The Justice

The blame for this debacle does not fall squarely on the shoulders of the DNC. For example, Governor Crist, a Republican, was surely more than happy to sign off on a primary rescheduling that discounted Democratic delegates far more than it did Republican delegates. And, knowing full well what the consequences would be, the state parties should have had the good sense not to break the rules in the first place. Senator Obama has been ambivalent at best to the possibility of re-votes in the offending states, and Senator Clinton only began calling for their reinstatement when it became clear she was falling behind in the delegate count.
But in the months since Florida and Michigan's delegates were stripped and in the months since their primaries were held, DNC Chairman Howard Dean has done a fantastic job of resting on his laurels. The possibility of a re-vote has been raised, as has the possibility of some sort of compromise between the candidates, but Dean has thus far been unwilling or unable to command his party and surmount this obstacle.
The longer Dean waits, the more damage will be done to Democratic chances at carrying Florida or Michigan in November. The one innocent group involved is the voter population, who had no say in the rescheduling of the primaries and no say then or now. But if no solution presents itself there is little the party can do to keep them from staying home in November or worse, voting for Senator McCain. If the Democrats can't find some way to reconcile with the states in question, it is likely that these alienated voters will be unattainable for a generation. The Democratic Party thought this election was its to lose; it seems well on its way to accomplishing just that.

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