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Nelson's Planned Convention Speech Blasts Party, Sanctions

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By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

Political conventions are normally intended to inspire the party's base to get out and work for their candidates.

But Florida Sen. Bill Nelson's planned speech Saturday to the state Democratic Convention in Orlando is a little different - he'll give a speech including attacks his own party.

According to an advance draft, he intends to blast the national Democratic Party for its sanctions against Florida, and to talk about his own lawsuit "against the political party bosses in Washington."

Because of the state's Jan. 29 primary, earlier than party rules allow, the national party has said it won't seat a Florida delegation to the national convention - effectively rendering the state's primary vote moot. Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings are suing over that.

"Although this election comes when we, as a nation, are immersed in serious debate about Iraq, health care and home foreclosures, another issue most recently has arisen that also is sacred to Democrats - and, to our democracy," says the speech draft.

"It's the principle of one person, one vote.

"On behalf of millions of Florida voters, Rep. Alcee Hastings and I have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the political party bosses in Washington ... Certainly, our country's primary system is broken. But the answer isn't to deny people the right to vote and have their vote count."

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