CNN

Let those who didn't vote (because they thought their votes wouldn't count?) vote and then divide up the delegates proportionately by votes in the two elections. That way everyone who wants to gets to vote. I presume there is a list of which Democrats voted and which didn't, so it should be easy to decide who is owed a vote. Have them turn up at a venue with photo ID and party affiliation papers so that Republicans can't meddle in the process. Voila, a fair and full vote that Obama can't complain about...at the moment, he has a valid argument.

Seat the Florida delegates. Hillary did not campaign in Florida but Obama ran a TV ad there so the vote is more than fair!

I am a voter from out of florida. you will not dilute my vote. You chose not to vote and edward and other s are already out of the race. Will a redo bring them back in?

The DNC is not violating the Constitution. I'm an Obama supporter, and I think something should have been done. However, Floridians only have their own legislature to blame for this.

Some of you have suggested this is Obama trying again to get a better outcome. That isn't the case, and shame on you for distorting the facts to make an outrageous attack.

I think that attorney should have paid more attention in his Constitutional Law seminar...the DNC is a private organization and has the right to make its own rules and guidelines. Take it to the Surpreme Court? Ha! What happened the last time the High Court got involved in political elections...Answer: We got stuck w/ Bush for eight years.

The Dems can't even run a fair primary election and they want Americans to trust them with the Nation's welfare and future. What a laugh.

Okay, a Republican govenour and legislature belittle the Democrates. Oh, well it does happen. Next, Obama must be doing flips that he only has to woryy about losing in Michigan, if Florida had also figured out how to do it, the two states just might have cost him the election.
If the rules are the rules, why did Howard Dean say the could press the reset button? You give me a mulligan and I'll take it.

The people who are spouting stupidity on how the people of Florida should have no voice because of politicians are definitely part of the Obama clan.

He placed TV ads and his name was on the ballot. He was campaigning thru media.

I am sure that if Obama took the state then there would be an outcry of MAKE IT COUNT or RE-DO.

Here we go again.... every single one of these people questioning or making comments on what has happen to MI. & FL. should be a shame of themselves, these are the very same people who claim how great America is and how if you can't live by the rules then you should leave... the rules were in plays everyone that mattered knew the rules, those that didn't relied on their representative to look out for their best interest, it didn't happen and because of Billary, and her willing to destroy the foundation of democracy to suit her agenda, we have Americans, wanting to change the rules because it didn't fit in their perfect world, and the rules didn't work for them this time... well to bad, it is not the best thing to do and it is certainly not the right thing to do, but the rules in this case are the rules, experience is in play, the rules needed change, change before the game began not while the game is going on... that is what third world countries do, change the rules to fit desired outcome by the privileged. No new vote, the system failed but we have a chance to get it right before the next time, not this time, to do anything other than to just let things be would be un-American, and the anti-Americans will win and they will complain again and again when they feel the rules should be something other to better fit their agenda.

Florida and Michigan should have had the election when they where told to and none of this would have happened. It is shameful that these two states have caused even more drama in an election that is vital to our future as a nation.

Joke! It's a 'privat' nomination process of a party ... they could go by the alphabet of they wish.

Look at the studies about how much more power the average Iowa or New Hampshire voter has than voters in other states and then claim that Floridians were wrong to move their primary up.

The interesting fact about this entire case is that the Attorney involved is the Chairman of the Hillsborough County (Tampa Area) DEC. The compliantant is a close friend of his and was his campaign manager when the attorney ran unsucessfully for State Representative and Judge. I wonder if this will cause more issues in an already screwed up Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee.

Bayou Joe is a bigot. Not only that, he is a stupid bigot. And I am white. I am way more educated than that ignorant fool.

Ha Ha!!

I really don't understand primary funding! Are Federal, State, Party (or combination of part or all) dollars used to fund the elections? If tax payers dollars, the argument of equal treatment and the DNC calling the shots changes...I would think if the DNC funded the state primary elections, they call the shots, otherwise?

The DNC sucks. Period. That is why I am not a member of the Democratic Party anymore. I hope they get there pants sued off them cause they sure have handed the general election to the Republicans.

The rules was agree to by Hillary and Obama, however now Hillary wants them to count she don't care about the party. Hillary only care about herself.

Wow, are these guys lucid? The 14th Amendment does not apply to private organizations. A political party is a private organization. The Democratic and Republican parties are not in the Constitution. It doesn't apply to them.

There is no case to be pursued here. Those state parties broke the rules knowing full well what would happen.

Michigan will be just like Ohio...the parts that go for Hillary are the same parts that go Republican in general elections. The urban centers that vote Democrat in November are Obama strongholds.

So I don't get how Hillary figures that winning those state's primaries translates into a win in November.

My Goodness, We have Snub Heads in Florida as leaders. Just split the delegates. Hillary should be happy about this because even though she won Texas, she still ended up with less delegates. Same thing could happen to her in Florida now that more people are watching Obama.

