say YES! to michigan (delegates)
by Cameron Contois
Published: March 21, 2008
Sitting at my desk, while typing this article, I can look out of my window. From my second story room, I oversee much of my hilly hometown, Marquette, which is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. If I press my head against the window and look east, I can just make out the sun starting to rise over the icy waters of what is essentially a freshwater ocean, Lake Superior. If I wanted to drive to Detroit, I would have to first drive three hours east, before crossing the Mackinac Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Then I would have to drive south approximately four more hours to reach Detroit (it’s actually quicker for me to drive to Chicago). My point: Michigan is a big state. Our votes deserve to be heard.
Michigan broke the rules. Democratic legislators like Senator Carl Levin, whom I voted for, wanted Michigan to have more say in picking their presidential candidate by holding an earlier primary. They ignored the Democratic National Committee and scheduled the primary early. Now Michigan’s 156 delegates won’t be seated at the convention.
I don’t necessarily agree with the decision to break the rules, but I think my big swing state should have more say in picking the presidential nominee. Right or wrong, it happened. My vote should still count. As Senator Clinton said, it is “un-American” not to count my vote.
Glenn Beck from Headline News states that Michigan’s Democratic Party is not taking responsibility for its own actions by not accepting the consequences. “Democrats aren’t happy that delegates from Florida and Michigan won’t be seated at the national convention because those states broke clear party rules. Well you know what? Too bad… You agreed to the rules; you broke them. Now you’ve got to deal with the consequences.” (Too Bad Michigan and Florida.“)
I never broke any rules. Don’t take away my voice. Either Michigan needs to find a way to hold a re-vote or the first primary results should stand as is. As a Clinton supporter, the latter solution works for me, although I grudgingly admit that it wouldn’t be fair to Obama, whose name wasn’t on the primary ballot.
The only fair solution is a re-vote. Florida decided against a re-vote. That’s a travesty that cannot be repeated in my home state.
Will Michigan pay for the re-do? Will the DNC pay for it? How will Michiganders go about the hectic task of organizing another primary?
I don’t care. Count my vote!
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