Bill Clinton bypassing the anti-Florida pledge?

Which Democratic presidential hopeful has the strongest backbone? When it comes to the "pledge" the Democrats have signed to boycott Florida's Jan. 29 primary, Hillary Clinton so far is the one standing up strongest for Florida Democrats.

Yes, the Democratic front-runner is avoiding overt campaigning in Florida. But she's also the only Democrat willing to test the limits of that pledge to the Democratic chairs in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada not to campaign in any other state with a primary sooner than Feb. 5.  The latest example comes Oct. 21, when Bill Clinton headlines a Clinton fundraiser in Miami, in which students, teachers, Democratic executive committee members and union members can get in for $25. More here

Meanwhile, St. Pete Times editor of editorials Phil Gailey argues Florida Democrats should "close their checkbooks and use the primary to send a message to their national party and its candidates. They would write in the name of Al Gore (he now has a Nobel prize to go with his Oscar) or Bob Graham, either of whom would make a fine president. After all, why should we give our votes to candidates who have taken a pledge to not even ask for them? The state's delegates would boycott the national convention, which is all show business anyway, even if the Democratic nominee offered to seat them."

Comments

Or they could, write in Charlie Crist

[Chris Brudy]

Bill can raise funds anywhere, and the DNC can make no case against his wife's campaign. Any of the other candidate's spouses could do the same.
Phil Gailey's suggestion of punishing the DNC by ignoring the declared candidates in the primary is counter productive for Democrats. Florida will reflect the rest of the country, the country will know it and vote accordingly. In the unlikely event of a brokered convention, Dean would retain some influence, but don't bet on it. It would not be wise to throw the baby out with the bathwater, when we are in position to lead the country.

Hiliary is a wuss with no backbone.
Since she is boycotting Florida, we will be boycotting her come election time.

I don't want to see slick Willy here with his cigars either.

5:45-

You expect me, or anyone else, to believe that you would even vote for a Dem anyway?

Right.

Go back to the presidential loser land with the rest of the republicans who think that they have a canadate that has a chance in 2008.

You all make me laugh.

Haaaaahaaahahahahahahaha!

[Bill]

Why should we encourage the politicians to break their pledges and words that they gave to others? So we can call them dishonest and liars for something that our idiocy created? The legislature and the Florida state parties are the ones to blame, making Florida the laughing stock... AGAIN! And all for what, greed and an unrealistic self-importance? Thank you Gov. Idiot and Chairwoman Ego. I love being a Florida Democrat.

And if no winner is chosen after all these primaries, it will goto the convention where WE WON'T BE! Thanks idiots! That's influence.

[Dawn]

Think again,only Dennis Kucinich agreed not to sign that.And stood firm all along for the rights of FL voters. You need to research your facts.

Charlie Crist isn't ready for the Democratic presidential nomination yet. He's more than happy to accept the Dem VP nod.

The party of family values really needs to do a lot of housecleaning; it seems to be up to 2-3 pervs a week that turn up in the headlines.

The chairman of the Republican Party in Brown County faces criminal charges for allegedly fondling a 16-year-old Ethan House runaway and providing the boy with beer and marijuana late last year.
Donald Fleischman, 37, of Allouez, was charged last month with two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and a single charge of exposing himself to a child.

The WisPolitics Courtwatch blog has even more details of this sordid story and has a copy of the criminal

Fleischman allegedly allowed at least two 16-year-old boys to stay at his house and told one of them he could "smoke pot and drink alcohol" at his house and not have to worry about anything, according to the criminal complaint.

...The boys lived at home for at-risk youth receiving court-ordered treatment that is located across the street from Fleischman's house. Fleischman allegedly offered the boys marijuana, and one of the juveniles alleged that Fleischman said he could stay at his house if he ever ran away.

One of the victims said Fleischman allegedly told him "it would be cool for him to have two 16-year-old roommates and he stated he would even do their laundry for them."

9:37 - huh? you think you're posting on the correct topic there, sport?

[Pete Bogs]

closing my checkbook is exactly what I plan to do... I will send notes back in those self-addressed envelopes explaining why they're not getting any of my money...

[Mari Anderson]

I will not pass up an opportunity to vote for DENNIS KUCINICH our next GREAT President. His values align with mine. He will stop the war immediately. His health care plan is carefully thought out taking the profit out of health care. Tax payers will finally get what they have paid for. Kucinich answers to no korporations he can not be bought or corrupted. Kucinich will cut the bloat from defense spending. Kucinich drives a Ford Focus and lives in a moderate home. Obama lives in a 1.6 million dollar Chicago mansion, Hillary has a mansion too! Kucinich is the people's candidate.

By closing our checkbook we are letting the R's win. We would be only hurting ourselves.

02:43 PM
the DNC had nothing to do with the 4 state pledge. That was that nasty evil family the Folwlers in South Carolina

Why would the Dems make such a stupid pledge? Can someone please explain?

US CONGRESSMAN DEMOCRAT WILLIAM JEFFERSON HID THE MONEY IN A FREEZER IN HIS OFFICE.