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Nelson Takes On His Party

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2007

Sen. Bill Nelson spent more than a month trying to convince Howard Dean to come up with a plan under which the votes made by Florida's Democrats in the January primary would count for something, but the chairman of the Democratic National Committee rebuffed him at every turn.

Dean would deny some 4.2 million voters the chance to choose the next Democratic presidential nominee, all because of unfair party rules.

So on Thursday Nelson, along with U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, sued the party in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of their Democratic constituents.

Nelson correctly called the suit a case of fundamental rights versus party rules. The party vowed not to seat Florida's delegates chosen through the primary process because the Legislature chose to move the primary to Jan. 29, one week before the party's rules allow.

It's true states can't keep leapfrogging each other in the quest for influence. But the party could push reforms that bring sanity to the primary system. Instead, the party leaders chose to stick it to Florida voters. What a gift to the Republicans.

It's ironic that a party that has fumed for seven years that citizens should have confidence their votes will count would deny that right to its supporters.

As one of only two Democratic leaders elected statewide in Florida and as a United States senator, Nelson has the clout to challenge his party's leadership. We hope he prevails.

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