Respected Magazine Misleads Readers about Florida's Primary

by D. Cupples |   I hold The New Republic magazine in high regard, so you can imagine how shocked I was to see that writer Michelle Cottle at TNR's blog The Plank apparently had failed to check facts before ranting yesterday about Michigan's and Florida's Democratic primaries.  In part, Cottle states:

"As you know, left up to me, neither Michigan nor Florida's delegates would be seated. Those states knowingly and flagrantly broke the rules. They knew what the penalty would be, and they did it anyway. Fine. But don't come whining to us now about how, "Oh, we didn't know that it would really matter or we wouldn't have done it. Well, cry me a river."

Frankly, I don't know much about Michigan, but I do know about Florida.

For the millionth time, Florida democrats had no power to stop the moving of Florida's primary to before February 5.  Period.  Thus, the DNC should not have punished Florida democrats as it has.

Our state legislature moved the primary dates.  Our State House has about 77 Republicans to 43 Democrats.  It's been that way at least since I visited the minority leader in 2001 and watched a floor debate.  Republicans constitute about 60% of our State Senate.

Furthermore, according to recent research printed at No Quarter, the DNC's rules did not require the total stripping of Florida's delegates -- even if Florida Dems had intentionally moved the primary. 

For reasons I don't grasp, the DNC reacted harshly by choice -- without listening to explanations by our state party leader, former Congresswoman Karen Thurman.  The DNC also treated other states differently, showing leniency to New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina after they had moved their primary dates.

Though U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D) began -- more than a month ago -- explaining publicly what really happened in Florida, the DNC (and apparently many journalists and pundits) have behaved as though they had not heard the facts.

In short, the DNC punished Florida -- with ears closed and eyes wide open.  Incidentally, a lot of Floridia Dems know this, which is why so many are refusing to give the DNC money and may even become independents unless new DNC leadership is installed (i.e., unless Howard Dean and Donna Brazile get the boot).

Wayne Barrett published an accurate explanation at the Huffington Post of what happened in Florida -- and of how the DNC reacted both irrationally and unfairly. 

I suggest that Ms. Cottle read Barrett's piece and the No Quarter piece before trumpeting opinions about Florida's alleged rule breaking.

For that matter, all journalists and pundits should get their facts straight before parroting the "rules are rules" argument with respect to Florida's primary.

Memeorandum has commentary.

Other BN-Politics Posts:

* Studies Show Pro-Obama (or Anti-Hillary) Media Bias

* Media Misleads Public about Florida, Michigan, and DNC Rules

* Obama Took $46,000 in Oil Money in March alone

* Dems do Want Change -- in DNC Leadership
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Comments

[LC]

My subscription to TNR can be measured in decades, but I just mailed a request to have my subscription canceled.

To be honest, the primary reason I've kept renewing for much of this time has been Kauffmann since the mag. hasn't been liberal since about 1972.

But the current cover was the last straw - well, that plus the fact that its political blogs are the web equivalent of a garbage dump.

[D. Cupples]

LC,

I was truly shocked when I read that blog post at TNR. it sounded like the sort of football-ish commentary that I've heard on Rush Limbaugh (my dry cleaner listens to him).

Isn't it strange that such a reputable magazine would have such childishly written blogs?

[Sparky Duck]

as for subscriptions, I may need to be unsubscribing from this blathering blog

[D. Cupples]

Sparky,

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I certainly would like to know what in my post you found inaccurate or offensive.