DNC: Michigan Legislative Proposal Abides By Rules

[madfloridian]

Hang on, now. Going to get bumpy.

DNC: MI Leg Proposal Abides By Rules

Issued today:

TO: DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Members
FROM: Alexis Herman & James Roosevelt, Jr., Co-Chairs
DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee
RE: Update on Proposed Michigan Legislation

We have recently been asked whether the legislation as proposed by Michigan would fit within the framework of the National Party’s Delegate Selection Rules. Our review of this legislation indicates that it would, in fact, fit within the framework of the Rules if, it were, passed by the state legislature and used by the Michigan State Democratic Party as the basis of drafting a formal Delegate Selection Plan. If a formal Delegate Selection Plan is received we will convene a meeting of the RBC to consider such a Plan. We look forward to talking with you soon.

Posted at 12:18 PM

Interesting. But I read yesterday there is a caveat that some votes would be banned. Not sure what that means.

Some Democrats' Votes May Be Banned

One of the sticking points holding up a possible do-over election in Michigan is a rule that would ban anyone who voted in the Republican presidential primary from voting again in the Democratic one.

That ban would apply even to Democrats or independents who asked for a GOP ballot because Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the only major candidate left on the Jan. 15 Democratic ballot.

To cast a ballot in a do-over election, voters would have to sign a statement saying they hadn't voted in the GOP primary.

That could hurt Obama more, since his supporters were more likely than Clinton's to have crossed over to vote in the GOP primary. The national party punished Michigan for holding a primary before Feb. 5, stripping it of all its delegates and rendering the contest meaningless. Clinton was on the ballot, but Obama and other Democratic candidates removed their names to avoid angering early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.

I am getting very skeptical of ever having a fair election. This will be so tainted.

I feel very despairing right now.

[madfloridian]

1. Where does "both candidates must agree" fit in here now?

I am just throwing my hands up. I do not understand any of this anymore.

I am sure Florida will also come up with something else as well.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Does anyone really know how many Dems/Indies actually crossed over like that?

I would think there wouldn't have been that many considering I understand that they had a choice to vote "uncommitted" (or equivalent-named category)? :shrug:

[madfloridian]

3. Don't ask me....I know nothing anymore.

.

[madfloridian]

4. Bauer responds from the Obama campaign about the revote rules

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/19/783219.aspx

"The Obama campaign just released a memo from top lawyer Bob Bauer, which contains concerns about the re-vote plan in Michigan -- the chief one being that Republicans, independents, and even Democrats who voted in the January 15 GOP primary would be disqualified from participating in the do-over.

Bauer writes, "Since any Republican or independent who did not vote in January in the Republican primary is fully free to participate in the June primary, the effect of the proposal is to enfranchise a class of Republicans while disenfranchising a class of Democrats—the ones who chose to vote in the Republican primary when they correctly understood that the Democratic contest was meaningless."

Below is the entire memo..."

eeeek...I have no idea what is next.

[LisaM]

5. What is the problem with not letting people who voted Republican vote?

If they voted in the Republican primary (which they knew would count) then they have cast their vote. Period. They can't vote again.

I detest people who cross over to vote in another party's primary. It's gamesmanship, and it's WRONG.

[spotbird]

6. Maybe they wanted to vote for the

best Republican since they couldn't vote for the best Democrat?

[LisaM]

7. They had the choice to vote uncommitted

with a chance that if "uncommitted" won, they could go to the convention and perhaps cast a vote there (albeit for whomever the nominee was).

I am not a fan of open primaries, as I've made clear. I think the parties should choose their own candidates.

I do not respect people who go vote in other party's primaries. The fact that we are kowtowing to those people now is revolting.