Charlie Crist has stepped up and said let's do a primary. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm should step up and say so as well. But the ultimate responsibility lies with Howard Dean and the DNC. They are the parents in this relationship.

No one is saying the child shouldn't be punished. Punish the child, but do so with the required maturity to the situation. Punishing the voters of Michigan and Florida in anger for something they didn't do is something where parenting classes would be recommended, if not court-ordered.

This isn't about the delegates. Somehow delegates will get seated, but will they reflect the voters of those two states?

And this isn't about the candidates. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their camps should stay completely out of this. If any candidates should be upset, it should be John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel, who would have been on the ballot in Michigan and Florida, but likely won't be in this "do-over." In a do-over, those in Michigan and Florida should be able to vote for any of those candidates, not just Clinton and Obama.

This is about the voters of Michigan and Florida and democracy itself. The DNC got us into this mess and should work their tails off to fix this problem. If it comes down to who should pay for the do-overs, the DNC should handle the purse strings as its punishment for getting us into this mess.

Even with a do-over, the bad feelings will linger. But a rectified situation will allow the healing to begin, and hopefully those wounds can be mostly healed by November 2008.

Yes, Michigan and Florida overstepped their bounds. But the punishment was metted out of anger, and draped over into voters, innocent pawns in the game. It takes maturity to step up and say "the punishment was over the line." The children are listening -- are the parents ready to be mature enough for responsible parenting?

DO A REVOTE!

Submitted by mfront on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 11:47am.

I am from Michigan and I am mad, I want my vote to count too! and what ever happened to "WE THE PEOPLE"!

I Couldn't Disagree More With This Author

Submitted by Eckfan on Fri, 03/07/2008 - 12:11am.

The rules were agreed to by all parties involved. Both states had plenty of time to change their minds. I recall part of a conversation that Ed Schultz had with who I think might have been from Michigan, and I think he may have been head of the party, I don't recall exactly who he was, but I remember him being proud of defying the party and holding the primary early and bragged on the fact that whatever punishment they received would be well worth it because they were making a point. Well you made your point and the innocent voters of your state are paying the price. Thank God for Howard Dean. Stand your ground Mr. Dean, you are doing the right thing. The attacks he is unfairly facing is a disgrace. To all you wingnuts and blowhards and koolaid drinkers, this was the decision of both state's party leaders, not Howard Dean. They knew full well the consequences of their actions, had plenty of time to think about it and change their minds, but went forth anyway and at least one state's chair was proud of it. Now that the results aren't looking so good for their annointed queen, they want a do-over. The talk of seating Michigan's delegates is especially sickening. John Edwards was still in the race at that point, neither his name nor Obama's name were even on the ballot. The outcome may have been completely different for Mr. Edwards or any of the other candidates. To say that those delegates should be seated is not only ridiculous, it's facist in my eyes. I can't believe that's even a discussion. Of course, Hillary refuses to do a caucus, which would be easier and cheapier to do. She knows she loses every time the votes are counted for real. All that being said, can we please now get to work reforming our presidential election system into one standard operation for all states, to be held all on the same day with paper ballots and no "superdelegates"????? I guess not, this country is full of idiots and facists who don't have a clue what democracy is or could give a damn. God help us all. Thanks for reading this rant.

DNC Punishment

Submitted by Gary Shows on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 11:25pm.

I think the punishment of Michigan and Florida was justified and everyone agreed on that at the time the rule was made. I do not think that valuable resources that could fight Republicans should be used for a revote. Michigan and Florida delegates should be split 50/50 with each of the remaining candidates so their numbers (or lack of) do not screw up the system. They would probably be split close to that anyway if a revote were held. Let's save the money to use it against McCain and move on. Gary Shows Point Richmond, CA

MI ballot had more than Hillary

Submitted by Chad on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 11:07pm.

I realize there is this perception that Hillary was the only one on the Michigan ballot. Clinton was on the Michigan ballot along with Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel. You could argue she was the only MAJOR person on the ballot, but she wasn't the only one. You could have voted for Uncommitted as well.

Cry me a river for Florida

Submitted by VettaKing on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 10:39pm.

I for one would love it if Florida never got to vote for anything ever again. In fact, just dig a little ditch and declare your independence. Between the religious whackos, the senile old people who can't punch a hole in a card, and those formerly Cuban Uncle Toemas terrorism supporters; Florida is like the country's wang infected with genital warts, Herpes, and the clap. It's funny that Hillary didn't have a problem with the Florida and Michigan situation until she lost the nomination. Now she's trying to change the rules after the fact because her sense of entitlement won't allow her to do what's right. And MI can't count. Hillary was the only one on the ballot. Stalin would have won that election if he was the only one on the ballot. For someone who spent so much time in the 90's defending Bill Clinton because he couldn't keep his pants zipped up for a few years, I can't believe Hillary Clinton is now a McCain supporter. Or that so called Liberals and Progressives seem to agree with her. Pathetic.

MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA VOTERS

Submitted by BBF on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 6:34pm.

ANDY MARTIN SAYS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCESS IS RIGGED, FIXED, AND A DISGRACE TO DEMOCRACY.

WHY SHOULD “WINNERS” RECEIVE FEWER DELEGATES THAN “LOSERS?”

(CHICAGO)(March 6, 2008) There is something fundamentally sick about the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate selection process. The Democratic Party has become a disgrace to American democracy. Whether Hillary Clinton chooses to fight with lawsuits in Texas and other states, or whether she wants to take her claims to the convention floor in August, she should do so.

Clinton won two big state primaries convincingly on Tuesday. She won Ohio by 10 points (54-44). She won a solid 4-point victory in Texas (47-51). Wednesday afternoon Barack Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe said that all of Clinton’s victories amounted to nothing; she gained only 4 delegates out of the 370 selected. Something stinks.

Michigan and Florida voters

Submitted by ERW on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 3:44pm.

ERW First, children do not, and should not run the adult world. Adults do that. Months ago, all the states in the United States, who were to hold primaries or caucuses, were in agreement on when Democratic primaries and caucuses would be held in their respective states. Well! Florida and Michigan decided, after the fact, their voices would not be as LOUD, or their votes would not have ENOUGH IMPACT, if they played by the rules. So, they broke the rules. The held early primaries. Now, all this hand wringing, about votes not counting, and people not counting, and how can this happen, and what's to be done, and, it's not fair, and most of all -- who will pay for it? What's not fair, is that those states who DID play by the rules, are supposed to now chip in, and pay for the idiots who didn't? The DNC is supposed to pick up the tab for this fiasco. For those of us, in Texas, who voted, and then caucaused in the wee hours of the morning (some at the hour of 3:00 a.m.,) who played by the rules, and did what we committed, as voters to do.... all I can say to those whiners from Florida and Michigan, at this point is..... it's bitter medicine... swallow it. The DNC didn't get you in this mess. You brought this mess on yourselves. Nobody with any principle, would expect rules changes after the game has started. Do what you were told to do. Put forth plans to the DNC -- that comply with the rules... and if you want to pay for a "do-over." (I don't know how you can do something over that never had any consequence the first time it was done.) If you want your voters --- votes counted and your delgates seated at convention -- in fairness --- to the states who played fair --- stop your whining and posturing --- and so something positive. Make a plan. You should have stopped with "Yes Michigan and Florida over-stepped the bounds." After that.... you had no argument.

Well! Florida and Michigan

Submitted by Moishele on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 7:12pm.

Well! Florida and Michigan decided, after the fact, their voices would not be as LOUD, or their votes would not have ENOUGH IMPACT, if they played by the rules. So, they broke the rules.

Wrong. In Florida the Republican run legislature set the date for the primaries, and the Republican controlled courts backed them up on it. The DNC is punishing Florida Democrats for the actions of Republicans. Now that makes sense. Not.

State Parties and State Legislatures

Submitted by Stash on Fri, 03/07/2008 - 10:03am.

Washington State Voters inacted a Primary through the initative process years ago. The Parties want it closed. The Legislature wants it open. The Legislature kept essentially an open primary. Therefore, the Washington State Democratic Party had caucuses for the purpose of selecting delegates and the primary was merely an expensive non-binding beauty pagent. The Florida Dems could have honored the party rules and done the same.

Proper punishment

Submitted by randaleike on Thu, 03/06/2008 - 3:24pm.

The DNC stated that if Michigan and Florida moved up their primaries the delegates would not be seated. But like a petulant child they decided to challenge the "parent" to see if the DNC would follow through. I feel for the people of Florida and Michigan but their anger should be directed at the state officials who decided to ignore the warnings of the DNC. Not the DNC who is simply enforcing the policy that they clearly provided to the states. Bending the rules after the infraction leads to chaos as any good parent knows. Colorado Randy

Punish the people

Submitted by andyod on Fri, 03/07/2008 - 8:53am.

I find it fascinating how the super liberals and forward looking democrats suddenly became the stubborn and stick in the mud conservatives. The peoples right to have their votes counted was a sacred right a few years ago in Florida when that count favored their candidate. Now when it does not they suddenly become self righteous disciplinarians. How dare people who voted expect their votes to be counted when someone else broke the rules!Blame the bosses but don't count the people's votes. Take their complaints to their superiors but don't count their votes. Where were those voices in 2000 when they needed to speak up in similar fashion in support of President Bush?

Get FREE BuzzFlash News Alerts