Wait till you hear this. Now Floridians are suing Dean for trying to promote diversity.

[madfloridian]

Yes, that is really what I said. They are suing the DNC again on another basis....on the basis that the Democrats are doing what Democrats do....promoting diversity.

If I were not reading this with my own eyes, I would say I was not telling the truth. These are the nice fellows from Tampa who just had a suit dismissed in appeals court. The lawyer is chairman of the Hillsborough County Democrats. His client is Victor DiMaio.

Their case in an Atlanta appeals court was dismissed not long ago after being dismissed in lower court. Now they are basing their case on some things they found in the case filed by Bill Nelson and which was also dismissed.

Here you go. You have to read it to believe it.

Lawsuit to charge reverse racism

South Carolina and Nevada were allowed to hold their primaries before February 5th because the high percentage of blacks and Hispanics in those states helped compensate for the pasty complexion of Iowa and New Hampshire.

That's the basis for an amended legal filing planned by Tampa Democratic activist, Victor Dimaio and attorney Michael Steinberg who are suing to have Florida's entire Democratic delegation seated at the National Convention in Denver this summer. DiMaio's original lawsuit claimed the DNC's punishment of Florida violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment, but that suit was kicked back by the federal appeals court in Atlanta. Steinberg had a brainstorm when he read discovery papers in a similar lawsuit filed by Senator Bill Nelson that showed the DNC put South Carolina and Nevada's primary dates ahead of 46 other states to give minorities more of a voice in the nominating process. Since the DNC receives federal money to hold their convention, the party is subject to federal civil rights law.

What an interesting turn of the worm. Sometime next week, we may have democrats suing democrats for carrying out a very democratic policy of advancing minorities. Steinberg and DiMaio acknowledge with a grin that their reverse racism accusation will ruffle feathers, but hope the conservative judiciary will be delighted to strike a blow against affirmative action and rule in their favor. Their only objective, they claim, is to see all of Florida's delegates seated based on the January 31st primary election.

Eeeeeeek!

[Symarip]

1. Thanks for the update

I hope this goes nowhere. I don't see how it can hold water.

[SunsetDreams]

2. How pathetic

[napi21]

3. They don't REALLY want me to believe there aren't a lot of

Hispanics in Florida, do they?

[madfloridian]

10. They are trying to cost the DNC money by fighting lawsuits.

This is their 3rd.

[madfloridian]

4. I see the ABC blogger made an error in date....the primary was Jan. 29

I wish this was April 1, I might think it was a joke.

[2rth2pwr]

5. They may have a case.

[madfloridian]

6. Yippeee!!! Let's all get a drink and celebrate. Happy happy.

Hillary's campaign should love this.

[anigbrowl]

16. Do tell. I'm dying to hear you defend this.

[madfloridian]

7. Someone today said I should lay off Florida. I can't. Sorry. Too good to be true.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. It's time somebody fights back.

They like to try to dumb things down so they can do things the Florida way, and they will even knock down anglo-Americans who are too "uptown." Ask Grace Rabold.

[Adelante]

31. They certainly do give you the material, MF

This is simply fucked up.

[madfloridian]

40. There is just so much material. They seem to live in a bubble.

And they think they are big shots. They are filled with self-importance.

[Dr.Phool]

8. It sounds like they lack standing for their claim.

States were informed, that according to the rules, they could apply to hold primaries before Feb. 5th. Florida never applied.

[madfloridian]

9. This is their 3rd time filing. They don't care if there is basis.

They just don't care.

[madfloridian]

11. But you are right. Not even applying was odd.

[KingOfLostSouls]

12. ARE...YOU...SHITTING...ME?!?!

didn't we just have a weekend of remember the dream of MLK Jr and the clinton campaign now wants to throw that dream under the bus, the voting rights act, and 40 years of attempted progress simply to get the votes?!?!


yeah. they might as well put rove on their payroll now.