Under no circumstances should a state be rewarded for violating agreed upon rules. It sets a precedent, and encourages more of the same behavior in the future. It isn't Barack's fault, it isn't Hillary's fault, it is the fault those party officials in Michigan, and Florida who were idiotic enough to break the rules in the first place. Blame them.

sorry I meant offended not affended. I do care about my spelling not like a lot of other people. All I can say is I feel sorry for you Obama lover because you are so blind with cult like following Of Obama it's really quite scary!!! Jean

She? And again? You must mean Hillary.

I guess you have the floor.... Go for it Little Lady!

mimi de la cruz.... Thankyou!!!

If the People of Florida and Mich are so mad then WHY aren't they mad at their OWN POLITICIANS who PUT THEM IN THIS POSITION!!

All we hear is CRYING about not being fair when it is EXACTLY what their ELECTED representatives did on THEIR behalfs.

Is Florida REALLY this inept and clueless that they can do ANYTHING right when it comes to an election?

Our fore fathers must be turning over in their graves – between the Bush administration's tramplings on the constitution and now the Democractic party trying to get it's head out of it's buttocks – just light a match and torch the constitution.

GEEZ!!!! HERE WE GO AGAIN!!! What the heck is wrong with the people in Florida...?? Why can't they get something SO SIMPLE?

lets get this right. GORE won the popular vote in 2000 that means more people voted for him than BUSH. remember 2 is great than one
and one person one vote is still there FL and MI just don't get to decide who runs against McCain. They agreed to the rules then broke then. don't do the crimeif you can't do the time

DNC VIOLATING CONCRETE THINKING TO LET THE REPUBLICANS DO IT TO THEM AGAIN, WITH THE FLORIDA SHENANIGANS.

How is the DNC violating the constitution? These states BROKE THE RULES... they deserve to be punished. they voted, thats there right and they did that. so please stop crying.

Let the republicans have Florida already. Let's face it, they voted for Bush in the last two presidential elections, or at least allowed the courts for vote for them and odds are very strong that they will vote for McSame. I think the DNC should just write off the entire state.

At least Michigan is worth fighting for and they have the brains to figure out how to do a re-vote.

Votes should always count, we don't need another what if. The DNC shouldn't have authority over voting, maybe how they conduct their own affairs, but not voting. ALL VOTES COUNT, EACH ONE IS AN AMERICAN VOICE!!!!!!

Good. Keep fighting until there's a re-vote. Obama shouldn't get off this easy.

Can we get news ???

Get over it people, you're sounding like a bunch of cry babies... like Mrs. Clinton! Enough is Enough!!!

Hillary for 2008!

Psycho Analysis is nor available for this kind abomination.

Ask the Obama... Abomination!!!

Remember the Movie The FlY! Help................Me!

The DNC can't make its own rules that violate the rights of Voters. It's hard to believe that the DNC hasn't been called on this before now.

You Need Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Karen Thurman is heavily tied to clinton
2. Karen Thurman did not go through the proper channels to submit a request that the election count, there was in fact a deadline for such a request
3. Karen Thurman challenged the DNC as far back as August
4. Karen Thurman featured hillary clinton at the top of the florida democratic commitees website in the days immediately leading up to the election, there was no mention of edwards or obama
5. Karen Thurman had the FLA dem committee send out emails announcing clinton's support of the florida vote in the days leading up to the election
6. Karen Thurman is known to have announced Hillary Clinton would be florida's nominee as early as last spring

These are facts, they are not conspiracy theories. Florida voters, you have not been disenfranchised, you have been used by an inept and highly partisan official named Karen Thurman.

As an Obama supporter.....I'd love for the delegates to be seated @ the Convention; however, it's just not looking too promising right now....I was born/raised in Chicago, Ill. where we've always voted "early and often" for our candidate(s). This time, I just think the milk is already on the floor.

I think it is all a bunch of hog wash. We need to fire all of washington, cut the salary in half and then let the people run that want to change america. We do not need people in there to collect a paycheck and not do their job plus get the lobbiest perks to. We need to eliminate the lobbiest and the strangle hold that this corrupt government has and do what is right. let us have a popular vote and let every vote count and do away with these delegates and electorial bull. We do live in the information age.

I think you're right Bill from Streamwood. I don't think this is a valid equal protection claim.

Why stop at Florida? Why not have a re-vote in all the other states as well! Anything Hillary wants!

If Florida keeps crying like this, we won't have to wait for Climate Change to put the whole state under water.

The DNC has already done a lot of damage in Florida and Michigan. As a resident of Michigan I will be changing my political party from Democrat to Independent prior to the general election. Don't count on my vote, DNC.

Folks are blinded on both sides (Clinton/Obama). However, I find my fellow Clinton supporters more ignorant of the facts. Folks are making stupid and irrelevent arguments that actually make our (Hillary's) camp look even worse. Before you open your mouth, check the facts by at least 2 sources... then put forth your opinion. Otherwise, we supporters look as incompetent as Hillary'scampaign.

Signed,
Open to another candidatre for Prez.

mmm, this sounds like Clinton will do whatever it takes...... She agreed to this from day one when she had no oponent, now she wants things changed.. how unsual !!!
since this does not favor her, she now has attorneys filing law suits... I said it long ago, she will start law suits.. which she and Billy are experts at..............
NO more Clintons

Thank you Thank you Thank you.
I'm tired of all these so called "rules". The only rule to voting that the constitution has is that Americans are allowed to vote, and by that, they should be counted.

