Oh MY! GOP stepping in: Sen. Arlen Specter may hold hearings against DNC

[VeraAgnes]

I think This DNC Committee event Saturday is a "Perfect Storm" Event...........

Remember folks.....I'm just a poster on this Board who is sharing information. We need to know even the unpleasant stuff to be effective....Okay! :scared:


http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/PeterJWirs/2008/05/28/specter_demands_sanity_check_on_obamas_hypocrisy

The Democrats begrudge the 2000 Bush-Gore Florida recount. They blithely complain when Republicans seek valid measures preventing voter fraud. Why then, are the Democrats suddenly blind, deaf, and dumb when Senator Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee openly avow to disenfranchise voters 1,749,920 in Florida and 594,398 in Michigan? Not only are Obama and the DNC perpetrating a "hi-tech" lynching, but it is blatantly unconstitutional and may even be criminal.

The Democrats allege Florida and Michigan violated the DNC Rule 11.A prohibiting a caucus or primary before Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire. DNC Rule 20.C.1 specifies the punitive measures that both states lose 50% of their vote: Florida 210 delegates, Michigan 156 delegates. The DNC Rules Committee will be meeting this coming Saturday, May 31 to hear Obama’s utterly bizarre plan allowing only the superdelegates (ironically the votes he desperately needs to capture the nomination) to be seated, while delegates elected by popular suffrage are repudiated by being half-counted, oddly reminiscent of a colonial enumeration of freed "Black Men and Indians."

By why is there even a debate? Constitutional law is unequivocal. Every vote cast must be counted. This constitutional principle, pronounced by the United States Supreme Court since Ex parte Yarborough (1884) and reiterated as recently as Gray v. Sanders (1963), is simply beyond reproach. This rock-bottom constitutional demand applies to primaries as well as general elections. United States v. Classic (1941). Deliberately refusing to count votes cast may, under certain fact scenarios, constitute a Federal crime, United States v. Classic, citing now Section 241 of the Federal Crimes Code. Reiterating black letter law stated in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966), the high court reasserted in Bush v. Gore (2000) that "once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person's vote over that of another."

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), now the Senate Judiciary’s ranking minority member, asserted to us in an exclusive interview, that although as a learned attorney he remains obliged to see "how it plays out," that "it may well be worthwhile" to hold Congressional hearings on the Democrats’ refusal to seat Florida and Michigan at the Democratic National Convention. "It’s certainly something I want to consider," said Specter, ruefully hinting things might be different if he was still the Judiciary Chairman. "The essence of democracy is the right to vote," asserted Specter, the Democrat’s contemplation of not seating Florida and Michigan may constitute a fundamental violation of democratic principles. He believes that the Congress must act "very promptly
:scared:

[Coexist]

1. it won't matter because Florida and Michigan will be seated.

Just not in the unfair way Clinton is demanding.

[VeraAgnes]

6. I'm going to DVR CNN all day Saturday.

I smell blood in the water.:scared:

[Coexist]

10. it will be more civil than you think

the fuss will all be the loons outside.

[Danger Mouse]

86. the only entertainment will be the whacko clinton supporters.

but you may well enjoy that.

[MonteLukast]

13. That's a beautiful picture (n/t)

[Coexist]

64. thanks

[DJ13]

2. Arlen needs to remember his own party is only seating half delegates from Florida

Even the RNC is penalizing Floriduh.

[NotThisTime]

33. Maybe he's having a senior moment over that?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

95. This is proof that the GOP is desperate to install Hillary as DEM nominee

nothing has gone the way the repigs had hoped.

[wileedog]

3. Uh, aren't the Repubs stripping half the delegates too?

[onenote]

4. Arlen can hold his faux hearings in a basement room.

Because as ranking minority member of the Committee, he has no authority to call a hearing on squat.

[Coexist]

7. THAT would be Karma showing up bigtime.

[JoFerret]

79. But would it be right?

World blindness etc.

[VeraAgnes]

11. Good Point!

I'm now taking a breathe of air!

[xxqqqzme]

34. Just as long as he has his 'magic bullet' w/ him

it will all be OK.

[The Magistrate]

5. Noted Weather-Vane Arlen Specter, Ma'am, Is No Longer Chairman

He can go whistle all he likes: there is not one damned thing he can do. Nor can any of his colleagues do a thing except talk smack that will be ignored.

[Why Syzygy]

25. Isn't the OP linked site

prohibited on DU?

[The Magistrate]

38. This Is The Rule, Ma'am

"Members are permitted to link to highly partisan conservative websites, provided that they are doing so in the proper context."

This sort of 'expose' usage is an example of proper context.

The site, while virulently conservative, falls short of requirements for classing as a hate site.

