Garling Gauge

DNC Needs Alternative Punishment for FL & MI

Have the DNC no creativity?

On May 31st the DNC Rules Committee will be meeting to discuss Florida and Michigan, the renegade states who moved up their primary dates for greater leverage in electing a party nominee for president. Since then, everyone and their mother has been arguing over what to do with the delegates, how to punish the states for their disobedience, and how to respect the wish of the voter.

But it seems that the only discussed punishment for these primary misdemeanors deals with the number of delegates allowed to attend the Denver convention. And that’s just silly.

The DNC needs to come up with an alternative punishment for the state party leaders, not for the delegates. A fine, perhaps. Or a removal from their positions. If a principal allows the students to leave the building before school is over, you don’t punish the students, you fire the principal. The state party leaders who authorized the early vote are the only ones culpable for the crime, and should be the only ones punished. All this talk of ‘punishing Michigan and Florida’ is ridiculous.

When else did the Floridians and Michiganders have an opportunity to express their views at the ballet box? Frankly, party members should be extremely disappointed at the Democratic leadership in Florida and Michigan, and irked at Party Chair Howard Dean for his bumbling response. The delegates have nothing to do with the issue. The delegates represent the will of the voters, not the actions of party leadership.

I urge the DNC Rules Committee to seat the delegates as is, and formulate an alternative punishment for the state party leaders. They are responsible, not the voters.

Stumble it!