St Pete Times: "Dems say 'not us', but Dean knows better"

[madfloridian]

This is an interesting column by Adam C.Smith of the Times. Things are not always as they seem.

Dean lobbied early on against FL primary bill

And the Florida Democrats rudely blew him off. I have several examples in other articles, but this is enough.

As Florida Democrats try to escape punishment from the national party for busting the established primary schedule, a sob story is emerging:

How can the mean ol' Democratic National Committee punish beleaguered Florida Democrats for the Republican-controlled legislature and governor deciding to move the presidential primary so early in violation of committee rules?

Puh-lease.

Party chairman Howard Dean might swallow that if a Democratic state senator, Jeremy Ring, hadn't sponsored the original bill moving the primary to Jan. 29. Besides, Dean knows he lobbied early on to get Democrats to back off the bill and folks like House Democratic leader Dan Gelber blew him off publicly.

From another article, Gelber was rude and so were others. Dean called him in February and tried to talk with him.

Dean, the party leader and 2004 presidential candidate, phoned Miami Beach Rep. Dan Gelber, the House Democratic leader, who backs an earlier primary.

"I didn't want to get in a game of chicken with the national Democratic Party, but candidly, I don't represent Howard Dean," Gelber said. "I represent a lot of people who would like to be in the primary journey as more than just potential contributors."
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/09/State/Primary_move_upsets_D.shtml

There's a history in my state of not paying attention to rules.

The rules are different in Florida

"Florida—The Rules Are Different Here” was a state promotional slogan that began in 1986. It is still used derisively, whenever someone wants to break the rules.