Posted on 03/23/2007 5:59:46 AM PDT by Craigswatch
This past week in the Florida legislature a bill was passed 115 to 1 to move the states Presidential primary to Jan 29 to be the “first in the nation” primary. It was explained to me that by an intern working at my state reps office that this would be good because of the diversity of the population of the state. He went on to say that New Hampshire and Iowa do not make up the flavor of America.
My response, “you’re lost and so are the 115 that voted for this”. The purpose of the primary is to hear all candidates on issues facing our nation. Regretfully, a state the size of Florida, California, New York or Texas will prohibit many candidates from being heard. The candidates that we will hear are the ones with deep pockets that can afford TV, Radio and print ads across the state. Are we not a nation of debate to find the solution to our challenges?
By only hearing select candidates, our options will be limited to the Hillary’s and McCain’s of the process. Is this what our forefathers wanted? Also, the concept of grass roots politics by going out to meet the people at town hall meetings will now be lost. Candidates will now be forced to only meet those willing to pay $2000.00 a plate and not the people they claim to represent. This is a disgrace!
In addition, our date gets changed to Jan 29, what will stop Michigan to change it to Dec 31? As is, I am already sick of hearing promises that will be broken. When will this stop. The fact is this; this was done strictly as an attempt to get campaign money into the state, nothing more, nothing less. Call your Senator and the Governor and tell them to stop Florida Senate Bill1010.
As a former resident of New Hampshire, I have been honored to meet many candidates on the political trail; this is the one time we are able to communicate with them as people and not as candidates. I can assure you that by moving the first in the nation primary to a big state will take the voices of the common citizen away for our countries government. Perhaps the legislature in Florida should fix the voting problems of 2000 and the recent 13th Congressional race in 2006 before they want the spot light on a national event.
How long until some other state moves its primary to the first Tuesday in Jan...or to Jan.2 for that matter?
So my guess is that NH's primary will still be the first in the nation...even if it happens this October.
Problem is, we are going to have the primary the day after the main election.
The stupidity of Florida and the other states to think that others will not jump in before them is outrageous.
Regretfully, we have elected officials that are in the twilight zone.
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