Florida, Michigan Dems Pack Thier Toys And Go Home

So the headlines are saying, "Will Dean Cost the Dems Florida?" State Democrats in Florida have stepped up their case for inclusion by throwing down the gauntlet. Recent polls are suggesting that Florida Democrats may stay home on Election Day unless their votes get counted in the Convention. They are also threatening to withhold financial support, and possibly asking for national contributions to be returned to the state if they are shut out. Take that, Howard. Childish? Yes. Counter productive? Yes. Fair? Maybe.

As I have said before, there is ample Constitutional precedent for respecting the will of state authority over federal directive. I wonder, if the Florida vote had favored Barack Obama, would this even be an issue? The assumption would be that once Obama secured the nomination, those delegates would be automatically seated. That's how it's always been done. But now, when the Florida delegation clearly favors Clinton, and serves to draw her quite a bit closer to the nomination, everyone is hesitant to give it to her. I also feel that if the DNC bends and accepts Florida as-is, which seems to be the only option other than not at all, this will also lend credence to including Michigan. With those two things combined, the "Obama lead" is pretty much erased. Although I have said many times that I feel Florida and Michigan are totally different problems and should be addressed as such, I don't see much favor for that view.

I am beginning to see the Florida situation in a much more black and white (if you can excuse the pun.) The only thing that was not done according to the rules in Florida was the timing of the vote. Florida used the same arguments for moving their primary forward as Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, all of which were allowed. The fact that a voice-only vote was conducted to make this allowance really, to me, seems to make the ruling seem fairly arbitrary. Combined with the threat of (basically) Democratic defection and the potential damage of losing Florida in the general election, I don't see any reason for Howard Dean not to bend on this. The state of Florida has made it clear, including even Republican governor Crist, that the voice of Florida voters will be heard, or there will be consequences. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has joined Crist in a joint statement arguing for delegate seating. Interestingly, Crist is a McCain supporter, and Granholm is a Clinton supporter, but on this issue, they agree.

I think the bickering over the rules is starting to look pretty silly. The timing of the primaries is a technicality that should not be given as much gravity as it has. With the outcry nationwide for supporting the popular vote as loud as it is, I can't see how anyone can justify ignoring Florida. In addition, Obama's suggestion that Michigan be split 50/50, although it would benefit him, is not all that unfair. I'd say, acknowledge Clinton's 55% win and give her 1 more delegate than Obama, and everyone would probably be happy. This ignores the fact that Obama would be getting credit for votes and delegates that he did not win, but I don't really see another solution for Michigan, whereas I see a clear one for Florida.

Something I find very strange is the hesitancy to give Clinton any sort of advantage, combined with a strong preference for handing over the nomination to Obama. The argument is that because he is the "front runner" he should just be given the nomination, and yet in spite of overwhelming arguments to let the popular voice be heard, in contests where Clinton was the clear winner, everyone wants to exclude them. Excuse me? Something else I find strange is that in a political race so close, that there is anyone who wants to discount the voice of millions of voters. Come on. Give Florida their delegation. Insist that Michigan come up with an acceptable compromise. I'd say the fact that Michigan's Senate went to recess before any kind of plan could be hatched is a clear sign on the part of the state that they expect the same result as Florida: like up or lump us.