don’t blow sunshine up my ass (the florida debacle spelled out)
By: Loye N. Hawkins, Founder of CountOurVotes.org
I live in Florida and like more than 3.6 million other folks I cast my vote in the Presidential Primary on January 29. Last spring, legislation was passed in the Florida Congress, HB-537, that would supposedly give Floridians a greater role in selecting the presidential candidates. Well apparently it didn’t work out as planned, and because of this legislation more than 1.7 million votes are now left out of the tally. I’m sure we’d all like to believe that our lawmakers had our best interest at heart, and no matter their rationale, we the people rely on these officials to protect our rights. The concept of “one man, one vote” has been referred to as a “fundamental principle of constitutional law”. However, most of the mainstream media and punditry seem satisfied (even unfazed) with an outcome of more than 3.6 million Floridians being disenfranchised. They continue to relegate the “situation” to an Obama/Clinton Campaign issue - rather than acknowledge it as the crisis that it is – by suggesting that somehow, allowing our votes to be counted would be unfair to one of the candidates, and their only observations have been mostly limited to the belief that, changing the date of the Primary Election in Florida was the result of the will of the people.
That is simply not true. The Democrats in the Florida Congress were out numbered 77 to 43 in the House of Representatives and 26 to 14 in the Senate when this Bill was passed. And when the democrats attempted to amend HB-537, moving the Primary Election Date to one that would comply with DNC Rules, their efforts were blocked by the Republican Majority, and a veto threat by the republican governor. And to top all that off… in the last few days of session: SB-1174, a bill providing for a paper trail on voting machines was combined with HB-537 by the majority. The paper trail issue has been a long standing objective of the Democrats since the 2000 national election. So knowing they didn’t have the votes to stop this legislation, and aware of the future consequences of voting against a paper trail on voting machines, the democrats were all but forced to vote with the republican majority.
Indeed, the DNC and the RNC both have RULES that their respective members must abide by, but these rules do not trump state law. It was State law, not state party policy that changed the election date. State law cannot currently be superceded by DNC policy and the Democratic National Committee Rules Committee members were well aware of this; and even after considering the failed efforts of our democratic law makers; they still chose to deny the people of Florida the right to have our votes count.
Hence, Florida’s latest voting debacle should outrage every citizen in every state across our nation, because if we allow any group or organization, by any legal device, the power to deny us our rights today, it will happen again and you could be next. It is my understanding that the DNC has a contractual agreement to fight for our right to vote. Instead they turned their backs on the good people of the State of Florida.
Finally, all the democratic candidates were on the ballot in Florida, and both of the remaining candidates had national “brand” recognition. The DNC has shown no will in resolving this crisis over the past 6 months, but rather chose to place faith in the hands of the two remaining candidates. One wanted to count our votes, and the other refused, for whatever the reasons may have been. But I don’t think it should be about either of them. Nor should it be their decision. It’s about you, and me. It’s about us, and our right to one man one vote and we have waited long enough. They’re cooking us in a slow stew and when time is up we’ll have to accept whatever they offer, and you can bet it’s not going to amount to anything even close to our Constitutional Right of One Man One Vote.
January 29 was not the day of some $20,000,000 Beauty Contest, it was the day we went out to vote; and in record numbers for the candidates of our choice. It’s time for us to come together and let the DNC know that we demand they count our votes. Howard Dean signed off on RULES that so grossly tear right into the fabric of the fundamental principles of our democracy, it is nothing short of stunning. But they’re not going to do a thing without public outcry. We need you in D.C. tomorrow!!!
To learn more about our efforts and contact us, please visit CountOurVotes.org
(Watch Loye State His Case “Live”)
on May 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am
We love our new sugardaddy Loye - Princess met Loye at a Florida Demands Representation Rally in Miami - He has been passionate about this issue for almost a year - since it started brewing in the Florida legislature……He is one of the many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving the rights of the millions of “DISSNFRANCHISED” voters in this primary.
Bless You Loye!
on May 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Loye, “Don’t blow sunshine up my ass” is one of my favorite expressions ever! Thank you so much for the clear blow-by-blow on Florida. Out of all the foolishness I’ve read about this mess, your post is the first one that actually told me what in the sam hill really happened. Welcome aboard the HH Express!
on May 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
“BLOW—viate away Loye!!! Sista is here in D.C. and ready for some activist action. see you on the front lines!!
Come gals and guys— hop a train, bus or plane and join us!!!!
on May 30th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Woo-Hoo Loye. U da man! Luv ya bud.
on May 31st, 2008 at 12:40 am
Hey Americans! why don’t you elect a black woman for the president and stop fighting about who’s gonna be the 1st black or 1st female president. It’s a 50-50 split anyway, this would solve all your election problems.
on June 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 am
This site is awesome. Love the heels, love the humor.
How do we get the breadth of Clinton Supporters organized?
If she is not on the ticket- which I suspect she will not be, we can not fade into the woodwork.
What would make “the party” hurt?
I’m stinkin’ mad and admittedly sad about how they dissed Hill and by proxy all of us.
Does that make me disenfranchised?
Are we overusing this word?
Am I loony to think an inexperienced guy with radical ties, supporters, zero primary wins in swing states with the exception of his own, two racist preachers and counting is NOT a good person to represent the Democratic Party for President?
on June 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 am
very well said !!!! i love knowing the specifics and you sure captured the mood here in florida…i for one will be voting democratic in the election….just want the candidate who the peope actually voted for to get the nomination… unless the dnc. honors the peoples votes, i will not support them with money or time and in 2012 may have to become an independent…they really shot themselves in the foot this time !!!
on June 2nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Dail….
indeed… I AGREE…i live in miami and we are beside ourselves with anger and frustration….in fact we started hireheels a few months ago to respond to that anger and the lavish, biased praise being heaped on obama….
let’s keep the heat on…..I hope you’ll keep struttin’ back
on June 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
THIS FROM Roger Stone - STONEZONE.com (interviewed on Sean Hannity Show Today) - read on…
The Presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is likely to be roiled in coming days by revelations that Michelle Obama made racist comments in a speech for which there is allegedly an indelible record…..(princess asks: a video?)
Mark Penn, who “resigned” as the Clinton Campaign strategist but is still the Clinton campaign strategist told intimates the bombshell “could come this week” ….(if this is true, princess will forgive mark - heck, she’d even do him!)
on June 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am
CONSIDER THIS OBAMA:
You got less Popular Vote than, not only Hillary, but Mccain….and, romney……you are a weakling in this sunshine state!!
CLINTON: 856,944
MCCAIN: 693,425
ROMNEY: 598,152
OBAMA: 568,930
on June 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
a fun vid last year and even more so now!! starring Howie…
“Florida will count”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyszcfRDjfo
on June 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
We live in Florida.and would appreciate knowing when any kind of protest…gathering of any kind is being held. Please stay in touch.