Kids, football, and what to do with those unseated delegates.

Responsible parents set rules for their children.  At a certain age, when children break the rules, they know there will be consequences and punishment to endure.  Responsible parents enforce the rules even if the children think the rules aren’t fair.  Responsible parents don’t give in even if the children whine and act out.  Responsible parents take these actions because they know by providing their children with a solid foundation of rules and consequences, their children will grow up to follow laws and standards of society.  This is the hallmark of citizenship. 

You can see the importance of following rules in games of sport.  For example, the National Football League has a standard set of rules that apply to games played under NFL jurisdiction.  The NFL rules aren’t laws, but they must be obeyed by players, coaches, and franchises involved with football.  If the rules are broken, those individuals involved must pay the consequences.  Sometimes breaking the rules can result in a small five-yard penalty.  Sometimes that five-yard penalty can affect the outcome of the game.  Fans can be affected even though they didn’t have a say in the rules or in the referees that made a call on a VIOLATION of the rules: their team might not make it to the Superbowl that year.  Nonetheless, rules are established prior to the beginning of the season so that there are standards, not chaos.

Florida and Michigan Democratic leaders knew the rules set by the Democratic National Committee regarding changing the date of the state primaries: voters could vote, but no delegates would be elected.  Perhaps the party leaders in Florida and Michigan thought that they could get away with breaking the rules, because they moved up the dates of the state primaries despite knowing the consequences.  Democratic candidates including Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama agreed to abide by the rules set by the Democratic National Committee and promised they would not campaign in Michigan and Florida.  The voters in these states did not get to meet and ask questions of the candidates.  It is unfortunate, but the state party leaders did not follow the rules.  As a result, the votes do not reflect a campaigned constituency, and the delegates don’t get to go to the party.

If anyone dislikes the rules of either the Democratic or Republican National Committees, I suggest he or she become more involved during the “off-season”.  Alternatively, candidates can always elect to run as an Independent and not be subject to the RNC and the DNC rules.  We’re in the middle of a primary election and cannot change the rules upon which have already been agreed. 

 
Anyone who insists that the rules should be broken needs to take a time out.