Editorial: Screamin’ mad (no pun intended)

[William769]

Tallahassee Democrat Editorial

August 29, 2007


If the Democratic National Committee were seeking a recipe for revolt, Florida might well be its main ingredient.

The national party's decision to not acknowledge the Jan. 29 state presidential primary and its refusal to seat delegates from Florida at the Democratic National Convention in Denver next year is not only punitive, but also self-destructive.

If Florida were a small, insignificant state in presidential politics, a national party could easily get away with such strong-arming, however unfair. But the Sunshine State is neither small nor insignificant. The DNC's incredibly myopic attempt to exercise control over Florida Democrats won't help the party's credibility, which needs shoring up, and can only damage the ability of Democratic candidates to win the White House next year. Assuming that's its goal.

The Jan. 29 primary date wasn't arbitrarily set by Florida Democrats. It's the result of state law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

In a clear rebuke to their national party leaders, Democrats in Florida's congressional delegation Tuesday stood their ground, insisting that the primary is the only vote that should count - and not a Feb. 5 caucus vote of candidates' supporters, as the DNC wants.

"We cannot go along with anything but the state-run primary set for next January," the 10 Florida Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello, said in a joint statement. "We strongly encourage all Democrats to vote for their preferred nominee in that primary, regardless of whatever penalties the DNC might enact."

http://www.fladems.com/content/w/editorial_screamin_mad

[damntexdem]

1. Oh, Democrats should never hold anyone to account, make them follow the rules.

Just like they should let Bushistas run riot over our rights and the world's peace. Likewise, they should let FL pols ignore the rules.

Until the buck stops somewhere, this country is in a death spiral from which it will not recover. But I don't have much faith in the spines of Dem pols to start holding anyone to account.

[ieoeja]

2. "If Florida were a small, insignificant state in presidential politics..."

"...a national party could easily get away with such strong-arming, however unfair."