Gelber: Don't blame FL Dems for delegate loss

UPDATE: Gelber may have audio, but Republicans have video -- of Sen. Steve Geller offering an "amendment" to move the primary back. It was fun and games back then. No longer. See it here.

The House Democratic leader, continuing his push for a new, vote-by-mail primary, on his new blog repeats the Democratic argument (scoffed at by the DNC) that they were helpless to stop Republicans from moving the primary to Jan. 29. He even includes audio of David Rivera laughing at the Democrats' amendment to shift the date to Feb. 5.

What we wonder, though, is what would have happened if Florida Democrats opposed the early primary from the start, rather than waiting until the last minute. Instead of cheerleading the idea of an early primary violating the national party rules and brushing off Howard Dean, who knows if the new governor stressing bi-partisanship would have been keen on rolling Democrats.

The only thing that's certain in hindsight is FL Republicans had a HUGE role in deciding the nominee 1/29 and FL Democrats would have had a far bigger role if the primary had stayed in March.

Comments

coud've voted no!

Democrats - always trying to change the rules after the fact.

“I didn’t want to get in a game of chicken with the national Democratic Party, but candidly, I don’t represent Howard Dean,” said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. “I represent a lot of people who would like to be in the primary journey as more than just potential contributors.” (The St. Pete Times, February 9, 2007)

“We have a duty to the country to be in this process from the beginning,” said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota. “I think our voters don’t want to be left out.” (The St. Pete Times, February 9, 2007)

“Would we rather have a say in who the party’s nominee is or send a few more people to a party?” said Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland. (The Tampa Tribune, February 16, 2007)

Rep. Terry Fields, D-Jacksonville, praised Rivera's effort, saying it was long overdue. "He has made it possible for us to become a key player on the national stage." (The Miami Herald, March 21, 2007)

It was more important to the Democrats to have a paper trail of their votes, even though they didn't count...

[terminator]

get real Dan!

Ring sponsored the Senate bill and all you D's (except Seilor) voted for it.

blah blah blah......

Dear St. Pete Times,

FYI...It was a DEMOCRAT who sponsored the bill - Jeremy Ring. How was this info left out of this blog post?

The Terminator is right...Ring sponsored the senate bill and Sieler was the only dissenting vote in the house.

Where's that sarcastic quote of geller that they played at the DNC where he said "oh no Mr. President, we really, really want this..." (talking about his amendment to move the date to the 5th)

Dear 12:28 - that point was left out of the blog in the same manner that any other item that might put their beloved Gelber in a bad light.

Gelber is a media darling that gets special treatment.

From an earlier thread on this blog:

Thurman tried valiantly to argue that Democrats tried to stop the Jan. 29 date, and that lawmakers even made a motion to move the date to Feb. 5 but in the end they could not vote against paper trails. It didn't help their case. The DNC members had handouts that included quotes by House Minority leader Dan Gelber brushing off Howard Dean, and the following transcript of Steve Geller making the motion to move the primary to Feb. 5:
Geller: "...So the Democratic leader and the Democratic leader pro tem are jointly making this motion, which we will duly show them later, that we tried not to have the election on, um, before (Feb. 5).
President: "And so Sen. Geller are you urging a negative vote or would you like us to pass this vote?"
Geller: "Oh no sir. We really, really want this. Don't we senator? (sarcasm and audible laughter in chamber).

[A Blue Voter]

Warning to Hillary supporters: The only thing that could possibly put a GOP in the White House is if you keep pushing your contorted claim to have those lost delegates counted.

Think about it - if you're successful, Clinton will have tainted herself with the same excrement as BUSH-FL-2000 and BUSH-OH-2004. That will be the opinion of approximately 3/4 of the voting population. Do you think you can win anything that way?

AS a FL DEM I DON'T CARE about the primary nearly as much as I Don't want 4 more years of destructive GOP leadership.

Give it your best shot in TX OH PENN and I will gladly support whichever DEM wins, but leave the delegate issue alone.

Gelber should face the truth...he blew it on this issue....he voted for it..his caucus voted for it....not because they had to..but because they supported the move...it was a calculated risk...and he lost big.

[Crusader]

At the time, the stated penalty was loss of HALF the delegates.

Losing ALL the delegates came later.

If one has a short outlook of success, then moving up the FL primary wasn't good. But, if one has a long view of what is right for Florida (a view that many legislators don't seem to have many times), then moving the primary and thereby sacrificing delegates was the right thing to do.

It's more important that a state as large and critical as FL is given its due during primary season.

You all are a bunch of blogging idiots. Ring's bill was the first Tuesday in February. Constantine's bill that he (being Chair of the COmmittee) merged with Ring's bill. When you are Chair and in the majority, you can do whatever you wish.

You guys are idiots.

3:35

if the omnibus bill was then such a problem, they could've voted No. None of them did. Go whine elsewhere.

All this finger pointing is great, especially the comments from the obvious Republicans. The point of the matter is that I (me the little guy) deserve a vote. I'll take the one I cast or I'll cast another one, but all this talk about just ignoring me will not help this state or this country.

4:18
I don't know how it is some of these posts are from "obvious Republicans". The Democrats are the ones who are feeling disenfranchised by their own party. Plenty of whining to go around.
BTW, you got your vote, as did the rest of us.

I thought “disenfranchised” is what happened to a local McDonalds when they pissed-off the home office!

4:26 (obviously a Republican)

The Democratic Party has created a situation that cannot be corrected. And they want to run the country? As Howard Dean said, "Three words: we can do better."

[Florida Democrat]

While the Republicans certain had a lot to do with changing the primary date, the Democratic elected officials and party leaders are not without blame.Instead of filing suit against the national party, people could have/should have filed suit against the state party.It is easy to write on a blog (as I am doing) it is muc harder to actually solve this issue. I would be impressed more if Sen. Gelber admitted that he is at least partially responsible for this mess.

Ring
Ring
Ring
RingRingRingRingRingRingRingRingRingRing
Ring
Ring
RingRing
RingRing
Ring

6:02
No, not "obviously a Republican", just obviously someone who can think for myself.

I think those that do not know anythign about how Tallahassee really works should be banned from contributing their opinions to this blog.

"Those that know not blog, those that do....do."

It was Constantine's bill that passed, not Rings'. Geez, you people are morons. Simply look it up.

11:31 - so what, read the quotes from D's posted above - they were clearly on board with the idea of FL being a bigger player through the Jan 29 primary date - whose bill did this or that or what matters not because D leaders are clearly on record in support of the date change

[DEMs United]

It's starting to get laughable, all these GOP trying to get DEMs to argue about the primary. Sorry, folks, we refuse to argue about anything except which shade of blue we're going to paint the White House.

[terminator]

11:31 (Mr. Know it all)
So are you telling us Ring and the D's couldn't have gone against Constantine's bill????
I know Constantine and he's not exactly a power player in the Senate. Mybe when it comes to happy hour but he's not that well tapped in these days.
You don't know jack *hit!