One man, Mr. Dean, stands in the way of 1.7 million Florida voices counting? I wanna know where Democracy went, especially since this so called party's name has the word in it.

-Angry Floridaian

Why dont florida just shoot us, and take all the Democats rights.It feels like We are living in russia, It is just not right. Another FIXed Election.Where are we anyway??

Um, newsflash, attorney, the Democratic Party is a private organization and this is not the general election. Tough.

They all had the same set of rules and all agreed to the same rules. It is not the DNC's fault that these two states could not follow the rules. If anyone should be getting heat for this, it should be the state reps who decided to violate party rules which had already been agreed upon.

This whole situation is very upsetting. Honestly, nothing the courts can decide will be the correct desition. Not everyone voted and so having the vote as is count is unfair yet that is what they are trying to do. If I lived in florida I would be very upset. How can you say, "This electoin for us won't count and then say, ha ha fooled you too bad you didn't vote." You might as well be in school again and say "oh you know that pretest you took, well that will count as your final. If you didn't do well, too bad." I bet every parent would be in court over that case, but well here we are and the stakes are higher.

Who is to blame? Florida yet again!!! I say we just not count anything that ever comes from them for they are messing up the whole election process year after year.

Additoinally, nothing that happens from Michigan or Florida will matter. Obama will still have the delegate lead so this whole issue is 100 percent moot.

I want a president who's going to be for everyone, not just a certain segment.

Barack will be the people's president, while Hillary will thank mostly white women and latinos, and call it a day. Oh, did I say thank, she won't even do that, she'll just grab her crown, and run to the White House.

Obama 08

Funny, I thought the Constitution addressed general elections and did not deal with party issues. Maybe Mr. Steinberg is looking at a different version of the U.S. Constitution thatn the one I or anyone else has.

Why is Florida picking only on some rules to challenge? They should try the "superdelegates" system as well, the number of delegates that are selected from each state, etc, etc. And then they will figure out how stupid all this is to try courts to determine the parties rules.

PLEASE lets talk about the main election in November and not keep trying to kill each other. Florida broke the rules it was the Republicans fault and now the Republican government wanted a re-do. EVER ask yourself WHY????
Because it is the same issue of Republicans supporting Hillary. In texas she would have never won the primary without the many republicans that voted for her. Check it out!!!
Will they vote for her in November don't make me laugh. Rush is doing a good job in his radio talk show. the most disgusting person in the world. You the media need to get him off the air.
DNC take some action!!! People are getting discouraged myself included. The economy is going to the dogs and the administration is giving the elite banks our money. Why !!!!! WE NEED CHANGE NOW

Also,

a vote not counting in a primary is not violating someone's right to vote. They still hold that same right in November no matter what happens in any primary.

That's an action that should be taken long time ago, when the DNC approved not allowing Florida to vote early in the process. Now, all this splash sound too fishy in Hillary's favor. Go figure what some democrats are looking for.

This argument is beginning to fulfil the well known phrase of beating a dead horse. The fact of the matter is that these 2 states violated rules set forth by their national party. If voters in these states want to be upset that their votes aren't being counted then their argument should be with statewide politicians not a national party. Furthermore, the fourteenth amendment allows national parties to have final say so in primary rules and regulations.

Finally, it would be outrageous for someone to suggest that a national party sink between 10 and 12 million dollars per state to hold a re-do when they could be using that money come November to campaign for their candidate.

A state should have the right to hold their primaries whenever they want and not be penalized for it. The DNC is just giving votes to the republicans.

well need to be set or else you will have every state feeling they "should" go first, then in 4 yrs from now will have nominees the year the president takes offices cause everyone would want to get in front of another state.

Yes, we want to not seat their delegates if they stick by their rules violations. Otherwise, it sets precedents for everyone to break the rules next time. Besides, with the economy tanking so severely, the Democratic candidate will win regardless of what Florida and Michigan vote in November...

Some states have open primaries and some closed. Does this violate the constitution too?

I'd LOVE to know what his connection to the Clinton campaign is. That's how she rolls – dirty.

I agree that excluding states is wrong, but it's not unconstitutional. Like it or not, the DNC is a private organization and the Constitution does not come into play. The rules of the primaries and caucuses are determined by them, and them alone. We can argue right and wrong, but don't break out words like "unconstitutional."

Wow.... can we just move on? I mean this man needs to file his suit against the Governor of Florida that approved the primary date change, NOT the DNC. The DNC upheld its rules, and all parties agreed in writing to the rules. These rules governed what goes on in their states as it pertains to the voting process/delegates.

Just split the votes in half for both states and give to both campaigns. End of story.

I agree, if our leaders did anything wrong, by moving the date, then fine them, dont punish the people of the states....We all have a right to vote and I am in Michigan and feel that my right is being taken away also. Go florida, demand your vote count!!!!!!!!

