No one expected such a close race when this all began. Michigan and Florida should redo the vote and it should count.

Jack,
We need a compromise, somehow, somewhere.

NONE, the rules are the rules. Everyone knew what the rules were going in. You don’t change the rules once the game begains. What lesson does this teach our children & other countries?

If you don’t like the way things are going, look for loop holes & trickery ways to change or alter the rules. Haven’t americans already lowered ourselves enough?

I think the results of their primaries should be used to assign the delegates.It will be great insult to the democratic process if they are excluded. If the are not included ,then the states should sue them .

I think Michigan should be redone because all the candidates were not on the ballet. I think Florida should stand because all names were on the ballot and I think the Florida voters knew who was who. Didn’t Obama “accidentally” have a commercial hit the airwaves down there anyway because it was part of a regional ad package that he purchased?

Michigan and Florida voters should have no more and no less role than any other voter in deciding between Clinton and Obama. I never have understood why changing the primary dates was such a big deal and why the DNC wanted to punish them. I’d think the DNC would want to keep voters happy in light of the outcomes in 2000 and 2004. Silly me.

If the Florida tax payers end up footing a bill because Mr. Dean and his gang can’t live by their own decisions–there will be hell to pay in the general election.

As a person who cast a write in absentee ballot for John Edwards I watched my vote go right down the toilet. Michigan and Florida originally agreed to these rediculous rules and they should be held to them. Nothing should count, especially the super delegates as they were responsible for the mess.

I can’t stress enough how disaserous it would be if Michigan and Florida’s delegates were assigned according to their previous primary vote. If the DNC wanted to somehow have a new Primary or Caucus in those states then I think people would be fine with that although in this crucial election year for the Dems any money that is not focused on the General Election may become a big disadvantage come November. I guess as long as the rules are followed according to the DNC election process we can’t blame those states for wanting their votes to count. But let me tell you with all the talk of the Super Delegates taking this election away from Obama any action the DNC takes on this matter will be closely scrutinized!

I don’t think they should have any say this election cycle. The DNC should follow through, and not capitulate.

It’s like grounding your kid, and then ten minutes later, giving him your car keys.

Democrats can’t afford not to seat them. Maybe they can work out a deal for some to go to Obama.

This time they should be assigned official observer status at the convention, and next time around … they should play according to the rules of the game.

Democrats can not afford to not seat them. Maybe they can work a deal for a few to go to Obama.

THIS IS NOT A DUPLICATE.

Michigan and Florida knew the rules and still opted to be early. If the voters of these states are not happy they should oust the ones that allowed this. Having them count now is unfair and Clintonian. Kinda like playing a scrimmage and then wanting to count it in the regular season. Have a new primary or don’t count them but you can’t change the rules just to please one canidate.

The Democratic party leaders should visit a proctologist to find their heads. In order for voters in these states to play any role, new primaries should be held in both states. Barack Obama obeyed the rules and should not be punished for that nor should Hillary Clinton be rewarded for breaking the rules. Of course she’s determined to get elected regardless of the consequences which will likely result in a win for John McCain.

Jane
Lacey, WA

I think Florida and Michigan voters should have the opportunity to vote in a new primary so that they feel they have a voice in the selection process. If we don’t let them have that opportunity, they may not show up to vote in November or even worse, they might vote for McCain.

None, these states primaries were held too early in the opinion of the Demmocratic Committee, so the delegates should not be allowed to vote in the convention. Or we can just let them in too, (why not? and compound the belief that rules do not matter any more in this country.
Very few people think we have a say in anything or that there is any integrity left in the political system. Might as well take away any vestige of confidence.
The committee should do away with the convention and just allow the popular vote in the primaries and caucus results tdetermine the candidates. Then we the people would have at least a small say in the process before the electoral college chooses the president for us.

Jack
Florida and Michigan should not have any role in picking the democratic canidate. Both these states violated the rules of the party.

Jack,

The voters and delegates had nothing to do with the decisions of these two states in moving up the primaries, so why should their voices not be heard? A re-do is the only fair way to deal with this.

I want to vote in may!!!!

Hillary won them. She played by the silly DNC rules, and she clearly WON them!! Why should the voters of FL and MI be disinfranchised or have to vote again, just because the DNC can’t get its you-know-what together?

So the two states’ delegates should go to Hillary, period. From here on, let’s have winner take all, and get this over with! The republicans are laughing at, and profiting by, our ineptitude! Will we EVER learn how to win elections?

Last I checked, Florida and Michigan were still part of the union. Maybe Howard Dean has a more updated atlas, though? Their citizens should be afforded the same rights and obligations as the rest of us. The good news for the people in those states is that Republicans are more than happy to count their votes come November. They will be heard one way or the other.

He doesn’t have a chance of winning following the Bush policies. So, I guess a Woman or a Black person, wouldn’t you think?

The situation in Florida occurred to begin with because a republican governor made a decision that affected the democratic voters in Florida. How fair is that? Hillary Clinton followed the rules, however and the people came out and voted for her anyway.

The people in both Florida and Michigan went to the polls to speak their minds and these votes should be counted. There should not be another primary in these states that is ignoring the will of the people that took time from their lives to go and vote in the first place.

Who’s in charge here? Last I thought it was the American People!

florida and michgan should not play any role. let them face the consequence of their action and let others learn from it.

if the DNC can’t maintain a firm stand on this, then the party should break up and let the republicans have their way.

“obedience is the first law in heaven…”

As a lifelong Michigan resident I would find it completely reprehensible for the state to request that its primary results be counted.

Though several have skirted the issue, no one has explictly stated that the reason Hillary Clinton’s name was the only one to appear on the Democratic ballot was because she made a conscious decision to Violate the DNC rules which she and every other candidate originally agreed to.

