Comments on: Michigan, Florida Delegate Proposal to Be Heard by DNC

By: Guy Lipof

Guy Lipof — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:20:16 +0000

I feel the media and the DNC have favored Barack Obama from early on. If they felt Obama would have done well in Michigan and Florida, then the DNC would have resolved Michigan and Florida’s request before the elections happened.

Rules can and should change. There was plenty of time before the elections and I feel the states had legitimate reasons. Not counting these votes/ delegates is like ‘taxation without representation’. I’m quite dissapointed, but if I were from one of those states, I’d be very angry my vote meant nothing. Nevertheless, if their votes are not counted by June, I will be defecting from the Democratic party.

In the meantime, shame on the DNC for alienating voters and trying to stack the cards.

Kind regards… Guy R. Lipof

By: Felicia

Felicia — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:00:44 +0000

We are a nation of laws. Laws exist to insure the freedom for the country as a whole. If we elect to be a part of a poltical party we agree to adhere to the rules of that organization. It is a choice we make, not one forced upon us. The States of Florida and Michigan Democratic parties elected to be a part of the Democratic National Party. They were not blindsided by the rules and regulations. Why is it that they did not elect leave the party when they did not get permission to move up the primaries? Why didn’t they choose to convene a hearing and get the backing of other states to change the party rules? Why did they wait until a critical election year to be heard? I am tired of this kind of politics. Under no circumstances should the candidates that choose to be on the ballots in full knowledge of the consquences profit. True it angered people to not be counted in the presidential primary of the century, but they have a choice of changing the political party laws or changing political parties. I choose to become an Independent and vote for the candidate that KEPT HIS WORD to campaign by the rules.

Michigander for Obama

By: Nathan Wales Belding

Nathan Wales Belding — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:14:41 +0000

DNC members Joel Ferguson of Michigan and Jon Ausman of Florida both have posited sensible solutions. My only concern is the late date of the meeting to decide/discuss this issue. There will be maneuvering in the interim to make any decision moot. That is not fair - to the candidates or to the voters. The votes have been cast, and any decision that will be made should be made on the merits. The merits will not change - they are absolute. The decision should be made sooner rather than later.
God Bless

Peace and Love,

Nathan Wales Belding

By: bobby

bobby — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:37:37 +0000

If both states are not counted that is just a shame because florida and michigan make up something like 9 percent of the US population, if that much of the population doesn’t get their vote in it is a huge problem. Hilary won both contests, she should be awarded her delegates. at-least in florida she should definitely get her delegates, in michigan their should be a legitement revote. I do not believe they should wait until one has 2025 then make the changes beacuse then there is still no point. i think it should have been solved already and since it wasnt it should be now. either revote in both states or counting florida and revoting in michigan or giving the uncommitted in michigan to barrack would all be fare ideas. splitting it 50-50 is not a good idea because that is just throwing fake delegates at the candidates. I think Hilary is not being treated fairly in this situation, she won both states and is getting her delegates!

By: Olga - Boston

Olga - Boston — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:44:10 +0000

The votes should count 100%. For Florida delegates should be split accordingly to the votes since both were on the ballot. For Mich. give Hillary her votes and give the uncommited to Omama. Let’s face it: Obama is not electable in the general election. He claims to be a uniter but I thnk his actions show him to be a divider. Regardless of who would be the democratic nominee, I think the democratic party should do what’s’s right and live up to its name - be a democratic institution. Howard Dean needs a back bone - really fast! LOOK at the mess the party is in. I am changing from democrat to independent. I’m sick of this mess.

By: Christian Gill

Christian Gill — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:49:53 +0000

I think there is only one way to get out of this situation.

First we have to look whether one of the candidates will reach the majority of delegates without the florida and michigan delegates. If someone get the 2025 delegates without the delegates of both states everything is fine.

If both candidates will miss the required majority of 2025 delegates there must be new elections in both states.

Counting only half of the votes, sending only half of the deleagtes, splitting the delages (and ignore the people votes) or ignoring the fact that some people haven’t voted at all (because they thought it wouldn’t count) can’t be a solution in a democratic country.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:53:26 +0000

Niether state should get their delegates back.
If the DNC cannot figure out this nomination with thier “legit” delegates, then they have bigger problems than Florida’s inability to run an election.
States cannot be encouraged to front-load. Those rules exist for a reason- to prevent a national primary date. If the DNC is really interested in preserving democracy, they cannot give either state back thier delegates just to secure Clinton the nomination.
Yes, ideally every voice would be heard in a democracy. But democracy cannot exist without a certain semblance of rule and reason, and deviating from primary rules does not offer either.

By: Why waste more Time?

Why waste more Time? — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:20:08 +0000

It is clear to everyone that the Dem’s want to crown Obama in order to put him up against \McCain in November. They know they will desert him then and leave it to The Rep’s to finish him off for good. Are they really too scared to tell the Man tight now to pick up his baggage and get the hell outa the Party right now. Gimme a break, that’s what’s on the cards Is there not even one Democrat with sufficient guts to tell him that straight in his face before he tears the Country apart? Stop wasting time with Michigan and Florida. Come to think of it, it is Typical Democratic Party!

