Full Convention voting rights restored to Florida and Michigan

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) – In another bid to restore party unity, the Democratic National Committee voted unanimously Sunday to restore full convention voting rights to Florida and Michigan delegates. The move, which had been sought by former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton since shortly after the primary season began, was endorsed by presumptive nominee Barack Obama last month.

Florida and Michigan Democrats had been penalized by the DNC Rules Committee for holding their primaries in January, in violation of party rules. Under the initial penalty, Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates, and barred from attending the convention.

Clinton and Obama agreed not to campaign in either state and Obama’s name did not appear on the Michigan ballot. Clinton won both primaries in January, and — locked in a tight battle to win the nomination — urged for full delegations from both states to be seated. Her effort failed, and she conceded to Obama shortly after the primary season ended.

In June, the Rules and Bylaws Committee had voted to allow both states’ delegations to be seated at the convention, with each delegate awarded half a vote divided between the candidates based on a formula devised by party officials.

The number of delegates required to claim the Democratic nomination will rise as a result of Sunday’s decision.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/24/full-vo... /

[Captain Hilts]

1. It doesn't matter a damn now. The ship's left the dock.

And the two states should NOT have been treated equally as their circumstances and primaries were very different.

[MaraJade]

12. An empty

worthless gesture, signifying absolutely nothing. A waste of convention time.

[libertad]

2. I think it is a mistake because at the time voting was taking place here

in Florida, voters thought their votes would not count (as usual), so many probably stayed home. The results were probably way different than they would have been if we knew that our votes would count.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. So what is to stop the states from holding primaries even earlier next time?

There is a reason why this rule exists. If state parties can hold primaries at any time and not be punished, why not hold them on Election Day, 2011?

[Me.]

4. That's My Question Too

Where's the deterrent

[Maineman]

5. Wierd decision

Clintons still pushing their weight around? The Clintons have become scary, unpredictable people.

[unkachuck]

6. why?

....they cheated....

[1620rock]

7. Oh, come'on. It's only fair.

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. They broke the rules and were not punished. How is that fair?

As I said above, what now is to stop half the states in the country from holding their 2012 primaries on Election Day, 2011? At what point does the ridiculous push to be first stop? And why have national rules if state parties can break them at will with no repercussions?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. ahh gotta love politricks

[whistle]

9. It is about time, what a divisive mess that has created for the party

[happygoluckytoyou]

10. OBAMA... trying to calm the waters.... good move....

[Purveyor]

11. Goes to show you, party rules are only made to be broken.... eom

[Rebellious Republican]

13. Well doesn't that just make me feel warm and fuzzy inside

Guess that means that all of us disenfranchised voters here in Florida are supposed to be just ecstatic, pfft.

You remember Florida, the state that has not had a fare national election since before 2000.

I have learned a very valuable lesson out of all that has happened down here since then. Elections are decided in board rooms not at the polls.

Corporations have already decided who will be the President in 2008, but they need to make us feel like we still have free elections in America. So they still put on the dog and pony show and besides they would not want to miss an opportunity to sell us more commercials.

Gosh, I am so glad that the Federal government has put up the cash to help poor people buy the little box that converts their out dated analog televisions to be able to pick up digital signals. We may not give them money for medical expenses but at least we need to keep in tune with that good old fashioned propaganda.

[CanonRay]

14. It was all much ado about nothing.