Many have stated that the primary was unfair because other candidates’ names did not appear, but the larger point is that they didn’t appear because those candidates abided by their party rules, unlike Hillary.

Why she would receive an exemption from those rules is bewildering. And it’s shocking that there is even debate about rewarding her flagrant violation by counting the votes.

Moreover, Michigan is virtually in an economic recession and cannot afford to put on another primary. Michigan’s chance has passed. Now we should look onward to the 10 remaining states and try to unite the party.

Sincerely,

Jamie Flaherty
Detroit, Michigan 48221

They should either count the delegates that HIllary won during the Florida and Michigan primaries or they should reduce the total number of delegates needed to win by the total of Pledged and Super Delegates in both Michigan and Florida.

A do over shouldn’t be done because a vote today wouldn’t represent the feelings of the voters at the time of the original primaries.

Jack,

As much as the cry for ‘each vote must count’ rings true in a Democratic system, so must rules, especially since they were agreed to in advance!

So, there can be no modification of rules after the fact, except at the risk of making the party appear devoid of all credibility. And why is the party allowing ANY candidate to blame the DNC for this situation?

Any candidate trying to force this issue - as Clinton seems hell-bent on doing - should be shown up for precisely what they are: a bit too much of a lawyer for their own good.

They shouldn’t play any role, Jack. It was a known fact BEFORE the election that it wouldn’t count. It was also known WHY it wouldn’t count. If they decided to have an election and vote anyway, that’s up to Florida and Michigan. It’s also up to those states to inform or remind each voter that it didn’t count. If the people voted anyway, that was their choice. If they were upset because it didn’t count, that is something they need to take up with their state Dem. Party because the DNC told the states in no uncertain terms that it didn’t count.

Rules are nothing more than wishes if they aren’t enforced.

Let’s hope my vote doesn’t get shoved under the carpet by states who broke the rules. Then again, … I guess that would be par for the course with these two parties.

OK, there’s the real question, Jack. And it seems that with the close race, they will have to count them eventually and that means trouble for Mr. Obama! Seems Hillary was right to campaign there when no one else would! Good Hillary, Bad Obama!

First of all Hillary was the only real candidate on the michigan ballot and she did not follow the rules of no campaigning in Florida which includes having a rally the night she won 55% of the popular vote.

There are only two options that I see:
1) Have a whole new election for both states
2) Split the total number of delegates in half and give half to Hillary and the other half to Obama.

Greetings from Michigan — the DNC should count our votes! We’ve watched Nevadans have the privilege to vote at their workplace. New Hampshire also moved up their primary, but WITHOUT ANY PENALTY. Finally, we’ve watched Texans vote twice. With exceptions for so many others, the DNC cannot justify leaving us out.

Hellloooo! Knock, knock, anybody home?

We voters in Florida have already voted. All presidential contenders names were on our Democratic presidential primary ballot. There is NO reason for us to have to vote again.

Simply count our votes!

As to Michigan, Hillary seemed to be the only one smart enough to put her name on the ballot. I say count her Michigan votes, and give the uncommited votes to Barack. I understand Barack supporters told the Michigan voters to vote uncommited anyway!

There you go. Seems simple as pie, doesn’t it?

Mary, 1 of 4 Florida Voters (where the votes never seem to count!)

They need to do a do over. What is fair is fair. No way this represents a democratic process as to how it stands now. The sad fact is that if everyone had let it play out without eliminating them it still would have come down to Puerto Rico deciding it. Funny huh.

Bill H. Long Island, NY

Florida and Michigan, in a rush to become what they considered “relevant,” agreed to the silly DNC scheme that has resulted in them being irrelevant. Even if the game is replayed, how is it fair to Richardson, Kucinich, Biden, Edwards and Dodd, candidates who have already dropped out of the race? Edwards’ populist message might have won him Michigan and changed the trajectory of the contest. I’m afraid they’re up the proverbial creek and there’s no paddle in sight.

Hello Jack,

This is getting ridiculous. Wasn’t it decided and agreed to by both the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, that the delegates of Florida and Michigan would not be seated because the states went outside of party rules when they changed their primary dates? Both Barack Obama and former democratic Presidential candidate, John Edwards did not even campaign in those states following the mutual agreement of all to not have those delegates seated. And from what I understand, Barack Obama’s name wasn’t even on the ballot in Michigan!! What is Hillary Clinton’s campaign trying to do?! Rewrite the rules when it best fits their campaign? How fair and honest is that? Would she be arguing for those delegates to be seated if Barack Obama “won” in those states? And Jack, notice I placed quotation marks around “won” because if candidates like Obama and Edwards didn’t really campaign in those states, how can Hillary Clinton say she “won” any of them fairly. Her “Solutions for America” should come up with a “Solution” for that.

Kay
Atlanta, GA

Jack, the Democratic establishment will have egg all over their collective faces if they reverse position and allow the primaries in Michigan and Florida to count. And Hillary will weaken her position if she makes a whining federal case over those delegates. What should happen, however, is that the super-delegagtes from those two states should declare their intent to vote the way their state’s or district’s residents voted.

The phrase; “You did it to yourself” really applies here. In all fairness, have a caucus before Pennsylvania and allow the candidates to spend some more money, after all they have only spent 1/4 of a Billion Dollars so far. Oh by the way have the caucus when HRC is out of the country for two weeks prior to the caucus that way maybe it won’t be so nasty.

One word: NONE

The state leaders of Florida and Michigan have little say in the matter at this point. However, the superdelegates should look at who these states chose and consider that the next president will probably have to win New York, California, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan to beat John McCain. It’s really a no-brainer.