Absolutely ridiculous, and this has no legal standing. This is a political ploy and will get thrown out just like it did the first time.

Every Vote Counts. Give Hillary & Obama their delegates according to the votes that were cast.

Before you criticize Florida and Michigan, you should check how many DNC and former DNC members are involved with Rezko and Obama in Chicago.

Well now we hope all the judges keep throwing this case out due to the fact that the DNC was not responsible for the Florida fiasco, but the local Hacks themselves, and I hope both Florida and Michigan make these elected idiots pay with there jobs!!

Obama 08!!!

It's amazing to me how many people are just willing to accept the ridiculous rules the DNC has put forward and call it democracy.

Neiither state should hold a re-count. FL and MI elected officails decided to break the rules and they knew the consequences ahead of time. It's a done deal.

Spilt 50/50 and lets move on already!

In my opinion, every state should do there primarys and/or Caucuses on the same day, that we'll be more Democratic and we'll have the results in one day.

Raz

This should help just fine to unify Tzar Dean's wonderful party!

Re: Independent Voter
In response to your statement:
"She cares so much for Florida and Michigan but not Texas…or just the part of Texas' vote she overwhelmingly lost."

Just wait on that...something is coming. Ask yourself how someone could win by 4 points in the primary, but lose by over 10 points in the caucus? Clinton haters say she'll do anything, say anything, but she's kept this quiet since it requires discretion.

Yeah, too bad the DNC can make up whatever rules they want. They aren't the government, so they can use whatever process they want to get their nominees elected. I don't understand why nobody sees this.

In my opinion, if the DVC received any money from the government, the tax payers money, they they are governed by the laws of the Constitution. I love this chaos the democratic party is going through right now. And believe me, the law suits aren't finsihed yet!

I agree, the FL and MI votes should count! It shouldnd make when the primary was held and their votes should count!

Howard Dean should never have been appointed as head of the DNC and should be removed from his position as soon as possible.

And Speaker Pelosi should keep her comments to herself regarding the situation. She only makes matters worse. She and Dean should ride off into the sunset together.

Anyone who votes for Barack Obama at this point would be considered stupid. He is distancing himself from his pastor since he wants to run for presidency .. He did not take that action before he launched himself in this race , did he ?

That action of his speaks for itself about how much he is influenced by this pastor.

It will be fair if the DNC. Chairman step aside,and allow a fresh face to handle the Florida- Michigan quagmire.Democrats have enough,and we need solutions not procrastination before the convention.

Sounds credible to me.
As a voter whose vote won't count in the Primaries–I feel like my rights have, if not violated, certainly not taken seriously.

Amazing. The Republican Florida legislature, over the objections of the democrats in the state, changed the date for both primaries. The RNC cut the number of delagtes in half, and seated them proportionate to the state vote. The DNC, to punish the republican legislature in Florida, says Democrats votes and delegates don't count? What idiocy! The DNC should seat the delagates! I am rapidly becoming ashamed to be a Democrat.

Obama supporters and their rant about florida and Mich. breaking the rules, blah blah blah. Those are swing states and if you want to disenfranchise them, now why would you expect them to vote for obama in november?

Elected leaders in Florida and Michigan decided that they were gonna go against the rules to benefit their choice candidates. In the case of Michigan, the senator is an ardent supporter of Clinton... and in the case of Florida, their Repulican senator sure wanted to stir this controversy amongst the Democrats and we are buying into it big-time. Howard Dean is ma new hero... He's standing on his word unlike others and making the rules stay now as it was before the elections started. Florida and Michigan will vote in the general elections come this fall! Elections must be fair...

Here's a thought. Who cares when the primaries or caucuses are held, as long as the results of all of them are released on the same day, after all have been completed. No "one" state would know how any other state voted until the primary voting was over, and no state would have an advantage.

What, you don't have any ambulances to chase in Florida? What a sorry excuse for a lawyer! You knowingly broke the long-established rules of the DNC. Now that you get called on it, you are going to sue? Get really mad and leave the Democratic party . . . please!

If Florida does not seat their delegates and Obama wins the nomination (he doesn't want Florida to seat their delegates because Sen. Clinton won more delegates), Obama will not win the Presidency. Florida will be the state that will cost him the Presidency. It will be a revolt vote in the general election. People will stay home and not care. This is the worst DNC committee I've ever known. Howard Dean is the worst president. We have a chance to win the White House in November and look at this mess. Everything is Obama. Too bad he will go down with ship.

Obama's father never serve in this country and Obama himself never service in any military action in his career.His is a senator for three years.Our country was attacked, lives were lost so we supported our president .Politicians voted for the war. Obama didn't.Obama was giving support and getting advised from Pastor Wright a man who dislike America and some more of his friends.Obama's wife Michelle said "In the first time in her adult life she have some respect for this country".This is a statement Michelle Obama made ,why people are not holding her as not patriotic as her pastor Mr.Wright?America is the only Super Power in the world do you think a person with three years experience would able to control it? I don,t think so.

