I missed the drama of Election Night 2000. After NBC called Florida for Al Gore shortly before 8 p.m., I turned off the TV and zonked out. So you can imagine my surprise when I woke up and discovered that the election was too close to call.
I hoped to atone by researching, writing and producing a film about the recount debacle. The documentary, “Counting on Democracy,” aired on PBS stations nationwide. I’ve also screened it at countless colleges and community organizations.
In a primary season full of twists and turns, we’ve come full circle. In voting-challenged Broward County, they’re chanting “count every vote” like it’s 2000. And the head cheerleader is Hillary Clinton:
I believe the Democratic Party must count these votes. They should count them exactly as they were cast. Democracy demands no less. …
We believe the popular vote is the truest expression of your will. We believe it today, just as we believed it back in 2000 when right here in Florida, you learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren't counted and the candidate with fewer votes is declared the winner. The lesson of 2000 here in Florida is crystal clear. If any votes aren't counted, the will of the people is not realized and our democracy is diminished. That is what I have always believed.
Then as now, lawsuits are flying. Florida Senate Democratic Leader Steven Geller, an uncommitted superdelegate, has filed a federal lawsuit to make the Democratic Party count every vote.
Geller told Lou Dobbs he sent the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee a letter asking them to seat Florida’s delegation. But he never got a response. Geller said:
I’m hoping that they’re going to read the lawsuit and say, oh my God, I can't believe they’re going to win this so we better on May 31st moot the lawsuit and seat their full delegation.
Geller claims the decision to strip Florida of its delegates violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment since the DNC granted waivers to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He also alleges the DNC violated the due process clause by failing to investigate the decision by the Republican-controlled legislature to move up the primary date.
Geller added:
If not, if they don’t do it voluntarily, I expect a federal judge will tell them to seat our full delegation.
He then threw down the gauntlet:
Well, all I'm saying is count our votes. I happen to agree with Senator Clinton to count their votes but I'm not supporting Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. I want our votes counted. But I'll tell you, if they don't count our votes, they won't get our votes in November.
Next weekend I’ll be in DC to attend the hearing on Florida and Michigan. Eight years later, there’s still no sunshine in the Sunshine State.
