Democratic National Convention Rules & Bylaws - Charter

Excerpts from the DNC Rules & Bylaws, Charter section, that do not 'gel' with their decision to throw out the 1,684,390 democratic votes that were cast in the Florida primary.

Preamble:

1. a political party which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead
2. a party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people
3. political freedom in the framework of a meaningful participation by all citizens
4. we pledge ourselves to..... the conduct of public affairs in a manner worthy of a society of free people

Comment:  Democratic Floridians are not being heard or trusted; allowed to participate in a meaningful way; or treated like members of a society of free people.

Article One:

1. assist state and local Democratic party organizations in the election of their candidates
2. afford all members of the Democratic Party full, timely, and equal opportunities to participate
3. promote fair campaign practices and the fair adjudication of disputes

Comment: The DNC needed to be working with the Florida Democratic Party to overturn HB537; not punishing the voters and barring their opportunity to have their vote counted.  The passage of HB537 is an issue that needed to be fought out in the legislature and courts of Florida, spearheaded by the DNC; not in the press!

Article Two:

1. State Party rules or state laws relating to the election of delegates to the National Convention shall be observed unless in conflict with this Charter
2. In the event of such conflict with state laws, state Parties shall be required to take provable positive steps to bring such laws into conformity
3. The delegates shall be chosen through a process which:

• assure all Democratic voters timely full, timely and equal opportunity to participate
• allow participation in good faith of all voters who are Democrats

Comment: The Florida Democrat Party did take provable positive steps, to the best of their legislative ability; but, the state of Florida legislature has an overwhelming Republican majority.  Florida voters are not being afforded the same rights as other voting citizens, because of this undefeatable majority.

Article Nine, Section 8:

1. To assure that the Democratic nominee for the office of the President of the United States is selected by a fair and equitable process, the Democratic National Committee may adopt such statements of policy as it deems appropriate with respect to the timing of Presidential nominating process and shall work with state parties to accomplish the objectives of such statements.

Comment: Did the DNC work with Democratic party officials in Florida to overturn the passage of HB537 that mandated this change to the primary election date? 

Article Nine, Section 12:

1. All meetings of the Democratic National Committee, the Executive Committee and all other official Party committees, commissions and bodies shall be open to the public, and votes shall not be taken by secret ballot.

Comment: I am sure that a meeting of the Executive Committee was convened to formulate and vote on the contents of the 9/18/2007 statement that was made to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Did the voters of Florida get an advanced notification of this meeting?

Article Nine, Section 17, Democratic Credo:

1. At the heart of our party lies a fundamental conviction, that Americans must not only be free, but they must live in a fair society.

Comment: Please tell me how it is fair, in a democratic society, for the voters not to be heard and counted.