By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
By Tampa Tribune file photo
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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida this morning equated a need to fix America’s electoral system to this country’s long struggles to free slaves, to finally grant women the right to vote, and the belated voting rights breakthroughs of the 1960s.
“This country cannot afford to wait that long before we fix the flaws we still see in our election system,” said Democrat Nelson, in a speech delivered on the floor of the Florida state Senate in Tallahassee.
“I believe that the time for reform is now,” said Nelson.
Nelson’s election-reform focus comes as the Democratic National Committee has stripped Florida of its delegates to the party’s nominating convention because the state moved its primary to Jan. 29, when party rules held that only four other states could hold their contests before Feb. 5.
Florida Democrats led by Nelson since have been fighting to find some way the state can still be represented at the convention.
But Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have been unable to agree on any solution, and any agreement would still have to be approved by the national party.
Nelson’s frustration also comes after he first sued the national party and lost in court over the action against his state’s Democrats last year.
Nelson said he disagrees with that ruling.
“I believe there are very valid constitutional arguments of equal protection under laws,” Nelson said.
“I have continued to push for my party to find a way to seat a delegation from Florida, while giving Floridians a meaningful voice in the selection of their party’s nominee,” he added.
And he said his efforts have been based on the principle that in America every citizen has an equal right to vote.
“It is based on a premise that Floridians are entitled to have their votes count as intended. And it is based on a belief that we all deserve a say in picking our presidential nominees,” said Nelson.
Nelson listed several reforms he is supporting or will propose himself in legislation, including the idea of a series of rotating “regional primaries,” and the improbable notion of scrapping the Electoral College process for selecting presidents in favor of a popular vote.
“If the principle of one-person, one vote is to mean anything, the candidate who wins a majority of the votes should win the presidency,” Nelson said.
It was soon after in the speech that Nelson began to refer to the historic struggles of slaves for freedom, and of woman and minorities for the right to vote.
“Let’s not forget that it was 230 years ago that our Founding Fathers declared that all men are created equal,” said Nelson. “But the country still had to wait 87 years before Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation freeing the slaves.
“And then it took another 57 years before women in America were allowed to vote,” said Nelson.
“And even though she tried back in 1872, Susan B. Anthony -- she was arrested for trying to vote, and she gave a speech on that -- the ballot, she said, is the only means of securing the blessings of liberty provided by this government.,” said Nelson.
“And even still, it took another 93 years before our nation belatedly enacted a law guaranteeing every citizen a right to vote – the voting rights act of 1965.
Said Nelson: “This country cannot afford to wait another 93 years before we fix the flaw we still see in our election system.”
“I believe the time for reform is now, especially with what we’ve been going through,” said Nelson.
Listen to the entire speech by clicking on here
“This country cannot afford to wait that long before we fix the flaws we still see in our election system,” said Democrat Nelson, in a speech delivered on the floor of the Florida state Senate in Tallahassee.
“I believe that the time for reform is now,” said Nelson.
Nelson’s election-reform focus comes as the Democratic National Committee has stripped Florida of its delegates to the party’s nominating convention because the state moved its primary to Jan. 29, when party rules held that only four other states could hold their contests before Feb. 5.
Florida Democrats led by Nelson since have been fighting to find some way the state can still be represented at the convention.
But Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have been unable to agree on any solution, and any agreement would still have to be approved by the national party.
Nelson’s frustration also comes after he first sued the national party and lost in court over the action against his state’s Democrats last year.
Nelson said he disagrees with that ruling.
“I believe there are very valid constitutional arguments of equal protection under laws,” Nelson said.
“I have continued to push for my party to find a way to seat a delegation from Florida, while giving Floridians a meaningful voice in the selection of their party’s nominee,” he added.
And he said his efforts have been based on the principle that in America every citizen has an equal right to vote.
“It is based on a premise that Floridians are entitled to have their votes count as intended. And it is based on a belief that we all deserve a say in picking our presidential nominees,” said Nelson.
Nelson listed several reforms he is supporting or will propose himself in legislation, including the idea of a series of rotating “regional primaries,” and the improbable notion of scrapping the Electoral College process for selecting presidents in favor of a popular vote.
“If the principle of one-person, one vote is to mean anything, the candidate who wins a majority of the votes should win the presidency,” Nelson said.
It was soon after in the speech that Nelson began to refer to the historic struggles of slaves for freedom, and of woman and minorities for the right to vote.
“Let’s not forget that it was 230 years ago that our Founding Fathers declared that all men are created equal,” said Nelson. “But the country still had to wait 87 years before Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation freeing the slaves.
“And then it took another 57 years before women in America were allowed to vote,” said Nelson.
“And even though she tried back in 1872, Susan B. Anthony -- she was arrested for trying to vote, and she gave a speech on that -- the ballot, she said, is the only means of securing the blessings of liberty provided by this government.,” said Nelson.
“And even still, it took another 93 years before our nation belatedly enacted a law guaranteeing every citizen a right to vote – the voting rights act of 1965.
Said Nelson: “This country cannot afford to wait another 93 years before we fix the flaw we still see in our election system.”
“I believe the time for reform is now, especially with what we’ve been going through,” said Nelson.
Listen to the entire speech by clicking on here