I voted in the Jan 15 MI primary and feel that vote should count for someting. I disagee with the DNC is their position and and doing exactly what they complain about the RNC did in FL in 2000 – As to Obama not being on the ticket – CNN you continue to not state the fact that he pulled his name from the contest and has in more ways than one made his position the FL and MI delegeates not be seated – because he would have not won them like all the other large state the Democrats need to win the general

Take this to the Surpreme Court....I am glad not to be a citizen of Flordia.....Flordia should go to Clinton....Obama recd almost 1M votes ,, his name was on the ballot and people knew who he is or he would not have recd the votes..why did he leave his name on the ballot but take it off of Michigan what reason was that for.

YES WE CAN! To all of the racist, scared, and fearful people out there, rules are rules and you cant changed them in the middle of the campaign! Do not get mad at Obama,get mad at your representatives of each state respectively!!

Another rigged election wow what news

This is ridiculous.

I don't have a problem with the primaries like this. I defy anyone to find the word "Primary" in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, at least pertaining to this issue. Voting for delegates is not in the Consititution, therefore, regulating them can not be unconstitutional. So what? They broke the rules, they lose out, no one will do it again. Good. It's over. Congrats. By the way, this is Florida's fault. If they ponied up the money, or figured out a way to do it, they would have another primary. But it's not unconstitutional. I understand that they have a Republican majority in the state, but Dems were all for it too. I've heard at least 3 individuals, who are Dems, say that Dems were aware of the consequences, and still voted for it. They just wanted Florida in someone's "Win Column". Well, there they are, and the person they voted for is losing.

Is the florida state democratic party above the DNC? Is Hillary "the fighter" who is fighting for the florida pseudoelection to be uphled, above the DNC?
What use is the DNC if she can not discipline errant members?
Why aren't the florida democrats holding their state party officicals responsible for misleading them? If the table was revised i.e Hillary winning the popular votes,winning more primaries and Obama tagging behind, will Obama be praised or booed if he were to act that Florida pseudoelection be upheld to be legal?

Why are so many Obama supporters keen to disenfranchise the voters of Michigan and Florida? There should be a re-vote. Don't you believe in democracy? What are you afraid of?

I'm sure the people of Michigan and Florida are paying attention to which candidate thinks their votes should count.

Every person who wanted to vote in Florida has voted. It was a fair and level playing ground. Seat the delegates as is from Florida, because the Republicans caused the date change. Michigan should redo because it was a Democrat decision.

This is not about Clinton or Obama its about exercising your right to vote!!!! one of the basic rights every citizen should have.

What's wrong with Florida? They'd rather go to court than vote fairly?

I feel bad for the people in the state, they're being used by their party officials.

Michigan is working things out ammicably, why can't Florida?

HIllary is the Best for Florida and the Country.. Split the delegates according to the votes

Another stupid lawyer.......This is how we got into this mess in the first place. Do as he suggests and we the people might as well throw in the towel. The presidency will be further dictated by the ten largest states or 50 largest cities in the country. Small states and population centers will lose their voices. Only HRC's arrogance is possibly greater than this guy's.

Leap-frogging commonsense! Is the attorney general willing to stake his lisense to practice law on this case? Since when did (MI & FL's)DISREGARD for set electoral rules become a protected right that violates the 14th Amendment? What a wash?

I think that Florida and Mi would have been seated long time ago if Obama was the winner. The DNC leaders would ruther loss the two states than let Hillary win it.

I am so disappoint in the way CNN handles this election. It seemed that CNN has picked the next president, and would do anything to make it happen. The reports are so biased toward one candidate, especially in the last a few days. CNN, the most trusted name in news? Not any more for me. CNN lost me.

The sad thing is, which one should I see? FOX? MSNBC?

It will be a sad day for the democratic party, if Michigan and Florida are unable to have their votes count. According to the constitution , I have a right to vote and to have my vote count. If Michigan and Florida are unable to re-vote and have their delegates seated. Then all those people in both states should vote republican in November, and let the DNC choke on their rules.

Rules are not laws. Rules can be changed, Obama is finish with his racsist minister and if this shafting of the peoples vote happens. It will go against everything dems are about. McCain will become president

Let's just vote for McCain – this whole Democratic mess has caused me to leave the party.

People are starting to wonder if the Dems can't run their own party, how are they going to run the country? McCain and Repubs are loving all of this.

The DNC isn't a government body... it can do what it wants.

A few things worth keeping in mind:
1. Hillary actually did campaign in Florida. As I recall she started talking about the votes in FL counting before the primary. I would say that is more pandering than campaigning, but a far more persuasive argument to her supporters to turn out.
2. Hillary said MI wouldn't count so that makes her arguments about including all voters a bit late. (See pandering point above).
3. For the money this will cost we could feed a larger of homeless people tonight.
4. There is a professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, who has made no argument about this except that he will follow the rules of the DNC.
5. This is not about Obama vs. Clinton. Its about Clinton vs the rules

Why is it that Florida always gets it wrong? I say count the votes in Florida and have a re-vote in Michigan. Maybe with the new stuff that the media finally got around to bring forth about Obama: Clinton will get her chance to be president. Are you liberals so stupid that you can't see that Hillary has the best chance of winning? White American owns this country and will not give it up. end of story.

