THE DNC SHOULD NOT AWARD DELEGATES OR HOLD NEW ELECTIONS IN EITHER MICHIGAN OR FLORIDA

By signing this petition, I agree to the two conditions:

1.) The Democratic National Committee (DNC) should NOT award any delegates in the states of Michigan and Florida, and it should not hold any new elections or caucuses in those states.

I agree to this for the following reasons:

1.) This will be disgraceful to the Democratic Party and the DNC, eroding our credibility going into a General Election and further dividing us at a time we need to unite against the Republicans.

2.) The logistical and financial complications if the two states hold new elections would create many complications For instance ...
(a.) Keeping track of absentee vs. first-time vs. second-time ballots and the likeihood of mass confusion
(b.) The economic costs of holding second elections and organizing the logistics and sorting through the aftermath could prove to be astronomical.

3.) These states knew the results and the risks involved with holding their elections earlier and chose to do so anyway. The DNC needs to remain firm and hold these states accountable for their choices.

4.) Many voters stepped aside in these states because they felt the election wouldn't really matter and they were given no indication that delegates would be seated. Therefore, many did not vote because they didn't feel the need to do so.

5.) Sen. Hillary Clinton was the ONLY candidate who had her name on the ballot in Michigan, while Sens. Barack Obama and (former) John Edwards did not. In the Democratic Primary race, delegates are awarded proportionally, so it would be imposslbe to give Sens. Obama and Edwards the fair share of their proportional delegates in this race.

6.) Sen. Barack Obama has proven in EVERY STATE he has campaigned in that he defeats Sen. Hillary Clinton and/or significantly narrows the gap between them. This is because voters get to know who he is and what he stands for. This did not happen in Michigan and Florida, while Sen. Hillary Clinton had the name reconigition and familiar history as First Lady that gave her an unfair advantage in states where Sen. Obama did not campaign.

7.) This would lead to a weakened DNC and a weakened Democratic Party going into the general election.

8.) Sen. Barack Obama kept his pledge not to campaign in Michigan and Florida, as he was asked to do so. He kept his word and SHOULD NOT be penalized by the DNC for honoring this pledge.


The DNC needs to make clear this issue has been resolved and move on, awarding no delegates and granting no new elections or caucuses in either Michigan or Florida.