Nelson and Hastings Sue DNC
October 4th, 2007 by Mike VasilindaU-S Senator Bill Nelson along with Congressman Alcee Hastings filed suit against the Democratic National Committee today in an effort to make the national party seat Florida’s delegates at the national convention. The DNC is refusing to recognize delegates selected in the January 29th primary because the date was moved up and violates party rules. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the suit claims Florida Democrats had not choice but to go along with the early date.
Hear it Here: Nelson & Hastings Sue DNC
It was mid morning when a lawyer representing US Senator Bill Nelson walked into the Federal court house and filed the law suit. Attorney Ron Meyer is arguing Florida Democrats had no control over the rescheduling of the primary and that the national party’s action violates the equal protection clause of the constitution.
Meyer told reporters, “Florida, more than anywhere else in this country after what happened in 2000, has to be very cognizant of the right of all electors to vote.”
Many Florida Democrats are unhappy about this lawsuit. Party Chairman Karen Thurman had just a one-sentence response and that’s that she’s “working to make all the votes count.
From Washington, Nelson and Congressman Alcee Hastings called the suit a necessity. “Please excuse me, tell me what the issue is in New Hampshire that is more important than the issues in the state of Florida.” said Hastings with indignity.
Nelson Continued, “You mean we shouldn’t be able to have our people find out, when they choose a presidential nominee of our party, what their stand is on off-shore oil drilling?”
The two have a surprise ally, Governor Charlie Crist. “You know, I’m a Republican. I hope our next president is a republican but I also realize, you know, that if it happens to be a Democrat that I want our Florida people that are Democrats, I want their vote to count, ” says Crist.
The suit is asking the Federal Court to force the Democratic National Committee to seat the lawfully elected Democratic delegates.
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