NBC Reporter and legal counsel Dan Abrams wrote an entry on his blog at The Huffington Post about those "superdelegates" that the MSM is focused upon right now, especially in the Democratic Party. He raises the point that these ex officios, about 20% or more of the delegates, each effectively has the power of 10,000 -- that is, it takes ten thousand votes to earn one delegate; but as a Congressman, Governor, ex-President or Veep, or state party chair one automatically gets a free ticket to the convention. (Except for "Independent" Democrat Joe Lieberman, who was stripped of his status since he's campaigning for John McCain.)
It's a good point. I want to see Obama or Clinton lock up the nomination by the state caucuses and primaries; not in a smoke filled, wine and cheese gobfest. Abrams' suggestion, that the supers be bound by the majority vote in their respective district, is smart but impractical. They'll do what they want; and if it goes against what appears to be the clear will of the people, McCain will be laughing his way to the White House.
America doesn't need another eight years of hegemony. It needs a man or woman of the people, not a man or woman of the elites.
Jesse Jackson had it right back in 1992: Get rid of the superdelegates entirely. Party officials should earn their way to the convention the same way as any other delegate. Billy Clinton only cut them by a 1/3, very reluctantly, as the price of getting Jackson's endorsement after the two fought it out all through the first half of that year -- and that decision is now rearing its ugly head. (Jackson also claimed he had the "right" to be veep that year, but Clinton offered that cut, which started from zero, as his quid pro quo to get the minister to shut up.)
No election without selection -- period.
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2 comments:
This is an absurd and twisted arguement by the same peopple who want to disenfranchise Michigan and Florida. The constitution of the democratic party has for 30 years allowed elected officials and representatives of the Party delegate status. it is part of what they get when elected, and they are all elected to their positions. This is the same for every party in every country in the free world.
btw If Super delegates voted with their constutuents Clinton would still be well ahead. She is also still winning the popular vote by about 500,000.
If they have problems with super delegates they can put forward a motion to ammend the constitution for next time.
btw Florida has decided the last two elections. Campaigning to disenfranchise them won't help.
For the record, s.b., I think stripping Florida and Michigan of their delegates was a stupid idea. And my suggestion would be for elections going from 2012 forward. My concern is with the disproportionality of it all.
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