The rules were established by the Democratic party and both candidates, H&O, agreed to the fact that if Michigan and Flordia primaries were held before their appointed dates, that the delegates would not be seated at the convention. Each state decided to hold their primaries early, therefore there are consequences for their action. That is the price they pay for the decisions they choose. Funny how when one candidate is lagging behind in delegates, the urgency to incldue Flordia and Michigan becomes paramount. Even though the will of the voter will be void, they should not play any role in the nomination of either Obama or Hillary. They will have another opportunity in November to make their decision.

I think the Chairman has it right. The rules can’t be changed in the middle of the game. Politics has a bad enough rep as it is already. Joe citizen is just beginning to dare to hope, that would nip it in the bud.

None. They gave up their right and life should never benefit the spoiler, which is the roll they wanted to play. It is what it is and as the numbers indicate, they will not make a difference to the Clinton race so why bother? Put the Democratic party out of it’s misery and let us have a candidate before we load up the Republicans to the point that we cannot win back the White House come November. A good question? Where is Gore? Edwards? anyone who cares about the Democratic party???They are letting this destroy not only the party but the election.

Michigan and Florida should not play any role in picking the winner. They knew the rules and broke them. The Candidates signed off on the rules to not count the delegates. Game over. Jack please write a new book on how to play fair and send a copy to Hillary.

Jack,
Michigan and Florida don’t count and will not count but they will be at the convention. This game of “I won big States”, “you can win without Ohio..” Imagine if Gore won West Virginia in 2000? There no big States and small States in politics.

Chantilly, Virginia

Jack,

I don’t care what role these two states play in the campaign. All we can expect is more of the strident displays of temper, childishness, and egocentric crowing from Hillary Clinton. I am tired of her tirades and her less than subtle displays of her willingness to win at any cost. Our country is in desperate need of leadership, but all I have seen is political dirty tricks and I will not tolerate any more. She has never had to respond to any crisis; we have been duped. We need to remember why she was sent to more than 80 countries; her husband’s administration knew the American people didn’t want to see or hear from her. Texans and Hillary Clinton can two-step all they want; Ohioians can take pleasure in their defeat of Obama; but I am one Democrat who has never voted for a Republican candidate who will not belly up to Hillary Clinton’s bar; I will vote for the Republican candidate.

What role should they play? NONE! The DNC knew when the primaries were being held, and the taxpayers in my home state of Florida paid 18 million dollars for the first primary. Now there is talk of a do-over? I voted, they were counted, and Hillary won. End of story. If these kooks think we are going to vote again, just wait until the lawsuits start flooding in from disenfranchised democratic voters against the DNC in Florida. It will make dimple chads look like microscopic specks of dust in the Florida Everglades. Howard Dean needs to think twice about what he is doing……he is not a king, and no one will tolerate him sitting there like a cheshire cat on a velvet pillow pontificating over the fate of Florida and Michigan.

You have got to be kidding me. NONE! One of them Obama was not even on the ticket and the other there was no campaigning or exposure to the candidates. If they want to count those states, make them re-vote, otherwise give it up. If they count them, it really will damage the party.

It looks like neither Obama nor Clinton will have the delegates necessary to officially clinch the nomination after the primaries and caucuses are done with in June. It is important that the DNC figure out a way for the people of Florida and Michigan to not be disenfranchised and have their vote count because if nothing is done, there is no way that they can win Florida in the general election. In what is expected to be a tight race, that could make all the difference as to who ends up in the White House…a la 2000. After Michigan and Florida have their votes count, then, and only then, can the superdelegates make the deciding vote if necessary.

What role, if any, should Michigan and Florida play in picking the winner between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama?

The democratic party has made a mess of this whole thing.

If they stick to their guns the republicans can claim those voters would count for something if they voted republican in Nov.

If they change the rules, the republicans can correctly state that the democrats can’t plan anything correctly, and they should not be in charge of the government. Imagine these guys taking care of your health care, Iraq, the economy and the list goes on,

Imagine having to fund another primary. Talk about wasteful government spending, etc.

What should they do…. fire the people that made this mess. Expecting these guys to fix it, would be a HUGE political mistake.

Harry
Carlisle, Ky.

I am not an Obama supporter, but what’s fair is fair. It is unthinkable that those two states could worm their way out of the consequences of their decisions when the consequences were clearly presented at the outset.

Seriously, was the DNC kidding when they said that the Michigan and Florida votes weren’t going to count?

“NO” means “NO” whether in sex or politics and you’d better mean it!

As a Michigan voter my role was decided for me by people I don’t know and never even heard of. It makes me mad when talking heads say “They knew what the rules were when they decoded to go early”. Well, excuse me, but “they” didn’t. I want my vote back.

Jack,
The Democrats raised hell at the Supreme Court for disenfranchising Florida in 2000. Will the Democrats do it this time themselves to Florida and Michigan?
Burt

I think every vote, from every state, should be counted. I`m not sure how the rules were made, but I`m pretty sure the average voter didn`t have a thing to do with it. Then on the other hand, If these votes are added to the corrent count, then Obama is going to be screwed. You can`t vote for someone if their name isn`t even on the ballot. I think the people should be heard by holding another primary in these two states. Who is going to pay for it? Split the cost between the two candidates, the two states, and th Federal Government. That way it`s not a major strain on any one party. We can send a Billion Dollars to any number of unknown countries,for unknown causes, so I`m sure we can foot the bill, for a small election to protect one of the few rights we still have.

just magine if you will Jack what an exercise in futility and waste of time and money it would be if Florida and Michigan were both given a re-do and the primary still was a draw. These two candidates need to look at whats best for their party and more importantly whats best for their country and put their egos aside. The democratic party could win the white house for a 16 year term instead of a four year term if these two would just do the right thing.