[Why Syzygy]

54. That's too bad.

But I understand. It can be helpful.

This article has outright racist undertones. He uses terms like "lynching", saying at one point, the difference IS between "black and white".

I know the OP poster "in context", and I have my qualms about motives. But, rules are rules.
Thank you for your reply, Sir.

[sandnsea]

8. Oh for chrissake, fuck this country

THIS is what that asshat wants to hold hearings over?? This and steroids?

Fuck him, fuck anybody who supports this insanity.

What a joke.

[MonteLukast]

18. Another beautiful picture! (n/t)

[DemVet]

20. "fuck this country"....real Nice.

:eyes:

[sandnsea]

41. No, refusing to confront this lying pos is what's "real nice" n/t

[11 Bravo]

62. I'm with DemVet. I bled for this country. "Fuck this Country" grates on me, as well.

[sandnsea]

68. Supporting a liar for president grates on me

a whole lot more.

[sniffa]

28. Don't forget the Patriots' spygate

[AllentownJake]

I guess he's not getting anywhere with Spy Gate

You have to control the committees to schedule hearings Senator. Since your part of the GOP I highly doubt the democrats are going to hold committee hearings to investigate DNC rules.

[MonteLukast]

27. A taste of your own medicine, Arlen. (n/t)

[Mass]

9. First, he is in the minority. Second, remember we are talking about townhall.com

[VeraAgnes]

19. I never heard of it....

I heard this at work and did a Google-News to seek out what this jerk was saying at the Office....This is what came up.

[Mass]

26. The list of columnists on the page you listed is a good hint

Of those I recognize, George Will and Robert Novak are moderate. This should tell us a lot.

[VeraAgnes]

47. My co-worker is a republican who loves to try and

one-up me.....I just had to Google it, see if it had legs and then share with DU and get talking points from my friends.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[billyoc]

12. You would think a senior SJC member would keep up on current court cases.

Three lawsuits thrown out of court already. :eyes:

[Yael]

14. What, did he run out of sports scandals?

[americanstranger]

15. Senator Magic Bullet can butt out.

Who cares what he thinks?

- as

[Arkana]

75. Don't you mean Senator "WAAAAHHHH I'M AN EAGLES FAN"?

[Teaser]

16. Arlen "I'm in the Minority and can't do shit" Specter...

.

[MonteLukast]

23. Arlen "Just Words" Specter...

Says all the nice things we want to hear, makes us THINK he's upholding the Constitution but then goes right back to falling in line with BushCo. :grr: :thumbsdown:

[DemVet]

17. Told ya so.

Disenfranchising voters and messing with a primary for a national office is a FEDERAL crime.

[onenote]

37. really, cause so far the courts have ruled against efforts to interfere in the party's process.

Care to cite which statute has been violated?

[jsmirman]

45. Seriously, work this one through for us, dem vet

Good fucking luck, you don't have 1/1000th the mental capacity to get that done, and besides that, you're wrong.

But let's see you work this one through for us.

[DemVet]

69. Do a little research for once.

United States v. Classic

[LiberalFighter]

61. You got that correct. The courts do not have jurisdiction in how

their party rules are promulgated.

Maybe the courts should require the Republican Party to provide equal representation based on race, sex, social status. Race -- Nope. Sex -- Nope. Social Status -- I guess they do on this one. They don't want anyone below THEIR standards.

[DemVet]

70. The courts...

...and Congress are two seperate branches of the govt.

United States v. Classic

[canucksawbones]

74. doesn't apply in this case

that case is from Louisiana, where the primary is included as part of the election process

United States v. Classic 313 U.S. 299 (1941) was a decision by the United States Supreme Court that the United States Constitution empowered Congress to regulate primary elections and political party nominations procedures—but only in cases where state law made primaries and nominations part of the election and/or whenever the primary effectively determined the outcome of the election.

whene citing you should at least be familiar with the cite.

GK

[Silence Dogood]

97. Grievances have to go to the end of the DNC administrative process-

One they have exhausted all appeals with the DNC and the Credentials Committee, they have recourse through the court system. This case could land in court and drag out for as long as it wants to do.

[Hansel]

53. If the DNC hired Ronald MacDonald and Burger King to

flip a coin to decide who the nominee is that would be legal as long as the rules stated that this is the way it was going to be done in the 1st place.

As the courts have already ruled, there is no standing for the government to interfere in the private affairs of a political party.

I'm not a lawyer, but I think the only standing anyone has is if the contract entered into by the parties is violated. So if the Rules Committee tries to unilaterally change the rules to benefit Hillary by now seating FL and MI without Obama's agreeing to it, Obama would likely have a legitimate breach of contract complaint. At this point the courts might intervene and could very well rule in his favor stripping MI and FL of all of their delegates as the contract states. This is why all of the parties have to agreed to whatever the resolution is.

