Clinton's Supporters Protest, Dean Speaks

The Democratic National Committee's meeting today to resolve the question of Florida and Michigan delegates opened with a call by Chairman Howard Dean for unity and a group of Hillary Clinton supporters demonstrating outside the Washington hotel where the meeting is taking place.

Dean kicked off the high-stakes meeting over the disputed Michigan and Florida primaries Saturday by calling for “healing” and “party unity,” in the wake of a primary campaign season that he said has brought out high emotions, as well as racism and sexism.
Dean said that the protracted contest between Clinton and Barack Obama has made the party and the candidates “much stronger,” but he gave a clear sign that it is time to set aside differences.

“This is not about our candidates. This is not about Barack Obama. This is not about Hillary Clinton. This is about our country,” Dean said. “Over the course of this primary there have been some very tough disagreements and some ugly moments in this campaign.

“Emotions have run very high and heated discussions have led at times to blatant sexist comments, particularly by some members of the media, and blatantly racist remarks. And we know that those comments have no place in our society and certainly no place in our party. … Your actions today will put us back on a course of party unity,” Dean said.

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Dean At Party OKC Fundraiser Today

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is in Oklahoma City today for a party fundraising event.

Hosts are Governor Henry and Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes.

The event will be held at the Teamsters Union Hall, 3528 West Reno, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donation amounts being requested range from $25 to $100, an invitation states.

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Dean Hopes To Avoid Convention Melee

From Cable News Reports ~ Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, hoping to avoid a divisive fight on the convention floor, weighed in on the Clinton-Obama battle Friday by calling on all party superdelegates to declare whom they support by July 1.

The 800 or so Democratic superdelegates will almost certainly decide the presidential candidate, because it’s unlikely either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will gain enough pledged delegates in the remaining primary contests to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination outright.

Dean, appearing on CBS’ “Early Show” Friday morning, was asked about the prospects of a vote among the superdelegates before the convention, an idea floated as a way to settle the still undecided Democratic race.

“Well, I think the superdelegates have already been weighing in. I think there’s 800 of them and 450 of them have already said who they’re for,” Dean said. “I’d like the other 350 to say who they’re on between now and the first of July so we don’t have to take this into the convention.”

Graphic courtesy Fox News.

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Dean Plans Oklahoma City Event

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will be in Oklahoma City on April 7th.

The event will be an Oklahoma Democratic Party fundraiser at the Teamsters Union Hall, 3528 West Reno, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donation amounts being requested range from $25 to $100, an invitation states.

For more information, contact Maggie Sasso at 202-863-8058 or SassoM@dnc.org.

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Democrat 'Train Wreck' Predicted If Florida Ignored

From The Hill ~ U. S. Senator Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, warned the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Thursday that it is facing the “biggest train wreck you’ve ever seen” if a standoff is not resolved over his state’s pledged delegates to the party’s presidential nominating convention.

Nelson sent a letter to DNC Chairman Howard Dean Thursday asking the committee to either accept the Jan. 29 results of the primary election or pay for a redo of the elections, which could cost in the range of $20 million. He sent the letter after Dean did not return his telephone call Wednesday.

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