Former Representative Karen Thurman, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, has written a letter to Florida Democrats concerning today's ruling by the Rules and Bylaws Committee. In my opinion, it was a well-crafted letter, addressing concerns of both Sen. Clinton's and Sen. Obama's supporters in the Sunshine State.
In the letter, Ms. Thurman first states that the
DNC’s decision allows for all of Florida’s 211 delegates to be seated at the National Convention and cast one-half vote each, putting us on equal footing with Florida Republicans (who were penalized by their national party with a 50% delegation reduction).
This is an important point. Many Floridians were puzzled by the disparate manner in which each party handled the early Florida primary. The RNC halved the Florida Republican delegation; the DNC (fully within its rights) stripped Florida of its delegation entirely. We can argue for days over what should have been or what might have been, but at the end of the day, those certain Florida Democrats who considered themselves "disenfranchised" can no longer use the Republicans as a comparison.
Ms. Thurman continues:
Both the Clinton and Obama campaigns support this decision. No matter who wins, they both agree that a strong and passionate Florida delegation must participate in the nomination of the next President of the United States of America. (emphasis mine)
Within the first few paragraphs, Ms. Thurman has put to rest the idea that either Clinton or Obama has communicated public reservations about the halving of Florida delegates. South Florida, where I live, is strong Clinton country, and it is necessary to reassure some hardcore Clinton supporters that the RBC decision today was supported and agreed to by their favored candidate.
Towards the end of her letter, Ms. Thurman refocuses our attention on what we have known to be the true goal all along:
We must prevent a third Bush term. Alone, Florida Democrats can stop John McCain. He cannot win the White House without our 27 electoral votes.
Florida is an important state in the general election. As Ms. Thurman emphasizes, we (both Florida Democrats and Democrats as a whole) can no longer bicker amongst ourselves. We must focus on the enemy, and prevent four more years of the same destruction these last seven have wrought upon our nation.
Don’t lose sight of what matters most. Divided, we will fail.
But together - united - we can change our country for the better.
Let’s get back to work!
Thank you, Chair Thurman. "Get back to work" is exactly what we intend to do.