[flor de jasmim]

15. I'm not sure Rove isn't ALREADY on the payroll.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. creating more chaos to cast doubt on legitimacy of the process

so that Hillary can later claim that her crown was stolen.

[madfloridian]

14. Casting doubt on legitimacy, and creating a way for her to fight at Denver.

Just like Bill Nelson was doing when he said today there would be lots of blood on the floor in Denver.

[blogslut]

17. I hope the "plaintiffs' spend themselves into bankruptcy

Democratic activists my ass. Sychophants and hangers-on. That's all they are.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. They're not likely to run out of money.

Bushco has deep pockets.

This is all DLC v DNC - and fuck the party. They WILL destroy the democrats, to keep the DLC in the drivers' seat, with help from the republicans.

So what if the DLC inherits a castrated party which will not be a significant factor in national politics for the next 20 years? Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven, right?

[blogslut]

21. Oh, I realize this

I just like putting those thoughts out there.

I know full well about deep pockets and purchased influence. DLC folk are power-mongers who want to make sure all the political bases are covered. They hate Howard Dean and will fight like dogs to defeat his populist strategies.

That's why I love Dr. Dean being right where he is. That man is the toughest mutt in the yard.

I'll say it again, may they spend themselves into bankruptcy. Or at least waste a hell of a lot of money on nothing. This time, they will fail. They screwed themselves and I hope they are butthurt for decades.

[donheld]

18. .

[madfloridian]

43. Me, too.

Furious.

[ShaneGR]

20. Quick Florida, give up your rights as a state so Obama can win faster!

Hurry up! Who needs voters rights. Especially voting rights.

[Shipwack]

22. Too late..

The state legislature threw away our rights when they broke ranks and went along with a Republican plan. If they had maintained party unity, right now we would be talking about all the power Florida has as a late voting state.

The state legislature was warned of the consequence of their actions, and now they are whining about having to endure the end result. You'd think they were Republicans.

[rodeodance]

35. Nicely said.

[FOS]

23. OMG !

This is crazy !!!

[madfloridian]

48. I agree. I am surprised more are not totally alarmed at it.

[DerekJ]

24. They are suing Dean for being a dean

[Sancho]

25. This is soooo typical of Florida...

somehow it was predictable that a conservative court would get involved.

K & R

Florida, the state with Democratic voters and Republican voting machines!

[democracy1st]

26. great job madfloridian

thanks for staying on top of things

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. The truth finally comes out.

The Democrats that I know here in Florida are incredibly racist. So I'm not surprised by this new development, and I'm going to guess that few minorities would either. That's why I'm rooting for Dean.

I'm hoping the next thing will be that these DINOs will finally jump ship and reveal their true orientations. That goes for Bill Nelson too.

[madfloridian]

36. You know what? I think you are right.

It is a racist state, I fear. Especially in the central and northern parts. Not everyone, but too many.

[mohc]

29. Uhmm ok

The entire delegate selection process is fused with affirmative action principles. Delegates at-large and for district, by each candidate, must contain the same number of men and women. Based on the demographics of the states, certain target levels of black, hispanic, gay, etc. delegates much be reached as well. The same rules apply to the standing committee members of each state. Basically if you are against diversity, you are against the Democratic Party's nomination process.

[Adelante]

32. Exactly

It's been a hoot the way diversity and affirmative action both have been trumpeted as all about blacks, when it's been largely about women, too. Both of our candidates benefited from these efforts, inside and outside the party, and for the right reasons. But the negative PR is suddenly all about blacks, because it suits the Clinton campaign. Blech.

[antigop]

30. Wasn't the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment the basis for Bush V. Gore? n/t

[madfloridian]

34. They got that part from Bill Nelson's lawsuit as well...Nelson v Dean.

It was dismissed in a court in Tallahassee.

Sounds like they will keep pushing until they get something going.

[Romulox]

33. No Hispanics in Florida? No African Americans in Michigan? Gimme a break!

The "diversity" excuse has always been just that--an excuse, and makes no sense considering the two "golden children" of the DNC (Iowa and New Hampshire) are almost exclusively white.