Jack: NONE!

I don’t understand why the democrats of Fla and Mich refused to play by the rules that were set forth. Changing the rules in the middle of the game is not acceptable. Thus: Florida and Michigan should have no representation at the convention.

Michigan and Florida knowingly broke party rules. The results in those states are null and void no matter what. To include those results as they are (as Hillary Clinton wants) is a crime against democracy and I think we have had enough of those in recent years. Democrats must stand firm on this, or other states will attempt to break the rules again. If Michigan and Florida need to be included somehow they should either split the delegates in both states 50/50 or spend millions of taxpayer dollars organizing new primaries or caucuses and allowing time for the candidates to campaign in those states. Otherwise they should just be ignored. Hillary Clinton wants to seat those delegates as they are because she “won” those states (where her main opponent wasn’t on the ballot and not allowed to campaign), but this isn’t Russia where you get to win by default.

Ramone F.
Lithonia, GA

None!

Their local party chairmans decided for them…
It’s a done deal…..

I think they should be left in the convention and their votes counted. Because these two states help will be needed in the presidential election which they might not get 100% of if they are not allowed to participate in choosing to candidate.

The only role they should play is to sit home at night and read their copy of “How to Play by the Rules.” They knew the rules and chose to ignore them. Letting their votes count now sends a very bad message to children — “rules don’t matter.”

Anne
Texas

Time to end the bull fertilizer and do this according to the rules of the party. The Democratic National Committee can raise the money to hold a new primary or caucus in Michigan and a primary in Florida. It could easily be accomplished this June. In the absence of leadership, chaos develops. This continuing silence from the DNC is only creating problems. They need to step up and lead.

Jim
Chicago, IL

None.

There were rules, the states were told the consequences and they still broke them. It’s just that simple. How can a party aspire to running a country if they can’t even enforce the rules of their own choosing?

My fondest hope, yeah there’s that hope word again, is that FL and MI won’t matter. From what I’ve read, Clinton gets about 65 more delegates than Obama in those two states, and that might not be enough to matter. Wouldn’t it be great if all of this hype over FL and MI delegates was just that, hype, and in the end they could be seated peacefully. Well, one can always hope.

Al, Lawrence KS

Jack,
None, unless they re-do the primaries here. As a registered democrat in FL I would feel betrayed if they just went ahead and seated the delegates. We were told our votes would not count, so many stayed home and didn’t waste their time voting. But now that Hillary needs a shot in the arm they want to change the rules. What kind of bakwords ass politics is this? You can’t tell millions of registered voters that their votes won’t count and then count them when it suits your needs, or can you? How can we try and spread democracy around the world when we can’t even get it right at home?

Michigan & Florida broke the rules, they have no say.
This should be a lesson to all , follow the rules!
Grandholm should keep her nose out of things. She has no right to tell us MI voters who we have to vote for.

Tammie
Midland, MI

NONE UNLESS THERE IS A NEW ELECTION TO BE FAIR TO BOTH THE CANIDATES AND THE PEOPLE;

None because Hillary can use it to her advantage while Obama and Edwards played by the rules laid down to them.

Elizabeth
Gregory, TX

They HAVE to play a Role Jack. If they don’t you are Telling Millions Of Voters that their votes Count for Nothing. And that is wrong and stupid in a way that could cost the Democrats the White house if they are not careful. They need to count those delegates, and they need to give a percentage of delegates to both contenders for the Presidency. The question then becomes how do you apportion them and make it fair? THAT’S a question that needs to be answered by Howard Dean.

Mike From Staten Island, New York

As a Michigander, I want my vote to count and to be fair at the same time. We, the voters, should not be penalized because some politicians (from both sides) got too creative for their own good! I am in favor of redoing the election and before someone says it is too expensive, please tell me how it is possible to spend 60 million dollars to blow a spy satellite out of the sky, but we cannot afford the money to make sure that every American’s votes counts! Also, please inform Sen Clinton that she did not win Michigan because the other major candidates were not on the ballot!

Detroit, MI

The voters voted - they had no voice on whether the primary was moved up or not - why should they be left out.
None of the candidates had to remove their name from the ballot in Michigan. Both of the candidate names were on in florida and the playing field was equal - no campaigning. People watch news Jack - I am sure they did not miss the big hug and kiss the media was giving Obama - so he was actually at an advantage in that respect - not to mention he aired ads in Florida and Hillary did not.
Let them stand I say.

The people have made their choice. Keep it the way it is.

None. Everyone agreed to the rules and now there is no turning back.

Jack,

Democrats would be insane to not bring two very important states in the general election into the primary process. This will hurt them in November. It will be up to Howard Dean to broker a fair solution….Better now then when it will completely decide the election.

We probably won’t have a voice due to Dumb (Gov. Crist) and Dumber (Howard Dean) trying to prove who has the biggest ego or other items. I rally don’t know which one to blame, if it’s Crist I hope McCain picks him as his running mate they would be a perfect clone for the two dumbies we have in office now. I think you’ll see the honeymoon between Crist and the voters of Florida disappear very soon. He looks at himself as the great decider also.

Best of three Michagan vs. Florida Football games. Am a bitter Buckeye fan healing from two (too recent) national champianship losses to Florida and one to LSU. Would enjoy the excitement of winner take all.

If they hadn’t moved up their primary, they could have played a very big role. Now, they shouldn’t play any role.

No way. They were disqualified for a reason. They moved up their primaries to have more influence. Allowing them to play a part in the decision would be like grounding a child only to let them go out and play half way through the day. They don’t learn their lesson.

