By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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Stumble It!
By Billy House
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON - As many as 300 Floridians are planning to join hundreds of other demonstrators outside of Saturday's Democratic National Committee's rules and bylaws panel meeting.
But the potential for clashes between demonstrators prompted Barack Obama's campaign to declare Wednesday it doesn't want his supporters to gather outside the hotel here where the rules committee will decide whether to seat delegates from those two states.
"We don't think it's a helpful dynamic to create chaos," said Obama spokesman David Plouffe.
Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson declined to discourage protesters, however, at one point telling MSNBC during an interview, "The last time I looked, we still have the First Amendment applying in the District of Columbia."
Among those planning to demonstrate outside the hotel are at least 300 Floridians, whose trips are being arranged by the group, "Florida Demands Representation (FDR)," which has been circulating petitions to deliver to the DNC. (www.floridademandsrepresentation.org).
"About 200 people are coming up by bus, and another 100 by plane," said James Hannagan, founder of the Florida group.
There had been more than 700 registrants on the FDR Web site to make the trip, but most of those have not confirmed. Among those who have confirmed participation are people from the Tampa Bay area, Jacksonville, Orlando and South Florida.
Their goal in going to Washington?
"It's an opportunity to state our position to Democrats across the country," said Hannagan. That position, he said, is that 100 percent of Florida's Democratic presidential delegates should be seated at the party's national nominating convention this summer, with full voting power.
While some have suggested the group's efforts are intended to bolster Hillary Clinton's prospects, another of Florida Demands Representation's trip organizers, Blaine Whitford, said that is not true.
"We've gone out of our way to make sure we are not associated as a Clinton group," she said. "We've got a good many Obama supporters that are also interested in not being disenfranchised. This is an inclusive group."
Other groups from around the country also have let it be known they are setting up rallies outside the hotel. The political action committee Women Count has been running full-page ads in newspapers in support of Clinton. C-SPAN and some news organizations have said they intend to broadcast either all or part of the day's events.
Organizers say that they expect people from as many as 26 states at he rally, as well as some major celebrity speakers.
Tickets for public seats at the meeting were grabbed within minutes of their opening up online, DNC officials have said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON - As many as 300 Floridians are planning to join hundreds of other demonstrators outside of Saturday's Democratic National Committee's rules and bylaws panel meeting.
But the potential for clashes between demonstrators prompted Barack Obama's campaign to declare Wednesday it doesn't want his supporters to gather outside the hotel here where the rules committee will decide whether to seat delegates from those two states.
"We don't think it's a helpful dynamic to create chaos," said Obama spokesman David Plouffe.
Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson declined to discourage protesters, however, at one point telling MSNBC during an interview, "The last time I looked, we still have the First Amendment applying in the District of Columbia."
Among those planning to demonstrate outside the hotel are at least 300 Floridians, whose trips are being arranged by the group, "Florida Demands Representation (FDR)," which has been circulating petitions to deliver to the DNC. (www.floridademandsrepresentation.org).
"About 200 people are coming up by bus, and another 100 by plane," said James Hannagan, founder of the Florida group.
There had been more than 700 registrants on the FDR Web site to make the trip, but most of those have not confirmed. Among those who have confirmed participation are people from the Tampa Bay area, Jacksonville, Orlando and South Florida.
Their goal in going to Washington?
"It's an opportunity to state our position to Democrats across the country," said Hannagan. That position, he said, is that 100 percent of Florida's Democratic presidential delegates should be seated at the party's national nominating convention this summer, with full voting power.
While some have suggested the group's efforts are intended to bolster Hillary Clinton's prospects, another of Florida Demands Representation's trip organizers, Blaine Whitford, said that is not true.
"We've gone out of our way to make sure we are not associated as a Clinton group," she said. "We've got a good many Obama supporters that are also interested in not being disenfranchised. This is an inclusive group."
Other groups from around the country also have let it be known they are setting up rallies outside the hotel. The political action committee Women Count has been running full-page ads in newspapers in support of Clinton. C-SPAN and some news organizations have said they intend to broadcast either all or part of the day's events.
Organizers say that they expect people from as many as 26 states at he rally, as well as some major celebrity speakers.
Tickets for public seats at the meeting were grabbed within minutes of their opening up online, DNC officials have said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.