Madfloridian's Journal - It's all a big joke, the pledge signing. Obama and Hillary heading for Florida.

Ok, I am going to say it.

Why did this rule-breaking over primaries come up this year? Why not in 2003? Why not other years? The DNC added two more states, diverse ones in population. Other states had the right to apply to be early. I know Florida did not apply. Why this year? Why are they doing it in a way to make it seem the fault of the national party when it is not?

Why this year?

In Florida the Democrats laughingly went along with the Republicans. I won't speak for Michigan, but I know Florida used propaganda to blame the DNC.

But why sign the pledge if you are going to campaign in the two states anyway? Why misrepresent what you are doing? This article mentions Obama and Clinton, but Edwards will be here also I imagine.

Pledge can't stop top Dem hopefuls

Don't take this pledge too seriously.

Three days after signing a pledge not to campaign for Florida's presidential primary, the leading Democratic candidates are moving forward with their campaigns here. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are scheduled in Miami this weekend. Then, Clinton has five events in Florida next Monday. Obama's campaign has fundraising stops scheduled for Tampa and St. Petersburg later this month.

But how is this possible? Didn't the candidates pledge to honor a national Democratic edict to punish Florida for moving its primary to Jan. 29?

Not quite.

Backers for the top candidates said Tuesday the pledge was so loosely worded, it leaves open plenty of opportunities to appear in Florida. They also believe the fight between state and national Democrats over the primary date will be settled before the vote. The bottom line: Florida is just too important to write off, pledge or not, political experts say.

"They can't ignore a state like Florida," said Darryl Paulson, a University of South Florida political science professor.

When are they going to be open and honest with us? When are they going to say why they choose this year to have an open rebellion against the DNC and its rules?

And when do we start caring about things a large state lying to get their way.

Gelber admits they did not fight the GOP about the primary.

Of course we didn't fight against the bill. When the Republican leadership made it clear that this was their priority, Democrats had two choices: support something their constituents support and that was going to become law anyway; or support the DNC Rules Committee enforcement of a primary system that our constituents revile. For me, this decision was easy.

Again, I ask, why did the rebellion against party authority over the primary process start this year?

I also ask why did the candidates say one thing in the pledge and another thing out of the other side of their mouth?

Democrats ought to know.