Votes Do Matter - Count All Votes!

As a Democrat, do I really need to have Republicans tell me that all votes do matter and be counted? And the Democratic 'leaders' to tell me and show me, through their actions, that they are meaningless. When discussing the importance of voting, Howard Dean, DNC Chair, has often said "You have the power to change the Democratic Party, the presidency and America." I guess he meant this for everyone except democratic Floridians!

Republicans Criticize: Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer has said "I call upon Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barrack Obama, (Florida) Chairman Karen Thurman, and (national) Chairman Howard Dean to apologize to the voters of this state for disenfranchising them." He also believes that the party should apologize for not allowing candidates to meet and discuss issues with voters.  Republicans have made it clear that they will remind voters in the general election that Democratic candidates turned their back on the state during the primary.

Democrats Criticize: In an article published by the Miami Herald, presidential candidate Barack Obama campaign was quoted as saying "Neither the Florida nor Michigan primaries are playing any role in deciding the Democratic nominee.'' In fact, the Obama campaign, through published comments, gave the impression that the Florida primary votes were meaningless, a 'beauty contest'. 

Florida Democrats Defend: Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman reminds the DNC that voter turnout shows Florida Democrats are motivated. More than 1.7 million Democrats cast ballots in the Florida primary, despite the national party punishment.  "If anything, the resilience of our Democrats showed in this primary," she told party activists. "Having the highest turnout, percentage-wise, since 1980 and the highest turnout in actual numbers, ever, shows that our people are ready for change and want it badly."

My Thoughts: Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee have put the presidential candidates, Florida legislators, and Florida party executives in a terrible position. The Florida Democratic legislators have already had to sit back and watch the overwhelming Republican majority pass a state law that would disenfranchise Democratic voters. Isn't that enough? Thanks to the DNC position on this, they now have to sit back while these Republicans literally "smear their noses in it"! I find it unbelievable that my own party would do this. And all of this is happening in a state where the 'war-torn' Democratic legislators and constituents are barely hanging onto confidence in their own party. 

Pathetic is the only word I can use.