Also, it would be unfair to Obama. He didn’t campaign in either state because they were disqualified, and in one of the states, he wasn’t even on the ballot. How fair is it to count them when there wasn’t even a real competetion in these states…?

I’m a college student in South Florida, and simply put there are many of us registered dems who did not choose when our primary would be. By counting us out, the democratic party risks alienating us completely, which would be a big mistake considering how important Florida was in the 2000 election.

This is just a question…

I know that Florida had other issues on the ballot, such as taxes, when their primary was held.

IF the Democratic party were to hold another primary, would this potentially invalidate the outcome of the other issues, or will all of that become fodder for the legal system??

I am trying to find out that answer.

Both were on the ballot for Florida, Clinton won Florida, she should get it and its delegetes.

Redo Michigan Primary.

Ohio

The U.S. of American must unite now!

I urge everyone to call you’re local politicians and tell them to tell Barack and Hillary to stop battling it out and join together. Republicans have a nominee it’s time democrats do as well.

Vote Clinton for President and Obama for Vice President now! America needs a woman and an African American in the White House. The world wants it!

Jack, it’s obvious that Michigan and Florida, 2 of the 50 states in this country, should have equal role as each and every single state. We are comprised of 50 states, not 48…

We’d like to be part of the process down here but understand that there were rules. If a solution could be reached that is fair and agreed to by both candidates (although it seems that Mrs. Clinton didn’t abide by the agreed rules in the past) that involves a primary after one or two weeks of campaigning - we’d have a huge voter turnout. The results that have been attributed to the democratic candidates are skewed and do not reflect the entire state constituents and should not be counted.

Thanks for the question.

Enough of the Rules are Rules argument……

Look at the facts in Florida…..

A overwhemingly Republican controlled legislature decides to move up the primary date….We the people did not ask for this….

Please explain why the DNC chose to punish Florida Democrats for this when they had no control or say in the decision?

Way to bite your nose off to spite your face DNC…Good luck winning in November when you basically disenfranchised all Florida Democrats for something that was not their fault….

Republicans are just Laughing at us…Yet again.

All this talk that Michigan and Florida agreed to these rules is absurd. I’m a Florida voter and I DIDN”T agree to these rules.

Count thos Floridians. No butterfly ballot, no bad punches, everyone on the ticket. Millions of people voted in Florida, without even one hanging Chad. How can you say to all those folks “too bad”. Do you know what an effort it can be to get out and vote in Florida. Michigan is another story since Obama was not even on the ballot, Michigan should re-do.

I really believe that all states should count and would love to see a real race in those states. (Hillary wants the votes to count because she won on name recognition). Notice that she does not acknowledge all the states in the union always belittling the states that BO wins. And now believes that only what Ohio says matters.

However, I don’t believe in changing the rules mid stream. The DNC should stick to their rules.

Florida and Michigan can only be counted if they participate in another vote. Since many people knew the initial votes would not count, they simply didn’t show up. For Hillary to claim victory is kinda like a Castro claiming victory in Cuba. Her winning in either state has essentially no meaning.

I don’t like the idea of American Voters being left out of the process. And we all know moving the primaries in these states was an attempt to make them more relevant in the process. But instead they are being left out, and in this case I am OK with that. Listen to your parties follow the rules they set, and you will be fine…stop being greedy, and in the end your states won’t have to pay…time to grow up Michigan and Florida…

When I registered my party preference as “Democrat”, I thought I was showing preference for the Florida Democratic Party, not Maine, Iowa or California Democrat as we can all be different with different goals. The National Democratic Party has not right to tell the citizens of any state when, where or how they will vote after all this is a Republic is it not? Our votes sic Delegates should count and members seated no matter what State “WE” , are from. I AM NOW REGISTERED AS INDEPENDENT

Michigan and Florida should redo their votes on April 22nd along with Pennsylvania. That would give the candidates plenty of time to campaign between now and then and we would have three decisive contests to watch on the same night.

I dont want to see another situation where cheating in Florida played a major role in deciding an election. No changes should be allowed at this time.

The delegates from Michigan and Florida should be seated at the national convention. Since Michigan voters could vote Unpledged on their tickets, Obama still could receive votes from Michigan. I’m not sure about Florida. I think it is ridiculous that 5.1 million peoples voices won’t be heard because they placed their primaries on the wrong date. It is absolutely stupid. A state should be allowed to hold it’s primary on a date that is within reason, which both Michigan and Florida did. Don’t we live in a democracy? Isn’t it’s principle that all voices are heard? Democratic party SEAT THE DELEGATES FROM MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Count the votes. I switched political parties this year specifically to vote in the Democratic primary. In Florida, you can only vote within the party you are registered with.

Due to our Governor changing the primary date, we the people, don’t count. Adds have run, debates were televised and covered in the paper and on the internet. The voting pubic is actively aware and participating in the process, shame on Howard Dean for railroading that process and not upholding that process.

It is paramount that the rest of the country realize that the Democratic primary in Florida was moved by the Republicans in Tallahassee ,who, by the way, have a significant majority in both houses of our state government.

The election in Florida had both Clinton and Obama on the ballot, that is a fact! How can anyone not count such a large and pivotal state and so many delegates. I think the Florida results must be counted and their delegates seated, absolutely.

I am from Michigan. It was not my choice to move the primary dates. It is very disappointing that as an America citizen with the right to vote, that my vote in the primary does not count. I feel that it is my right, and it is being taken away because of a technicallity that does not effect me.

States crying wolf. Sorry but that just doesn’t fly. Florida and Michigan knew the consequences of their actions. To revote or to decide to add them to the count is wrong. Otherwise, there could be argument for those states that had other candidates involved to say my vote for Edwards or Dodd doesn’t count now, so lets revote. What people should be doing is pulling together so ONE democratic candidate can be the CLEAR leader in the race to beat McCain.

