It was not even public knowledge. Nobody got really upset, nobody threatened to sue McAuliffe who was chairman then. It was politics as usual.
Here's what Terry McAuliffe said to Carl Levin in 2004, as reported in his book.
Expletives were flying. The head of the Democratic National Committee was having it out with Sen. Carl Levin because Michigan wanted to crash the rarefied club of early presidential primary states.
Move your primary too early, Terry McAuliffe warned, and Michigan will lose half its delegates to the 2004 Democratic convention.
"The closest they'll get to Boston will be watching it on television," McAuliffe vowed. "I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules."Florida Democrats plan the early primary with the Republicans and then sue Howard Dean The court has accepted the lawsuit, Nelson v Dean, which most of us figured it would. Instead of presenting the real issue, Bill Nelson and Alcee Hastings made it about the African American vote here....which of course is not what it was about at all.
There are now 4 lawsuits going against the DNC.
I am sorry but this is not making sense. Who is behind all these lawsuits? It costs money to file all these lawsuits? Who is funding them?
Why are all of the suits being filed now against the party and not against the party under its former chairman?
The Florida party worked with the GOP since early 2006 to get the early primary date. The party spokesperson said so. Now they are being allowed to sue the DNC at a crucial time for our party.
I have been posting about this issue since it began. I am about the only one. Florida bloggers were taken on board with the state party, and they are sticking with them. There is no one presenting both sides.
Collection of posts about how the primary deal was done by both parties here.I am thinking that our party here must not need us very much. Maybe that's a good thing.
I want to know who is funding all the lawsuits, including Nelson v Dean, the one by Victor Dimaio in Tampa, the one being filed by Senate Leader Steve Geller against the first four states and maybe Dean, and the one by Ralph Nader, who never minds taking right wing money. There is also an ongoing one by a gay activist that is not connected with Florida.
How do we find out who is providing financial backing for all these lawsuits?
I was willing to work with the party here this year until the vote on the early primary, when they sent out an email the next day saying to contact Dean and stop him from stealing our votes.
Pardon me if I am less than eager now. I am angry that the Tampa guy will continue his lawsuit, though it has already been dismissed once. I am angry that the courts took Nelson v Dean, as it really should have been dismissed.
I guess they really don't need us.