By: gwen gassaway

gwen gassaway — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:13:17 +0000

I do believe we should stick to the rules of the party. Rules should not be changed in the middle of any game! No matter how much it seem unfair.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:11:32 +0000

Rule Change:

1) Florida Democrats can never vote again until they attend documented voter training. They have no clue what they’re doing!!

2) Michigan - get it right, follow the rules, or, see change #1.

By: Larry

Larry — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:09:27 +0000

So, it’s all very clear now…the ONLY way B.O. can win (steal) the nomination is to block the FL & MI votes and delegates. Count the votes & award the delegates and Hillary’s case becomes very strong, when combined with her recent big wins.

Note to B.O., Hillary will have a 500,000 vote lead, even without FL or MI votes, after Puerto Rico votes…that’s why the liberals are trying to shut the process down before the Puerto Rico primary.

By: Independent for Hillary

Independent for Hillary — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:33:41 +0000

No way should Obama get half the delegates and popular vote. Award them proportionate as voted by the people of FL and MI. Shame on the DNC for manipulating Hillary’s race for the White house. Obama will not win because millions of Hillary supporters would prefer to vote for McCain, than for a liar and hypocrite like Obama. This is not about race, it is about the man!

Go Hillary!

By: rl

rl — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:22:38 +0000

Why can’t the DNC just simply follow the rules. There’s a penalty to be paid and Michigan and Florida should not be seated. Our government is messed up! Who can be trusted? No one’s word means anything.

By: LindaJ

LindaJ — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:17:46 +0000

Surely the DNC is joking. Florida’s certified election results should be used, giving full representation to the voters of Florida. Manipulating the results of Florida’s election in any manner is inconsistent with the will of the voters in that state.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:53:49 +0000

The fact that Obama took his name off the ballot in Michigan and “accidently” campaigned in Florida is insightful. Leave Florida as is, and figure out a calculation for Michigan. If his legal team doesn’t accept this than he is obviously not interested in all the voters. There would be an outcry if the results were reveresed in those states and he would be filing legal briefs playing the “race card” which he so aptly and quietly deals from the bottom of the deck time and time again. At the end of the day it’s about fairness for both candidates. The DNC needs to clean up this mess and arbitrate something meaningful and euitable based on the results or they can kiss the general election goodbye for a lopsided win for McCain.

By: Penny

Penny — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:38:57 +0000

I am a Florida voter. Down here we did not vote for Obama and the state voted for Hillary. We had nothing to do with the Republican party switching the dates and the Dems tried to block it and were over ruled. We held a certified primary, all names on the ballots and we knew who the candidates were when we made our choice. Florida should be seated as is. There is no reason they should not be. Obama broke the rules down here by crossing the street at a fund raiser to talk with reporters and by running national ads all over the state of Florida. They canidiates did NOT sign an agreement that they would not seat the delegates just that they would not campaign in the state which Obama did breaking the agreement. Obama removed his name from Michigan himself as a favor to the Governor of Iowa and now he is yelling he was not on the ballot? Still his campaign called people like crazy in the state to get them to vote uncommitted as that was a vote for him. I have hundreds of family and friends ion Michigan who complained about the calls. Rules are rules? Since when? Today Howard Dean is out there and saying they superdelegates can over turn the popular vote if they choose to do so because Hillary has the popular vote adding in Mich and Fla. He changes the rules when ever he needs to for Obama. Florida should be seated as is, give him the uncommitted vote in Michigan and lets try and have 50 states here not 48. If they can dismiss us so easily here in picking a canidiate then we can just as easily dismiss them in the general and stay home or vote McCain. One way or another our votes will count.

By: DPC from Patchogue, Long Island

DPC from Patchogue, Long Island — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:37:13 +0000

How the heck do the Democrats ( BOY ! is THAT a misnomer ! ) think they can run this country since they have now shown conclusively that they can’t even run their own party ? !

By: concerned

concerned — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:37:00 +0000

yes it is time for CHANGE time to stop being party affiliated which is what i am hearing rather consistently here in FLORIDA and be concerned as to who is going to be the best President …if a party doesn’t protect the right of your vote to be counted and your state to be represented according to
the choice of the pple that exercised there rights to have a choice u think we should then sit back and let the DNC choose for us . we were tricked period. where was DNC then ??? not watching out for us ???? now they say no matter who gets the nomination we should stay loyal to the party??? like all good things in life loyalty works BOTH WAYS . it is very obvious that people are trying to protect there own personal gains or losses. wouldn’t it BE NICE IF WE COULD REALLY HAVE CHANGE IN THE FORM OF OUT AND OUT HONESTY.But what we can strive for in these tough times in our country is experience track record commitment to America and the needs and issues of the people of AMERICA FIRST while still promoting peace and good will world wide . VOTE HILLARY CLINTON OOOOOR JOHN MCAIN………..

By: JC

JC — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:08:17 +0000

“Both states, knowing the potential penalty, held their primaries earlier than party rules allowed”
Now lets wait and see how the people vote before we decide how to change the rules! Typical Dem. thinking. Bunch of Berkeley idiots!

By: Vince

Vince — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:04:35 +0000

Ferguson said. “This has to do with making common sense.”
Sorry Fergie. You are NEVER going to find “common sense” with the Democrats!