Dean Wants Delegates to Vote As They Wish

[Rose Siding]

BOSTON -- Howard Dean says many of his presidential campaign's decisions were directed by the grass roots, so he intends to let convention delegates pledged to him decide whether they should support John Kerry.

"We can't just release them," Dean said between visits Monday morning to various state delegations preparing for the opening of the Democratic National Convention.

Dean planned a 90-minute meeting Monday with the roughly 120 delegates pledged to him by virtue of the votes he won during the caucuses and primaries.

The former Vermont governor has made clear since dropping out of the race in February that he supports Kerry and running mate John Edwards, and he has urged his supporters to throw their backing behind the Democratic ticket.

Dean has shied away, however, from telling them what they should do. "That's not what our campaign was about," he said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-cvn-dean,0,5260384.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[bemildred]

1. Attaboy Howard. Power to the people. nt

[Upfront]

2. Dean Is A Democrat

I would expect no less from him. Most will go for the ticket as Dean has suggested, but he will not demand that they do. I respect that and it shows his brains, respect, and class.

[Pastiche423]

3. Bless you, Dean!

[Demobrat]

4. He sure does know his supporters.

Sheeple they ain't.

[eridani]

5. Same for Kucinich--

Kucinich tells his delegates, “Vote your conscience”

BOSTON -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the only Democratic Presidential candidate besides Sen. John Kerry who campaigned through every primary and caucus in the nation, today released his delegates “to vote your conscience” during Wednesday night’s roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention.

Kucinich, who formally endorsed Kerry last week, met with his delegates and alternates Sunday and again today and heard strong, even passionate expressions of continued support for him and his issues. Without exception, they said they wanted to cast their ballots for him, even though he has already thrown his support to Kerry.

“I listened to your words,” Kucinich told his delegates, “and I listened to your hearts as well. I’m releasing you to vote your conscience. You will be the ones making your own decision.”

Kucinich made it clear at both meetings, and during a series of conference calls with delegates and alternates that week, that he feels it is crucial that all segments of the Democratic Party unite behind Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards. In those meetings and calls, Kucinich’s supporters acknowledged the importance of a Democratic victory in November, but, at the same time, insisted that they wanted to cast their first- round ballots for Kucinich.

The Sunday meeting was especially emotional as dozens of delegates and alternates, some in tears and others with voices trembling, said they were elected as Kucinich delegates and intended to vote for him on the convention floor during the roll call vote on the convention floor.

“We’ll support the Kerry-Edwards ticket when it’s time,” said one delegate during the Sunday meeting, “but Dennis, you’re the reason we’re here. We owe it to ourselves, to the principles we all believe in, and to our constituents back home to stand up and cast our ballots for you.”

Several delegates also argued on Sunday that their voting for Kucinich would let the Democratic Party know that there is a strong, growing, and vocal progressive wing within the party. “The Democratic Party will be stronger by letting us vote our convictions,” said another delegate. “We will support the ticket, but first we have an obligation to vote our convictions.”

At the private meeting today, Kucinich told his supporters, “I want all of us to leave this convention united. There has to be a unity of purpose when we leave Boston so that we can win in November.”

“I want to thank you for who you are,” Kucinich told the group, “for your integrity, and for your courage. And I am honored to be the person you chose to support.” Their support for the Democratic ticket in the coming weeks and months “will make the Democratic Party stronger. And your continuing commitment will make the critical difference in this election.”

[WindRavenX]

6. I thought ..

...I thought I saw on CNN that he told the delegates to vote for Kerry. Maybe I'm wrong, though. :shrug:

[JI7]

7. Kerry already has enough delegates himself

so it's not really an issue. especially with Edwards releasing his to Kerry also.