WELL !! As a disenfranchised voter from Florida I think our votes should count !! The National Democratic Committee needs to sit down with our Governor and find a time in the next month or two when we can all go back to the polls and vote again. It will give both candidates a chance to campaign properly and fairly. The results would supercede the tally from January 29th and satisfy the National Committee’s “rules” Most importantly of all, it would give Florida voters the satisfaction of knowing our votes were counted for a change. And YES, JACK !!! Floridians CAN COUNT. ( It should be the same for Michigan.) Mary from Sarasota

regardless of who wins, if this keeps going, the legitimacy of this candidate and possibly president will always be questioned. This must end by North Carolina or its going to be too late.

The candidates understood the rules when they began campaigning so the votes don’t count. Period. Backdating didn’t work for Enron, it doesn’t work here. However, since those votes don’t count then I see nothing wrong with a second Primary, which is what it would be and not a re-vote. I think it sets a dangerous precedent in several ways but at the same time I think there is too much power given to DNC (and RNC) in the primary process. I don’t like the idea that non-elected officials can decide that 2 states and upwards of 8 million people (considering less than half usually vote) have no say in a constitutional process.

The delegates should be seated. If Obama did not put his name on the ballots - tough luck! That’s his good judgement. If people really wanted him - they could have written his name in. If the situation were reversed and Obama won those states - he would insist that the delegates be seated. Hillary hadenough foresight to include these statesjust in case something like what is happening now occurred. That alone shows her experience!

This is asinine. If Hillary was ahead in the delegate count she wouldn’t be worried about Florida and Michigan. She only wants them because she is not winning. Talk about a sore loser.

The candidates all agreed on the consequences if Florida and Michigan held their primaries early. Mrs. Clinton cannot whine and get the delegates counted now just because she needs them. You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game. That is just too “Bush-like”.

Jenn from Fall River, MA

IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

NONE.!

How will the DNC be able to take the position that the hierarchy of the DNC (i.e. superdelegates) will have to follow the will of the people and thereby give Obama the election, when the hierarchy in FL and MI were responsible for disenfranchising its voters in this primary. The party in FL and MI made the error, not the people - so if you say the superdelegates need to follow the will of the people then you will have to find a way that the will of the people in FL and MI will be heard. There is one thing that you will hear loud and clear if the DNC tries to silence the will of the people in FL and MI - NO YOU CAN’T!

Jack:

I am sure that Hillary’s group would love that, but the states knew what the punishment was and should accept it! If we can’t follow through with our decisions then what does that say about our candidates?

Terri
Iowa

They shouldn’t play any role. The nomination process is a private affair of the Democratic Party, not a public election, and no one really has a right to vote anyway. The Michigan and Florida state Democratic Parties knew the rules and deliberately broke them. Not following through on the punishment would set a dangerous precedent for other states in the future.

I think it’s terrible that the voters of Michigan and Florida will not have a voice in who is selected as the democratic nominee. They should take out their anger at the ballot box when it comes time to re-elect those officials responsible for moving the primary dates and thereby disenfranchising them.

Having said that, however, it is irresponsible to now allow their votes to count when Obama did not campaign in either of these states. Unlike Hilary, he followed the spirit of the agreement made between all the candidates not to compaign in Florida or Michigan. You simply can’t change the rules of the game after the game is over. We should have had this debate BEFORE the primaries in those states… not after the fact.

I think it’s offensive that they won’t count the two states’ votes. I’d be so angry if I lived there. You’re basically saying their votes aren’t important. Florida is one of the most populous states in the nation, so I can’t imagine it not being counted. Remember how pivotal it’s been in past races?

The Florida andf Michigan delegates should be left out of play. They violated (in your face) an established rule on primary dates.

If they must be counted (not recommended), then both states must pay for another primary at a future date.

I am Clerk of a precinct in Florida and our total vote count was 1116. All the candidates were on the ballot and the only one who ran political ads was Obama. The Democrat count excluding those that dropped or left the nomination was as follows: Obama 84 and Clinton 201. We voted and the DNC should accept our totals.

Since Obama ran political ads he campaigned in Florida. Now they want us to vote again which means he wants a do over. Jack do you agree with him?

Shouldn’t make a rule than change it. Florida and Michigan new what the price was.

Personally I think all primaries should be held on the same day. It is not right for some states to select who the other states can vote for. The election process is not fair to all voters.

Michigan and Florida voters should have the opportunity to be counted because they are Amreicans and taking away their voice and their votes is unconstiutional. However, they should have to re-vote in primary’s and the previous ones should not count. It was wrong to take away their vote, but Hillary should not get the delegates when she agreed that they should not be seated before the election started and she was the presumed winner, now they’re supposed to count for her when she needs them and Obama wasn’t on the ticket in Michigan? Both of them should be on the ticket and they should agree to re-schedule during the election lull.

No Jack, it is what it is & rules are rules it amazes me that the Clinton’s will do anything to get back in the White House,theres no chance for her to win & sitting well with the “Clinton Machine”

I think that both states should be counted!!! They voted the DNC knew they were holding primarys and did not do a thing!! COUNT THEM. Of course the big cry babies that thought that you don’t have to fight for something you want is getting left out. I honestly think Obama is acting like he should be crowned right now. The media including your station beat up Hillary so bad its a wonder anyone went out and voted for her this past tuesday!!! Shame on the media.

