by D. Cupples | Once again, many media outlets are refusing to check facts -- while insisting that neither Florida's nor Michigan's Democratic delegates should be seated at the party's nominating convention in August. I say "once again," because many of those media outlets refused to check "facts" that Bush Administration officials had claimed as truths when persuading us taxpayers that our nation should invade Iraq.
Reprinted at No Quarter is an essay that cites the DNC rules and busts the myths perpetuated by people who don't want to see all votes counted in two of our nation's very significant states.
For example, some media and DNC leaders say 1) that the DNC was forced to strip Florida and Michigan of all delegates because those states moved their primaries to before February 5, and 2) that the DNC can't undo that decision.
In fact, 1) stripping those states of only HALF their delegates was the mandatory punishment, and 2) two DNC committees do have authority -- even now -- to seat some or all of Florida's and Michigan's delegates.
Some media and DNC leaders say that Florida's democratic legislators failed to try to stop the legislature from moving the primary to before February 5.
In fact, Florida's democratic legislators did try. They failed only because the Florida legislature is overwhelmingly Republican: the State House has about 77 Rs to 43 Ds, and the State Senate has about 24 Rs to 16 Ds.
In other words, Florida's democratic legislators were completely powerless. It's been that way since at least 2001, the last time I visited the state legislature and watched a floor debate.
Those are just a few examples of the myths that some media and DNC leaders are propagating. For other examples of the Michigan-Florida myths -- and detailed explanations as to why they are false -- check out No Quarter.
Also worth reading is a piece that Wayne Barrett published at Huffington Post a couple of weeks ago. Lastly, Anglachel shares valuable insights as to the long-term consequences for the Democratic Party if DNC "leaders" continue advocating for disenfranchisement -- simply so they can end the contest between Clinton and Obama.
The big question: why are any media or DNC "leaders" so busy trying to falsely convince the public that the rules won't allow any of Florida's or Michigan's delegates to be seated?
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