The rules of the Conventions were clear. The dates cannot be changed without punishment. The Republicans, who only needed just over 1,000 delegates to win, decided to cut the number of countable delegates in the states that broke the rules. The Democrats decided not to count any. This was more of a threat- we won't count any representation here if you break the rules. The states' representatives apparently didn't care.
Would've, could've, should've. The fact is, they didn't. They didn't set their dates back and for all of the people in Michigan and Florida, their voices weren't heard. And people from Florida and Michigan are pissed off now? I understand, the earlier the primaries, the more impact you might feel you have. The representatives of these states ignored all warnings and now the people want to have their votes count.
Everyone knew that vote didn't even count. If they did, I'm sure more people would've voted. We got some votes, but it didn't represent the entire voting population. With that, did everyone in those states vote for who they wanted to in the primaries? Although fundraising in those states was allowed, no Democratic candidate was supposed to be campaigning. Clinton was on the ballot for Michigan, Obama was not. With that fact alone, those votes aren't real.
Primaries are expensive. Does any state have the money to shell out that kind of cash to redo one? Should they? I've heard talk of doing caucuses in those states. Not AS expensive, but still not cheap. Clinton got primary votes though, and she wants those votes to count.
I understand the frustrations of Michigan and Florida citizens. They keep blaming the Democratic party though. The rules were there, and the representatives of those states ignored them. If we do let the rules change, what does that say about the Democratic party?
I think that it isn't the democratic party that is to blame, it's the representatives in Michigan and Florida. And for Hillary to want these votes to count is just dumb. She's just mad that Obama is gonna beat her.
They are talking about doing a mail-in, re-do for the primaries in Michigan, I think. As long as both candidates are on the ballot I think that's a great solution. Rather ironic that they tried to push up their contests in order to have more influence when this race (for the Dems at least) still isn't close to being decided.
I completely agree; but I don't even think we should allow a re-do simply because the representatives of the state chose to ignore the rules of the Democratic party. The Governor of Michigan, Granholm, was fully aware of the repercussions, and chose to have the primary thinking that Clinton would coast to the nomination anyway.
That's what I was saying. There is no "fair" way to let their primary votes count. The rule about changing the date was against both Republican and Democratic parties. The Republicans just cut the number of countable delegates. The GOP had a minimal sentence for breaking the rules. Imagine that.
-Sonja :)