How about a “do-over” of the Florida vote in the 2000 Election? You know, the one where the Democrat had half a million more votes than the Republican, a Holocaust denier got votes on butterfly ballots from Holocaust survivors, hanging chads weren’t counted, and African-American voters were turned away from the polls in droves before the United States Supreme Court — you know the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT one — told the Florida State Supreme Court to stop the counting and awarded the Presidency to Bush. Oh, that would be wrong? Sure. Right. By all means, let’s have Hillary get Florida and Michigan votes now that they violated the rules. Clinton and Bush: YUP: American deserves’em. Thank goodnessfor Ralph Nader. He screws things up but admits that’s his intention.

Hi Jack,

I’m voter and I didn’t move anything. Why sould the voter be penalized for a decision made by a big shot?

Lansing, MI

Jack, im from michigan, and i cannot tell you how upset i am by the fact my voice has no opinion in this extremely close election, yet we have to live with that president. Clinton, is claiming she won my state, however Edwards and Obama were not even on the ballot. If she wants to claim her “victory” here then we should be given a re-election and then see who really wins Michigan.

Jack,

DNC should figure out a way to hold an emergency primary or caucus on these 2 states so that everyone is on a level playing field. I do have one more gripe- why does the media refer to this as a victory for Hilary when she only won 12 more delegates? Statistically, that’s a wash right?

Here we go again, Florida will force this all the way to the Supreme Court so we can have them pick our president yet again……

Give the delegates to Hillary!! This country does not need Obama. He will not win against McCain and the Democratic Party needs to elect the nominee who can stand up to McCain and Hillary is the one. Obama try again in 8 years.

A do-over in Florida……what a shocker!!!

If Hilary is truly claiming tht she has carried these states, then she has lost my vote if she gets the nod.

Either do it over, or play by the rules. There is nothing worse than than changing the rules of the game half way through………..

With all the monitoring of foreign elections the US has done, we need to call in a monitor from another country to decide how to handle this dilemma. I’ll bet Vladimir Putin is available, and would be willing.

Rules are rules. They told them not to do the early primaries and they did.
I honestly believe that they thought there would be no consequences and now they are mad that there is.

You don’t change the rules mid way through the game. Thats the basic premise of fair play and decency, which is a cornerstone of the institutions of this fine country.

Florida has become the new Chicago when it comes to any kind of election. It really doesn’t matter what results were released; I have zero confidence in them.

Florida and Michigan should have a re-vote. Since the first election didn’t count and since they are now voting after all the other states, what’s the fuss?

Put both of them on the ballots and let them duke it out the good old fashioned way.

It would be a huge mistake to silence these two states.

None!
Everyone agreed but now that it favors Hillary of course she wants them counted. How could anyone justify couting them when Barack’s name wasn’t even on the ballots and no campaigning happened. Talk about not right! If this happens I will quit voting Democratic.

Pam
Newton, MA

It is an unfortunate position that the DNC finds itself with respect to Florida and Michigan. Notice the Republicans have been noticeably quiet on this issue. If the delegates are not represented at the convention, Senator McCain will have a lot of ammunition during the general election to portray the DNC as having silenced voters in Michigan and Florida. It is a difficult problem for the democratic party to solve but Senator Obama has to be very careful to find the thin line between arguing against the delegates and arguing against the people.

As a resident of Michigan, here’s my opinion: Don’t seat the delegates; don’t hold a revote. State politicians knew the consequences when they decided to change the date of the primary. To seat the delegates would be unfair to Obama, and to hold a revote would undermine the rationale used to change the date in the first place. Granholm made her bed, now it’s time to quit crying and get to sleep.

The voters in Florida and Michigan voted on primary day. They had no control over picking the day.

The decision by the DNC was undemocratic. We are not the party that suppresses votes.

In Florida it was a level playing field. All the candidates names were on the ballot and no one campaigned…although Obama did have some air time due to a regional ad buy.The results in Florida should be accepted as is and the delegates awarded accordingly.

In Michigan some candidates, including Obama, chose to take their names off the ballot. No one made them. Hillary should get the votes she got and the undeclared should go to the convention as undeclared.

The Voters did not pick voting day in Michingan and Florida. Elected officials did. The voters turned out, and cast their votes. Those votes deserve to be counted. The party was wrong to penalize these voters by saying their votes dd not matter. All candidates should have been on the ballot in these states. What they’ve done here is rediculous dirty politics.

It would be unconstitutional for our states not to voice. Seat our Delegates! This is too juicy!

The clintons keep trying to change the rules to fit their needs. If hillary was winning Florida and michigan this would not be an issue. I actually used to like the Clintons before all this started, But this constant whining is starting to really turn me off both of them.

The rules were in place when this all began, these are the rules the process should be decided by. Hillary ran a very bad campaign from the beginning and it’s now coming back to hurt her. Asking now to put Michigan and Florida back in play is just sour grapes.

Play out the process and let the chips fall where they may, Then the loser should bow out with class.

Seat the Florida delegates. Don’t do the kind of damage to florida that was done in 2000!!!

This is typical Clinton politics. First agree to the rules, then change your mind once those very rules work against you. The DNC made their rules, and they are what they are…then again..that depends on what your definition of “are” is, isn’t it?

Rather than a re-vote maybe the DNC should just state HRC is the primary winner and save a lot of money and time. This would save face from having to watch Hillary steal the election at the DNC via super delegates. It would be better to have democrates mad at the DNC now than Hillary later.

Fair play means playing by pre-estbalished and recognized rules.

Nobody wants the electorate disenfranchised but the Democratic party officials for Michigan and Florida should hide their faces in shame.