[Debi]

37. It's like Florida didn't go through the DNC Calendar Commission selection process

the party leaders just woke up one day and said 'Hey, we should go first'

[cooolandrew]

38. All men (and woemn) created equal. Time to re-read the constitution those filing the suit.

[cooolandrew]

39. Let'snot blame all Floridians. Their vote is most welcome in November.

[Coexist]

41. this is so embarassing.

[madfloridian]

42. They "acknowledge with a grin that their reverse racism accusation will ruffle feathers"

Just think about it....the lawyer chairs the Democratic party in a huge county in Florida. He and his client are grinning that they are suing their party on reverse discrimination.

"Sometime next week, we may have democrats suing democrats for carrying out a very democratic policy of advancing minorities. Steinberg and DiMaio acknowledge with a grin that their reverse racism accusation will ruffle feathers, but hope the conservative judiciary will be delighted to strike a blow against affirmative action and rule in their favor. Their only objective, they claim, is to see all of Florida's delegates seated based on the January 31st primary election"

They are praying for a conservative judge...there are a lot of those in Florida.

[liberal_rxstudent]

44. It never ends...

I am becoming increasingly disgruntled and ashamed of the disgusting tactics being used to..eh hem...further a certain democrat's chances of becoming this party's nominee. This is not what we (democrats) stand for...you are right on point- we want to promote diversity. We stand for the opposite of what these fools are trying to convince others what we stand for. No NO NO NO, and lastly Noooooo...there is NO reverse discrimination going on, and we don't need to "strike a blow" to affirmative action! WTF?! With a**holes like what we have here, it is no wonder why and how this has happened. FLORIDA BROKE PARTY RULES WHEN WE MOVED OUR PRIMARY AHEAD OF FEB 5. Aggghhhhh! Enough. DiMaio, Nelson, and friends are INTENTIONALLY trying to screw us (all democrats, floridians included)over...These idiots should go to hell and stop trying to tear apart our party. We must take back the white house, and doing crap like this is not conducive to achieving that goal.

[madfloridian]

45. I notice a new trend....to use the "states rights" to go first issue.

Which is like rewriting the whole issue. Not what it is about at all.

[orleans]

46. the reputation of florida just keeps devolving all the time. unfucking real. n/t

[madfloridian]

47. Suing for reverse discrimination....forgetting it was about order.

They have changed this situation around until it is standing on its head.

It will invalidate the primary results if Obama wins. I believe that was its intent.

[Zachstar]

49. If anyone thinks that these idiot lawsuits helps Clinton then they need help in my view.

[LittleClarkie]

50. I think my brain is bleeding

Thanks for the update.

Ow, ow, ow.

[redqueen]

51. I knew this would end up in the courts.

I saw this coming back in March.

[madfloridian]

53. This is the 3rd court hearing by these guys....one by Bill Nelson.

Bill Nelson ain't done yet...he is threatening to spill someone's blood on the floor of the convention.

[redqueen]

59. These people really do make me sick.

[Zhade]

52. Wow. "Dems" are hoping for an anti-affirmative action ruling.

How's THAT for progress?

[madfloridian]

56. And hoping for a conservative judge...and grinning about it.

[Zhade]

54. Kick

kick

[LiberalLovinLug]

55. Florida DLC want to lose the election

Seems clear to me. Stir up enough dem on dem antagonism, play the race card to lose the minority vote, alienate any independants, and viola! McCain takes Florida! For them it's got to be one of the two corporate whores ( either John or Hillary) They can see Barack might win and he obviously needs Florida in the GE. Sabatoge and play to win with Hillary in 2012.

[madrchsod]

57. i`m sorry mad but those guys and gals in florida

makes Illinois`s politicians seems as clean as new fallen snow...these are truly evil motives these people possess...

[Califooyah Operative]

58. Wow. Just Wow. nt