Most will admit the current method is flawed. The primaries are spread out so that the candidates can travel to various parts of the country to enable the voters to learn more about them. A same day election might be much more expensive.

Also, spreading out the voting helps to narrow the field, otherwise you may have a case where no one gets over 50% because of the number of candidates.
My suggestion is to have 4 or 6 regional election dates within a 6 week period from mid-January to March 1. This would help to control the travel and advertising budgets of the candidates, and still help to narrow the field.

Time for a national primary! Finally, maybe someone will realize that no one state's vote counts more or should count more than any other state. Follow the rules. Everyone should vote on Super Tuesday and all of this junk goes away. Move on...

Ok here it is. I vote every single time their is an opportunity to vote. I may not vote for everything that is on the ballot, but I am there to cast my vote. So, If there were other issues on the ballot in FL and people opted not to go vote, I would say that was their loss. Hillary, and obama were both on the ballot in FL, I don't feel that the statement that their votes would not count doesn't hold water. Those people are just poor citizens for not going to the polls to vote for the other issues that were on the ballot. Their loss, not the candidates. FL primary should stand as is from the January primary.

DO NOT seat the delegates. This is just another ploy by a scoundral (a.k.a. Hillary Clinton) to cheat herself into the winners seat.

This is the same argument employed in the unsuccessful attempt to shut down the at large precincts in Nevada. It didn't sell there, and I don't think it will sell here.

What an idiot! Political parties are not part of the government. Political parties are essentially private clubs and therefore the Constitution has no bearing on their responsibilities to their members. I don't see how lawyers belong in any part of this. If anything, the DNC should banish Hilary Clinton from the party because of her campaigning in Florida and Michigan in direct violation of her signed pledge to not do so. ...but what's another broken promise to a Clinton ...even if it's got your signature on paper?

Who cares who he supports-Floridians deserve to be heard and their votes counted!!!

Enough with the delegates, superdelegates, caususes, voting on different days, weird state rules, etc.....Both parties pick a day, have the people vote & whoever gets the most votes wins. What a mess.

...this is why I'm not a registered voter.

I want change.
Not 24 or 28 years of Bush and Clinton in a row.
Obama is someone who can restore our country's reputation and who has a chance to unite our country for important future goals.
I cannot believe all these Clinton bloggers, who are calling Obama a liar. I don't understand this hatred. All experts are saying Obama and Clinton have very similar wievs on issues, so why the hatred?
I can live with Clinton, if for some unexpected reason Obama won't be nominated.
People who are saying if Obama is nominated – I'll vote for McCain must be republican by heart. They can't be true democrats!

Florida and Michigan agreed to the rules prior to scheduling and holding their primaries. In the case of Florida the primary was moved up, not by the local DNC but by the Republican led legislature. Which should be held liable for attempting to interfere with this political process. The reason why all of the primaries are not held on one day, is because the candidates need time to go to each state and be introduced to the voters and plead the reasons why they should be elected. So, if they cannot all be held at the same time, some will have to be first, these could be rotated to be sure. In the end, the votes are all counted and none are more valuable than the others. the emphasis is all placed by the press.

I'd like to see how it turns out because, as far as I know, the DNC can do whatever it wants. The election laws do not cover this issue because it is the DNC and they are choosing a candidate, not electing an office.

Will be NO re-do

The problem is not with the DNC, it is with the state officials, sue them. Will someone please put an end to the Clinton's and there reign terror.

duh.... the equal protection clause states that "no state shall deny any of its citizens equal protection under the law." the DNC is not a state.

does anyone known if the citizens of florida and michigan protested? if my state decided to break the rules and my vote wasn't going to count, i'd be up in arms. it's the state's faults.

The DNC needs to step in to stop this never ending infighting. I voted "uncommitted" in Michigan, and felt pretty darn good about it. I am no way disenfranchised, and it is disingenuous to suggest that I am. Just because the governer screwed up, shouldn't make me pay. Move on without Florida and Michigan. It would be funny to see the incompetent state leaders not go to the convention.

MIchigan & Florida can only blame their Govenors, and themselves.

You voted them in, and they understood the rules !

Did you people read the part about how the case was filed way last summer?

This is not a Clinton/Obama issue, so stop making it into one. This is about basic freedoms and having a fair election where EVERY vote matters. I want this to go all the way. I want my vote counted.

Florida and Michigan are trying to steam roll the American public. They know they're are both delegate rich, and that the candidates would want their votes. So the states had temper tantrums.

Let them stew, who cares. In fact, I wish they could be shut out of the general election, but this is America.

Some attorney said that primary votes are private, and they don't need federal intervention. But the general election is different, and every voter has the right to vote.

Hey Florida and Michigan, get with the program, or don't vote.

They should hold revotes in both, if they feel disenfranchised. Michigan is obvious, because only Clinton's name was on the ballot. Florida, though, would require a revote as well. Since, there was no campaigning. Unless Clinton wins virtually all of the remaining states with over 60% of the vote, it doesn't matter. She'll pick up at best 10 delegates from PA, and she's down 169 (roughly)

Why wasn't this case launched back when the punishment was meted out? Interesting timing isn't it? Obvious Clintonite – I'd bet my house on it.

