Democratic National Committee Should Stand by Punishment

Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee have suddenly started waffling on the issue of Michigan and Florida delegates for the August convention. Originally, the states were supposed to lose some or all of their delegates as a punishment for not obeying the traditional primary schedule.

At the time, both states claimed that they would not care because it was much more important to vote early and "be heard" than to obey the party dictates. But now they are petitioning to allow their delegates to be seated and Dean, chairman of the DNC, appears to be ready to acquiesce.

Apparently, Mr. Dean and the DNC need to learn that punishment only works when you follow through on it. So Michigan and Florida thumb their noses at tradition and still get their delegates and Barrack Obama who obeyed the rules and did not campaign in either state loses.

Let me say clearly and unequivocally, I support Obama. I believe that he should be rewarded for obeying not only the letter of the law, but also the spirit of it. Obama was not even on the ballot in Michigan. My friends and family there could not have voted for him if they wanted to and yet their votes, whether for Hillary Clinton or undecided are supposedly going to count if Dean allows the delegates to be seated.

While Florida and Michigan whine that the party ruling prevents their citizens from taking part in the democratic process, I would argue that Dean's actions prevented a major candidate from taking part in the process. Obama is being punished for doing what I hope a commander-in-chief would do and obey the election rules of the land.

The last I read, Dean was encouraging the states to find a way to appropriately assign the delegates, whether through repeat primaries or other means, but the only appropriate means is to stick by your word. I realize that Dean may have spent too much time around politicians and believe that he too can neglect his campaign promises, but it is time that the people of Democratic Party demand better.