Florida Democrats Sue The DNC

Moments from now, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) will announce the filing of a lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee challenging as "unconstitutional" the DNC's decision to "ignore" the primary process that Florida Democrats have chosen.

The lawsuit is not likely to succeed; the aggreived parties don't have much precedent to draw on. But the reason for the suit is also political: Florida Democrats want to make sure Democratic voters know that the state party is fighting for their interests.

Karen Finney, the DNC's communications director, said this about the suit: "It's disappointing that after months of trying to resolve the situation and bring Florida into compliance these two have chosen this path. This doesn't come as a surprise, Sen Nelson has been telling people that he was going to file a lawsuit for some time. As a general matter we don't comment on litigation, especially in this case where we have not even been given the courtesy of seeing the claims being made in the suit."

Comments

As a Florida Dem, this entire episode makes me sick. Can't we throw Dean and the FL Dems in a room and make them hash it out?

http://political-buzz.com/

Posted by mp | October 4, 2007 10:41 AM

As a non-Florida democrat, this entire episode makes me sick. Florida tried to pull a "power play" to exert extraordinatry power within the party by scheduling an earlier-than-allowed primary. They were asked not to take the action by the party, and were warned of the consequences. But they proceeded anyway, basically telling the rest of the country that their opinions are more important than everyone else's. I say good for Howard Dean for sticking to his guns, and shame on Florida. If Democrats lose the presidential election again, it will be Florida's fault for the third time. Don't Florida democrats understand that they are the cause of the past seven years of hell that we've all had to endure?!

Posted by Thomas Ward | October 4, 2007 10:54 AM

Keep in mind, the final decision on the early primary issue was made by the voters (of both parties).

Posted by FLVoter | October 4, 2007 11:00 AM

As a new resident to Florida and someone who been very involved in campaigns, what the FDP has and is doing is simply unbelivable considering the monumental role this party played in elected the current administration not once but twice. The FDP and this state in general seems to have a very, very faint memory considering the role this state played in, umm, 2000. The impact of that election is still being felt in this country and around the world.

As the FDP and Florida voters in general try to impress upon the entire country how "important" this state is in the process of turning out electoral votes, what they have achieved is nothing but causing more unnecessary turmoil and proplems. The DNC made it clear to states some time ago that if they want to apply to change their primaries there would be a process. Regardless of the details, what we have now is the simple fact that the Presidential campaigns in Florida are not campaigning. What the FDP has refused to understand is the simple fact that people in this state who might want to vote for a Democrat, people who may have voted for Rs or be independents, are going to find little reason to do so in light of law suits and no one campaigning.

Before Florida tries and tell the country how important they are to the rest of the country, perhaps they might consider turning out Democrats voters and convincing Rs and Independents to vote for Ds first. As is, all the FDP has done is disuade such voters from doing so and may well have already jeopardized the electoral vote in this state.

Posted by William LaRocque | October 4, 2007 11:45 AM

Actually, it was Republicans in Florida who first got this issue rolling.

"If Democrats lose the presidential election again, it will be Florida's fault for the third time. Don't Florida democrats understand that they are the cause of the past seven years of hell that we've all had to endure?!"

Um, nope, it wasn't FL Dems who caused seven years of hell. In 2000, it was Katherine Harris and other Republicans who helped disenfranchise likely Florida Democratic voters to swing the election for their man. And the US Supreme Court played a role too. To explain 2004, you might want to check into the shenanigans in Ohio before laying every year of Bush Admin hell at the feet of FL Democrats.

But all this early primary date stupidity aside, the real issue is this: Why are Iowa's undemocratic caucuses and NH, NV and SC's primaries sacrosanct? Why should these states have an out-sized influence on the primaries? Have 'em all on the same day.

Posted by Betty Cracker | October 4, 2007 2:10 PM

as a Floridian Democrat , we have the democratic right to choose when to have an election, it is the national party that is acting in an arrogant and undemocratic way. This opinion is shared by many Floridians. If, God fordid , we loose the election, it will be because of the Hillary- Dean Democrats in Washington and their "politics as usual" power plays.

Posted by Eddie Nunez | October 4, 2007 4:24 PM