Apparently his copy of the Constitution calls for the establishment of political parties. Interesting.

I agree it doesn't make sense for states not to be able to move their primaries up. This should be changed. But the fact is the DNC makes the rules and they warned Florida what the results would be. Florida made their bed and now they need to sleep in it. If Florida wants a do-over, then fine. But they should have to pay for it. Not the DNC. It stinks all those voters won't count, but life is rarely fair.

In this case, the democrats are not really democratic.

Jose, I think you have it wrong. It is Obamas camp that wants a new vote in Florida. They lost the first time by a landslide.

I would love to know why Florida sets itself up every election to disrupt the process...You have our attention...Is that what it's about?...Please, just get with the program...Rules are rules whether you like them or not...The rest of the country is getting really fed up with you placing yourselves center stage all the time.

Florida had a record turnout. That means more people came out to vote than ever before. I can't imagine anyone staying home but if they did it would have been on both sides.

Debra-""If you don't like ther results- try again.""

Since the results were that Florida and Michigan broke the rules and were disqualified, it would seem to be Clinton that doesn't like the results and wants to try again.

I'm amazed at the number of arguments that Clinton supporters make that are actually backwards.

The florida votes from January should count. They shouldnt spend one dime on a revote.
Obama had the "audacity" to air ads there even though they werent supposed to campaign, and he still lost.
So too bad, the sneak did not benefit. Hillary won, and the votes better count.
A suit was filed for this and I am afraid Obama supporters, that those Jan votes will matter.
He should have saved his money.

if the state of florida or any other state decide to hold elections earlier than the dnc or the rnc decide they should it is the states right to do so we are not ruled by the democrats or republicans . they are the ones whom are supposed to represent us ... and niether party is doing a very good job of representation . we are now going to have another election to determine who will do the least ammount of damage to the country

Because the DNC is it's own institution, it sets it's own rules. Since the sanctions were set by DNC bylaws, there is no grounds to sue. Nice try Hillary.

Take responsibility for your actions...FL and MI took a chance and lost...now they should pay the consequences they agreed to in the begining. If they dont like it then they should tell their leaders, leave the party and make a new one or deal with it.

The DNC is not a state actor and thus equal protection doesn't apply . GO BACK TO LAW SCHOOL BUDDY!!

Michigan and Florida BROKE THE RULES.
They KNEW the rules and broke them anyway.

The voters were told BEFORE the election that the votes would NOT count.

Many Obama supporters did not go to the polls.

Now the Clinton folk want to play dirty and do anything to win.

Vote for the person with integrity – VOTE OBAMA!

Umm this is stupid and will get thrown out again since there is NO requirement for the DNC to run a vote at all, they could just appoint a candidate, these votes are nothing more than a political tool and are therefore not covered under the equal protectin law.. pitiful tryu, is Mr. Clinton paying this lawyer? We will not ever know since Ms. clinton will not release her papers!

I'm not a legal scholar, but he needs to answer this question if his arguments are to make any sense: since the DNC is not holding elections for any federal, state, or city office but is essentially a private coalition holding a vote among it's members regarding an endorsement, how does the Constitution even enter into it? A political party should be able to choose it's nominee by drawing straws if it wants to. It can exclude or include whoever it wants.

Also, do we really want yet another election determined by a lawsuit? Because the first one end up so spectacularly.

Most Clinton supporters are not in favor of sitting the delegates from the previous primary, however I believe that these states should have another primary. I agree with this attorney on the point that states should not be treated different and should not be given preference in early primary voting. The DNC should rotate all states in a way that they will all play an important primary role every 4 years.

I hate to say this but i am going to say this america needs to wake up

Obama supporters, what are you afraid of if 52% of democrats really prefer Obama?

Nobody can shut down the voices of millions of people. It’s a crime to do so...

I have been waiting for this like alot of other people have, Clintons at work to get gain for themselves. The rules don't apply to them, they are "special" or so they think! They are above the rules, they knew what would happen last fall before the elections in FL and MI. So the Clintons are doing everything they can do at any angle they can just like this liar for hire is trying to do. If it's a fight they want, I say give it to them, The Clintons are losers and so is this idiot lawyer even when a judge threw it out last year, he ( this idiot lawyer) thinks he should change his mind (the judge) and make it so the Clintons can steal the elections like thieves in the night.

If this judge has any smarts, he will throw it out again and tell the Clintons they aren't going to cheat their way into winning like Gore tried to do in 2000. If this is changed by this judge there are going to be lawsuits from now until eternity. Obama will win. 14th ammendment, haha!

Political parties have no business interfering with citizens' constitutionally guaranteed right to vote through their unelected leaders' rules and policies. Government can and should limit the parties' privately exercised powers when they disenfranchise voters.

