From the AP: NY Gov: Clinton should stop Mich, Fla effort

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) —” New York Gov. David Paterson, a superdelegate who supports Hillary Rodham Clinton, said she’s showing “a little desperation” and should give up her effort to count votes from renegade primaries in Michigan and Florida.

Paterson said Thursday that Clinton shouldn’t derail the process by which the national Democratic Party stripped Michigan and Florida of their national convention delegates because they moved their primaries up to January in violation of party rules. The rules were agreed to by all the candidates, including Clinton, before she won the two January contests. Because of the violations, no candidates campaigned in either state and her rival Barack Obama took him name off the Michigan ballot.

“I would say at this point we’re starting to see a little desperation on the part of a woman I still support and will support until she makes a different determination,” Paterson told WAMC-FM. “Candidates have to be cautious in their zeal to win that they don’t trample on the process…”

Gov. Paterson understands the reality of the situation. Ms. Clinton is turning this into an argument over democracy: From the Globe and Mail

Ms. Clinton made the point herself this week at a rally in Florida.

—We believe that casting your vote is the truest expression of your will. Here in Florida, you learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren’t counted. If any votes aren’t counted, the will of the people isn’t realized and our democracy is diminished.—

…which simply is not true. As the Governor states, its about the process, a process that follows organizational rules members are bound to observe. Party nominating fights are not about democracy in the proper sense. They are about membership in the party and following its rules in regard to nominating contests. If Ms. Clinton purports that its about democracy she has no real grasp of the meaning of the term.

To make it simple for the overwrought: You belong to the Elks? You can vote in your Lodge’s elections. To do so you must follow the Elks rules for such things (and I have no idea what they are).

The leaders of Florida’s and Michigan’s Democratic Parties are at fault. They should be held to account by the members of their states’ organizations. They are the ones who blew it for their states. Problem is – they will never own up or be accountable to anyone.

Simple rule of life – if you belong to an organization and cannot follow its rules, quit and join another one whose rules you like better. People do it all the time – because they don’t like the stinkin’ rules. Rules! We don’t need no stinkin’ rules…