I don't see this going that far, but it does seem the cards are in Obama's hands and Hillary is working from a pretty weak position. So if MI and FL get their delegates, you will have him to thank.

[Silence Dogood]

98. see my above post-

there is always a remedy for a dispute. The outcome may not be the desired ruling but the courts will be involved in the process if this dispute is not settled to everyones satisfaction through the administrative process.

[NWHarkness]

21. Who cares?

Arlen Spector is a nobody. Even the other republicans don't pay attention to him.

[frickaline]

22. Doesnt he have a pivotal football crisis to concern himself with ?

He always picks the pressing issues.

[Why Syzygy]

24. We sure appreciate you, Vera, for bringing this RW slime to DU.

We know you support Clinton.

I object to the source of this OP. The rules say we don't use sites like this to defend our positions on DU.

[CreekDog]

29. parties are private entities

the seating of delegates, unless a violation of some other law, is not subject to government direction.

[fascisthunter]

30. BREAKING: Obama Will Be the Next President of the United States of America

don't sweat it DU. Be aware, but never afraid.

[Me.]

31. Did I Miss Arlen Pushing For Impeachment?

Or checking out the voting in Ohio if he's so worried about disenfranchisement of voters? I must have since he has so much time on his hands that he can blather on about an investigation he's not going to have.

[Ichingcarpenter]

35. The Author of the Article is the Republican Chairman of Philadelphia

Peter J. Wirs (Chairman of Philadelphia's 59th Republican Ward Executive Committee)

[The Magistrate]

48. Damn, Sir, That Must Be One Lonely Man....

[Tatiana]

36. "Town hall?" Nice source, there. Not. n/t

[aquarius dawning]

39. "...may constitute a fundamental violation of democratic principles."

No, ya think?

[democrattotheend]

40. They'd have to investigate the RNC too

Because the RNC also stripped Michigan and Florida of half their delegates.

[HootieMcBoob]

42. Parties can choose their candidates anyway they want

This is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Parties used to choose their candidates in the mythical smoke filled rooms. The Democratic Party is choosing the candidate we want to run in the Presidential election. It's none of Arlen Specter's damn business how it's run. If we want to have a literal pissing contest then that's the way we'll do it.

[crankychatter]

43. Them fukkin GOP War Mongers SURE DO WANT CLINTON

wtf is that about?

[redqueen]

49. It's like... a total mystery and shit. (nt)

[Why Syzygy]

56. They are on the same FREAKING TEAM? What do you expect.

[99th_Monkey]

44. i knew Rethugs were desperate to have Hillary as the nominee, but I didn't realize

they were THIS desperate. Meanwhile HIllary praises McSame for taunting Barack about not going to Iraq
with him.

Have these people no shame? Apparently not. :mad:

[Mass]

46. No. The problem is that Hillary's supporters do not either, apparently. Linking towhall.com as a

source for an argument, as if the GOP cared about voting rights.

[americanstranger]

52. WHAT?? You got a link for that?

Clinton sided with McCain again?

Can't say I'm shocked, but you'd think she'd have learned by now.

- as

[99th_Monkey]

60. here you go!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6173936

[FatDave]

82. Fucking hell....

The shameless little slimy brat...

[Why Syzygy]

58. Obama is correct in turning down McDitto.

He can go with his own team. Why the freak would he want to take that old man?
And he's right. It would be nothing but a political plastic turkey stunt. He isn't into that CRAP!

[99th_Monkey]

87. Exactly! Barak should go, but on his own terms, his own tour & his own schedule ~nt~

[Why Syzygy]

89. I'm sure McDitto wants to point out where all the Al Queda are hiding in Iraq.

[99th_Monkey]

91. Ya! You must mean those AQ "being trained in Iran"? They're all over the place.

NOT. errr.. uhmmm.. did I say AQ? I meant "extremists"..

[Why Syzygy]

92. snicker .. and show him all those IEDs that are made in . um OOPS!!!

[housewolf]

50. There is so much distortion in there that it's almost laughable...

For starters, we are a "representational democracy", not a "direct democracy". Primary elections are about determining how delegates will be allocated amongst the candidates, not about electing candidates directly.

Talk about disenfranchising voters... The Republican primary elections are "winner take all" elections by state... they are even less about the popular vote than the Democratic primary elections.

The Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee are private organizations, they have a right to make and abide by their own rules. The RNC sanctioned MI & FL by only counting half of their delegates.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

51. Let's see... Wyoming, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Michigan & Florida

All stripped of half their delegates by the RNC. Won't Arlen's face be red when he finds out. :rofl:

[David Zephyr]

55. Specter, as a minority member, can't hold any hearing whatsover.

But, if they want to play that game then it's time to haul in the GOP for corruption and their involvement for phone jamming in New Hampshire.

