Beathan:
I asked if you knew precisely what happened. I would also add that this question comes without regard to what Dean, Brazile, or the DNC has stated. Rules are not to be broken and yet the DNC did do that for Nevada, South Carolina, and New Hampshire . . .
I stole the balance of this to answer your point on Michigan breaking the rules:
Let’s look at the Delegate Selection Rules of the DNC :
No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention.
Provided, however, :
- that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February;
- that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February;
- that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February;
- and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.
- In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.
The first Tuesday in February was the 5th, so that 22 days prior would be January 14th.
Thus, the Nevada caucuses could be held no earlier than the 19th,
the New Hampshire primary could be held no earlier than January 22nd, and so on.
Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina all moved their caucuses and primaries in violation of DNC rules, and yet suffered no penalty, not even the standard 1/2 reduction in delegates.
So why were Michigan and Florida afforded such draconian treatment?
This is what the DNC said the primary calender should look like, in their own words.
The new DNC Rules and Bylaws for the caucus and primary 2008 calendar schedule is as follows:
* Iowa holds the first-in-the-nation caucus on January 14.
* New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary on January 22.
* Nevada conducts a caucus between Iowa and New Hampshire on Saturday, January 19.
* South Carolina holds a primary 1 week after the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, January 29
This is what ACTUALLY HAPPENED........
Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina all moved their caucuses and primaries in violation of DNC rules, and yet suffered no penalty, not even the standard 1/2 reduction in delegates.
(1) Iowa
The earliest Caucus could be held = 1/14/2008
The Caucus was held = 1/3/2008 - A violation of 11 days
(2) New Hampshire
The earliest the Primary could be held = 1/22/2008
The Primary was held = 1/8/2008 - A violation of 14 days
(3) Nevada
The caucus was held January 19th, but was changed from second in the schedule to third in the schedule.
Nevada was supposed to be the second Caucus, ahead of New Hampshire, but New Hampshire and Nevada switched positions around, while Nevada still kept their date of January 19th.
South Carolina
The earliest the Primary could be held = 1/29/2008
The Primary was held = 1/26/2008 - A violation of 3 days
These 3 states violated the rules but are still having ALL their delegates seated at the convention.
Then there is the rest of the story
Michigan
The earliest the Primary could be held = 2/5/2008
The Primary was held = 1/15/2008 - A violation of 21 days
Florida
The earliest the Primary could be held = 2/5/2008
The Primary was held = 1/29/2008 - A violation of 3 days
The DNC is in violation of it’s own rules.
I would ask this about Michigan and Florida : WHY only Fl and MI were punished?
Why were the others given waivers? But why did Michigan move their primary up? See the addendum:
