Super Delegates?
January 24, 2008
Democrats call themselves the Democratic party; however, their concept of Super Delegates are anything but democratic! The party’s nominating process is at odds with grass-roots democracy. Voters don’t choose the 842 unpledged “super-delegates” who comprise nearly 40 percent of the number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. And who are these delegates going to vote for? Hillary or the Barack-star?
The category of “super delegates” includes Democratic governors and members of Congress, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former vice president Al Gore, retired congressional leaders such as Dick Gephardt, and all Democratic National Committee members, some of whom are appointed by party chairman Howard Dean. Howard Dean?
Who came up with this format?
The wild card for the Democrats involves the super delegates. They are free to support any candidate they choose at the national convention, regardless of the outcome of the primaries. The AP has interviewed more than 90 percent of the superdelegates who have been identified by the party, and most have yet to endorse a candidate. Many say they will not make endorsements until after their states vote.
Sounds like a brokered convention to me!
Four years ago, Sen. John Kerry clinched the Democratic nomination on March 2 - the earliest date in modern times – with a string of Super Tuesday primary victories. In 2000, George W. Bush and Al Gore both clinched their parties’ nominations on March 14, each sweeping a string of Southern primaries that day.
In a clear attempt to protect the party establishment, this undemocratic infrastructure was created following George McGovern’s landslide defeat in 1972. It was designed to prevent a nominee who was “out of sync with the rest of the party,” or a “sort of safety valve.” In other words, if the party thugs don’t like what the democratic party process produces, they can override the popular vote from all the primaries which will have then been for naught. So who cares about the South Carolina primary this Saturday?
This is democracy?
I’m sure that whatever the name of the third party that Michael Bloomberg starts won’t have to worry about such antiquated and un-democratic rules.
In 1988, Reverend Jesse Jackson (wanting the Martin Luther King, Jr. baton) challenged the notion that these appointed delegates be permitted to vote for the candidate of their choosing rather than the winner of the state’s caucus or primary. He was right to do so. Twenty years later, when the word “change” is being bandied about, isn’t it time for the Democratic Party to give real meaning to the word? Strengthen our democracy by reforming the super-delegate system so that the people, not the party establishment, choose their candidate.
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[...] with it, we totally not expected. This one has to really smart and maybe it’s a clue to the powerful super delegates to the Democratic convention that many who have sided with Hillary, may need to reflect a moment [...]
[...] should be the Democratic presidential nominee should get their combind 161 delegates. Forget the super delegates for now. It’s the real count and after this weekend one candidate will have a clear lead in [...]
[...] of the main questions that I contantly receive is who are those super delegates and why do only the Democrats have them? The second question is why are there so many different [...]
If they got rid of the super deligates it might lead to getting rid of the lobbyists and what would we do then ? Oh my !!…… what a horrible thought .
I dislike the note of delegates and more so the super delegates – democratic? I dont think so.
Question: And why cant there be some substantive background check for delegates, certain level of education, rather than simple the name offered, the address given, and a declaration of one’s residence …plus a few signatures.
I want people who are knowledgeable and interested in politics – so that they can make the best choice – but then again that is asking for the ideal when so many people either dont choose to vote at all or do on a whim. I say if we have to have delegates have each political party follow the same rules and let proportional representation by district determine the percentage of delegates a candidate will get..this “all or nothing” business stinks. The former will ensure a greater priority given to all states and not just those with the highest delegates to be won.
Time to reform the system, and its ghastly that people can register and vote the same day, that illegals vote, and that there isnt a compulsory voter ID requirement. Nonsense.
The system definitely needs to be reformed!
[...] ship around. She is now definitely behind is committed delegates to the convention, but when you add the super delegates (what a name), she’s still slightly [...]
[...] and highly involved in politics; however, to think that I could (or should) have such power as a super delegate does today (one who might decide who is the next president) is mind boggling! Worse yet, a super [...]
[...] Wilhelm is a super delegate! But he’s a really SUPER Super Delegate when it comes to influence within the democratic party. More than just an American political [...]
I think the super delegates vote should count just like ours. It’s like our votes don’t even count, why should we vote? this country shouldn’t even have super delegates.
Super delegates???? Just goes to show you what fuzzy thinkers the democrats are. They don’t trust the public to vote intelligently. They can stuff it.