[blogslut]

57. Townhall?

Why do you bring that wingnut trash in here?

[scarletwoman]

59. Townhall? Why would you bring that rightwing trash here?

Spreading fear and panic from rightwingers -- great idea. :eyes:

[indimuse]

63. very interesting...To say the least!

K&R!

[Phx_Dem]

65. Yawn.

Mr. Single-Bullet Theory is still striving for relevance. :boring:

[and-justice-for-all]

66. All Presidential campaigns should run based on...

the same rules, regardless of party affiliation.

[and-justice-for-all]

67. Townhall.com; giving false hope to the hopeless. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

71. Arlen Spector can't hold hearings on squat.

Ask Conyers about trying to hold hearings as a member of the minority party.

[BryMan]

72. Very odd.

I would swear this was a site for Democrats/progressives/left leaning types. And here I see a townhall.com article with that useless turd joke Arlen Specter being used to defend some purported Democrats/progresive/left leaning types arguments. That is supposedly Democrat/progressive/left leaning types, because anyone that uses anything from the trashheap known as townhall.com is nothing of the sort, they are treading on the GOOPer side of the fence, and are in my mind fucking fakes.

Pick a damn team, and that doesn't mean the cult of personality team, that means team Democrat, or go the fuck over to the side you really are leaning towards apparently.

[beachmom]

73. The GOP stripped FL and MI of half of their delegates, too!!!!!

This is utter BS. Stay out of our party's business, Arlen!

Can Democrats at least agree on that?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

76. Didn't they stripp Wyoming, North Carolina and New Hampshire of half of their delegates, too?

I'm pretty sure they did.

Yep, this is utter BS. I'm sure Spector knows that though. He's just running around like a chicken with his head cut off these days.

[rucky]

77. Why? Are they using steroids?

[Tinksrival]

78. I need a shower after going to your link.

That's freeper gold over there. Ann Coulter???

# Mike Gallagher
# |
# Mary Katharine Ham
# |
# Hugh Hewitt
# |
# Michael Medved
# |
# Michael Barone
# |
# Thomas Sowell
# |
# Tony Blankley
# |
# Ann Coulter
# |
# Dennis Prager



NO THANK YOU!!! Specter has NO POWER to do anything.

[rndmprsn]

80. Didn't the GOP do just this...seat half of the delegates?

someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[unblock]

81. aha! you can't use bush v gore as a precedent! scalia said so right in the opinion!

of course the rest of the argument depends on "later arbitrary and disparate treatment", which of course it's neither.

it was widely announced beforehand that they would not get any seated delegates and everyone was affected by the exact same rule.

[Scooter24]

83. The Constitution provides every eligible American the right to vote in a general election

but doesn't guarantee the right to vote in a Presidential party primary. The Supreme Court and many federal district and appeals courts have consistently held that any political party has complete autonomy to set its rules to determine its delegates to its party convention when determining its nominee. The article above, however, really stretches a Supreme Court decision (United States v. Classic). That decision ruled that Congress has the power the regulate primary elections "only in cases where state law made primaries and nominations part of the election and/or whenever the primary effectively determined the outcome of the election." to Congress. This does not apply to a party's selection of its Presidential candidate because we are simply determining who will represent the party in the general election.

The GOP only wants this "hearing" to continue the interparty divide we currently have thanks to our extended primary season. It's simple politics... More Democratic interparty conflict = greater chance for GOP success.

[Hippo_Tron]

84. Yea, well, he can't...

[Danger Mouse]

85. Sometimes Specter seems like he has integrity. Most of the time he's a stupid asshole.

In this case it is the latter.

[anonymous171]

88. They want to disrupt our process as much as possible. SDs, do your thing.

[casus belli]

90. There is no "right to vote" in a primary Arlen, and you know it. n/t

[cali]

93. tough shit for Arlen and hillbots that Pat Leahy is Chairman of the JC.

[eridani]

94. The Constitution has nothing whatsoever to say about political parties

--and how they conduct their internal affairs. End of story.

[LaurenG]

96. Too funny

Do they think the DNC can't take care of themselves?

[Silence Dogood]

100. They are not doing a very good job if they've become what they rallied against-

voter disenfranchisement.

[LaurenG]

101. now now - rules should apply across the board

Howard Dean is a very fair minded if not strict chairman. It'll be fine and they can work it out without outside intervention. Especially since the judges have already spoken about this.

Senator Clinton will have to live with the decisions she made, and abide by the adjustments deemed fair by the DNC. Consequences are great teaching tools.

[Thrill]

99. How about hearings on the Iraq War. Specter is full of shit