I do think a compromise will be found and if not then I expect it to get nastier a la Clinton. (Winning nasty if need be)

Jamie

We have to pick one way or the other. Hillary’s camp says we need to respect the rules when it comes to letting the super delegates vote for whom they want, but then says Florida and Michigan should count, which would be changing the rules. So, if we change the rules for Florida and Michigan, we can just throw out all the rules and tell those pesky super delegates they have to vote for whomever is leading in the pledged delegate count. At this point, I think they should make a deal and run Hillary (although I support Obama) with Obama as the VP. That gives us a gaurenteed 16 years in the White House, enough time to heal the wounds Bush and the Republicans have caused.

“Every single vote counts”. I guess they must’ve whispered except in Michigan and Florida.

It would hurt the democratic process to now allow those votes. There are probably thousands of people who didn’t bother to vote because it was know FL and MI were not being counted. Its not like it was a surprise. The states knew the DNC was not counting their delegates if the primaries were moved up. Of course Hillary wants those two states counted, why wouldn’t she, she “won” them both.

Millions of Florida and Michigan voters left their homes, stood in line and voted for their candidate. They expected their vote to count. I doubt they felt that their actions and votes were to be for nothing. The vote is more important than the DNC’s procedures. If the vote was legal according to the U.S. constitution then their votes should be counted.

First of all - the sheer existance of primaries is stupid. By design, these primaries give extra weight to those who hold their primaries early. By the time some states vote, the primary is already over…so why bother? Everyone should vote at the same time…and results should be released at the same time. Simple as that.

Second of all - what happened in FL and MI is terrible but the crux of the problem can be seen above. The votes not counting is the result of the DNC wanting to wield its power as opposed to the states pressing to have their voice matter…and now that the votes are in a certain direction…I am sure it will get all Clintoned up.

We will probably have no voice in the election. Could it be that Gov. Crist and the Republican legislature changed the election date knowing that the DNC would throw out the Florida delegates thereby taking votes away from Clinton which would reduce her chance of winning the nomination. I wouldn’t put it past the Republicans, wouldn’t be the first time they robbed the democrats in Florida.

I think Florida and Michigan should count. They should count as they are- the way the votes are now. To say that they were not allowed to campaign in those states as an excuse is rediculous. The voters in both states went to the polls with plenty of information about the candidates. Those who really care about politics certainly had been watching and listening to CNN and all the other news agencies and made their decisions based on those facts. To me, I would say that these votes show more of how the electorate really feel. Also, it is my understanding that Obama’s campaign did have a couple of ads that ran in Florida, against the rules I may add. Their excuse had something to do with the cable company that was running the ads. Just another excuse after the fact. I know that Michigan only had Clinton on the ballot, but that was because she did not ask to have her name removed and she should not have . It was Edwards and Obama who decided not to have their names on the ballot, to me that shows very poor judgement. So let the votes stand as they are and count them as such. Michigan, well you can give Obama and Edwards a proportionate amount based on the previous races that they were a part of.
There has been so much talk about record turnout and the same happened in both of thoese states- so to say you will not let their votes count because of a stupid decision by the DNC is absurd. Do you really think they would have come out in droves the way they did if they really thought their vote would not count. If you think campaigning would have changed things I doubt it. At the time of these races the race was about who people wanted and not about race as the media turned it into.
William in Roanoke, VA

I am from Michigan and i feel that florida and michigan delegates should count, how can people say that the people decide and then they dont let some of the peoples votes count?

Jack,

The answer is absolutely not. The Democratic Partys in those respective States knew the conequences of moving up their primary dates and they did it anyway. As much as Hillary would like it, you cannot change the rules in the middle of the game. No one seems to be asking about all of the potential voters who would be disenfranchised because they didn’t show up to vote because they thought their votes weren’t going to count. How do account for those voters? This is a lost a cause for Hillary and it will be a travesty for democracy if the DNC seats these delegates. Howard Dean needs to be firm on this issue or he risks looking like Hillary’s lackey.

As a resident of Florida and a democrat who voted in our primary, I think it is UNAMERICAN

let Florida’s and Michigan’s primaries count? Thats exaclty what we need to do, reward states for breaking the rules. that will set an excellent precedent. I also think it would be very fair to have these states decide the democratic nominee especially since obama wasn’t even on the ballot in one of these states come on a first grader could tell you this election is turning into a joke, and I’m becoming disgusted.

Eric
Huntington WV

To Jay in Houston; You don’t need to teach any lessons to othe countries. If anything, your country needs to be taught several lessons.

This article makes one flawed assumption - that there is a right to vote in a primary. Citizens have the right to vote in general elections, but parties decide whether to allow primaries. Thus, no one’s rights have been violated.

That said, I think the RNC’s solution was better - it made the states count, but only half as much.

You must go back and have a primary, with Sen Clinton and Sen Obama on the ballots. Because a primary was moved up, 5 million people do not get to exercise their constitutional rights? This is supposedly a democratic society, let the people vote who want to vote. The Democratic Party is turning into a joke - the possibility that Super Delegates could alter the outcome of what people want, nominating a candidate for President when two states didn’t even have input - not listening to the mandate to stop the war after the most recent election. This is one Democrat who is embarrassed to call himself a Democrat right now. McCain doesn’t look all that bad……..

The Democratic Committee is just mind-blowing these days. They are hell bent on self-destruction. I am an independent and, if Hillary Clinton loses, I will vote for a McCain.

The idea that American voters cannot have their votes counted is absurd. Perhaps the State Officials should have sought out another way to change the dates of their primaries. Perhaps the Democratic National Committee could have been more tolerant of the desires of those two states to change the dates. Somewhere in there the possibilities for compromise were hidden and neglected. But to strip and American of their vote is out of the question.

Why are the citizens, the voters, being punished for this lack of judgment on the part of the officials? I, for one, would not sit quietly and let the state of California take aw