Personally, at this point, I don't care. I do believe that the rules were in place and both MI and FLA violated them. But do we honestly want to not seat these delegates? I'd rather see total election reform after all this is over. The caucus are undemocratic. Primaries are simple, one vote per person, in and out in a few minutes. Rotate the states as to when they can hold their primaries. Enough with NH and Iowa and the rest of them. In this case, being last may be key to who will be the nominee.

Could they bring up the fact that the voters were told their votes wouldnt count and therefore many didnt actually go vote. Many went to vote mainly due to a property tax issue being voted on as well. Had the voters gone then were told the votes wouldnt count then I could see the problem.

Obama 08

DNC is presiding over a train wreck in motion. Obama as a nominee is a gaurantee win for John Mccain in November,

Did Hillary have a party for superdelegates? This woman will do anything to win this election even if it will mean tearing the party down.
Hey, I have a question,
Must Hillary win?

Bravo! About time someone challenged the gross inequities of the rigged primary process. We either have equal protection and treatment of all citizens or we have hypocrisy instead of democracy. If the DNC is a private entity, as they argue in court, then why doesn't it pay entirely for its private elections? Fact is that the public is paying to hold these elections and the DNC is acting as an entity of the state supported in the primaries by elections fully paid by the taxpayer. Just seat the Florida and Michigan delegates as elected!

I smell a rat. It is election time and silly season of suprime court begins, any difference with hanging chads?

Leave it to Florida, hey , probably a republican attorney who got the idea from Rush. How about those tax returns, kinkos is open 24 hours.

The Democratic National Committee is NOT a government entity and is not subject to the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. It can be most closely equated to a club, with a branch in each state. If the club makes rules that apply to the branches in every state, and one or two of those branches decides to break those rules, then the club is perfectly within its rights to suspend that branch.

All that the 14th Amendment guarantees is the right to vote. On matters dealt with by the government, this cannot be legally denied. In a primary being held by a political party—which is not a government organization—it is up to the party to decide whose votes count, and if a state or a voter breaks the party's rules, then the party can and should act accordingly.

To the politicians in Florida and Michigan,

You broke the rules, you knew it was wrong and decided to take a chance anyway. You screwed the people of your state and if it wasn't for the Dem nominees being in such a tight race your states lack of delegates wouldn't even be an issue. Next time [Florida/Michigan], elect smarter representatives.

Florida and MI...give up already alright!!! You didn't stick to the rules...therefore you lose your delegates. Easy as that. Do you not understand ENGLISH???

It is a party primary. It is not an election. The party gets to set the rules.

There is no legal right to vote in a party primary.

Another waste of the courts time.

Uhhh, what about Texas. Hillary Clinton is trying her dead best to disenfranchise and overturn our caucus votes. That was after the Democratic Party's establishment made things almost impossible for us to conduct our caucuses. That sure does not sound like democracy at work to me!!!

She cares so much for Florida and Michigan but not Texas...or just the part of Texas' vote she overwhelmingly lost.

The delegates should not be seated. The DNC gave them the rules, and all of the canidates knew the delegates would NOT be counted. If someone ends up with the short end of the stick, oh well.

Why didn't you speak out earlier when the ban was made...Are you supporting Hillary and now want an unfair advantage? We will re-run the election in Florida so stop hurting your head trying to settle things in court

Florida better get on with the revote. Obama is smaking his lips at being able to alter the results in florida. After all, if you are Obama, If you don't like ther results- try again. If you don't support this you are called a racist. .

DNC may be a private entity, but it does use the public fund to have the primary election. Unless DNC refund all 50 states for its primary election cost, it is not a private matter at all.

Hmm, think the conservative Supreme Court will let us know who's going to be the Democratic nominee in time for the general election in November?

EVERY VOTE COUNTS.

Umm...the Democratic Party is not established, nor is it regulated, by the Constitution or any of its amendments. It is a private party and it can choose its candidates however it likes.

I can start a political party on my own and if I want to choose the candidate based on who can throw a baseball farther, that's my right as the leader of the party.

If the government takes over the two parties in terms of how they choose their candidates, it will be the end-all to the multi-party system in America as we know it. Soon there will be two "official" parties, regulated by laws and politicians, and it will be yet another step toward completely obliterating democracy in America.

This is the most absurd thing I've read in a long, long time.

I wonder, is he a Clinton supporter? He has no real ground to stand on because 2.6 million democratic voters DID NOT vote because they were told their votes would not count. Florida completely aware of and the Florida political powers voted and accepted the DNC plan, then decided to do their own thing. This is the fault of the two states and their leadership.

The last time I checked, the DNC was not a state, and therefore, the equal protection clause doesn't apply. But, his point is a good one, he has misdirected his anger at the DNC, and his focus should be on the state officials that allowed this to happen. Again, they knew the rules and blatantly chose to ignore. They were told of the consequences and still could have changed the date, and did not do so. It is the same thing we tell our children: in life there are rules, and when you do not follow the rules, those rules have consequences. This really is not rocket science.

so we have a REALLY SUPER TUESDAY and vote All of them the same day?

I agree 100%. It's outrageous that a handful of states (especially the same states every time) can hold their vote earlier than the rest.

On what basis did a judge actually dismiss that case?