Democratic Super-delegates: An exercise in oxymorons.

[AthenaAwakened]

Un-Democratic Party: DNC chair says superdelegates ensure elites don’t have to run “against grassroots activists”

Sanders won 15 delegates in the primary; Clinton won just nine. But New Hampshire has eight superdelegates — also known as unpledged delegates — and six of these unelected party elites pledged support for Clinton. Despite the fact that Sanders had drastically more votes, therefore, both candidates got an equal number of total delegates.

Because of this system, the Washington Post points out, Sanders could technically win the primary election, earning a majority of the 1,670 delegates determined by actual voting, but still lose the Democratic Party’s nomination, if Clinton gets most of the party’s 712 unelected unpledged delegates.

Critics have begun to ask why this undemocratic system exists. CNN’s Jake Tapper posed precisely this question to Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, an ally of Hillary Clinton who co-chaired her former presidential; campaign, in a Feb. 11 interview. She responded with shockingly blunt honesty.

“What do you tell voters who are new to the process who say this makes them feel like it’s all rigged?” Tapper asked the DNC chair.

“Unpledged delegates exist really to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists,” Wasserman Schultz calmly explained.

Lobbyist Superdelegates Tip Nomination Toward Hillary Clinton

There are 712 superdelegates in all, which is about 15 percent of the total delegates available and 30 percent of the total needed to win the nomination. If the nomination process is close, superdelegates may effectively pick the party’s presidential nominee, potentially overriding the will of voters.

The following individuals are unelected, Clinton-supporting superdelegates who simultaneously work in the lobbying industry:

• Jeff Berman
• Bill Shaheen
• Joanne Dowdell
• Jill Alper, Minyon Moore, and Maria Cardona
• Jennifer Cunningham
• Tonio Burgos
• Emily Giske

 

[dismal]

The Democrat party is like a private club. They don't have to be democratic unless they want to.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

The Democrat party is like a private club.

I wish it was, then we wouldn't have to hear this superdelegate nonsense.

 

[Blahface]

I think super delegates can be a good idea just in case a John Edwards is elected and a sudden scandal just comes out before the convention. Other than that, they shouldn't be there. If the super delegates do go against the way people voted, then the Democratic party might see the next Bernie Sanders run in the general election next time.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Funny, it is like people are just now learning about super-delegates. I can't wait till they find out about how the delegates that were or will be won in some states isn't actually winning them at all. There are 9/11 conspiracy theories that are less convoluted than the primary season.

The Democrat party is like a private club. They don't have to be democratic unless they want to.

How else could they manage to force it so that the world's most socialist person is their candidate every four years?

 

[Axulus]

If Bernie doesn't get the private club called the Democratic party's nomination, then he can still run as an independent.

 

[fromderinside]

If Bernie doesn't get the private club called the Democratic party's nomination, then he can still run as an independent.

... and wind up being just a great an electoral factor as Ralph Nader was in the eyes of some conspiracy theorists.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

If Bernie doesn't get the private club called the Democratic party's nomination, then he can still run as an independent.

So could the Donald

 

[dismal]

Funny, it is like people are just now learning about super-delegates. I can't wait till they find out about how the delegates that were or will be won in some states isn't actually winning them at all. There are 9/11 conspiracy theories that are less convoluted than the primary season.

Perhaps the reason they are getting more attention is that this time the Democrats have gone beyond the usual stupidity of having them to the enhanced stupidity of having them prematurely declare en masse for a candidate many do not support, and not a few consider an unprincipled establishment hack.

 

[Horatio Parker]

If Bernie doesn't get the private club called the Democratic party's nomination, then he can still run as an independent.

Sanders has said he won't do that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-independent_us_55ba86e7e4b06363d5a1742b

 

[prideandfall]

wow, really?

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-political-myths-destroyed-by-2016-election/

#4, right at the top, boom, this whole BS thread is over.
you high minded political thinkers just got your paranoia bitch slapped by a comedy site.
congratulations.

 

[prideandfall]

Funny, it is like people are just now learning about super-delegates. I can't wait till they find out about how the delegates that were or will be won in some states isn't actually winning them at all. There are 9/11 conspiracy theories that are less convoluted than the primary season.

Perhaps the reason they are getting more attention is that this time the Democrats have gone beyond the usual stupidity of having them to the enhanced stupidity of having them prematurely declare en masse for a candidate many do not support, and not a few consider an unprincipled establishment hack.

you mean EXACTLY like they did in 2008 when they all declared their support for hillary over the weird internet-loved underdog? that is, until said underdog actually won the popular vote in the primaries, at which point the delegates lined up and actually pitched their votes for him?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Perhaps the reason they are getting more attention is that this time the Democrats have gone beyond the usual stupidity of having them to the enhanced stupidity of having them prematurely declare en masse for a candidate many do not support, and not a few consider an unprincipled establishment hack.

you mean EXACTLY like they did in 2008 when they all declared their support for hillary over the weird internet-loved underdog? that is, until said underdog actually won the popular vote in the primaries, at which point the delegates lined up and actually pitched their votes for him?

Now, now. Let dismal think he actually made a point. *scratches behind dismal's ear, 'who's a good boy'*

 

[dismal]

I

you mean EXACTLY like they did in 2008 when they all declared their support for hillary over the weird internet-loved underdog? that is, until said underdog actually won the popular vote in the primaries, at which point the delegates lined up and actually pitched their votes for him?

Now, now. Let dismal think he actually made a point. *scratches behind dismal's ear, 'who's a good boy'*

I don't suppose you read the actual quote from the actual chair of the Democrat party in the OP?

 

[Bronzeage]

Unpledged delegates exist to prevent the Democratic Party from nominating another George McGovern.

The 1968 democratic convention was run by the party machine. This meant southern blacks were kept out. There was even a credential challenge from a black Demo faction from Mississippi.

In the aftermath, southern party hacks were pushed aside and new delegate selection rules were made. This allowed McGovern and his less experienced supporters to prevail. George McGovern was a very smart and compassionate man. He could have made an excellent President, but he was up against a team of dirty players. Breaking into Democratic Party Headquarters, just to see what the opposition was doing was just the tip of the iceberg. They were out played at every step of the game.

The debacle of the 1972 election put the bosses back in charge. Super delegates allow Party chairmen and elected officials to be delegates and choose delegates and exert great influence over the process.

For what it's worth, those southern party hacks are all Republicans, now.

 

[Derec]

Unpledged delegates exist to prevent the Democratic Party from nominating another George McGovern.

Indeed. But superdelegates overturning the primary vote is a double edged sword. If Hillary is the nominee she will need the Bernie supporters come November. She can't afford to alienate them.

The 1968 democratic convention was run by the party machine. This meant southern blacks were kept out. There was even a credential challenge from a black Demo faction from Mississippi.

Got a source on that? Also, is that the one where there were riots by left-wing radicals who didn't like the nominee?

For what it's worth, those southern party hacks are all Republicans, now.

I would have guessed that almost all would be dead by now.

 

[Derec]

Sanders has said he won't do that.

That doesn't matter. Many Bernie supporters will not support Hillary if they think the nomination was stolen. And only say 10 or 20% of them staying home or voting for Jill Stein would deliver the White House to the Republicans. In other words, superdelegates are playing a dangerous game.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

For what it's worth, those southern party hacks are all Republicans, now.

I would have guessed that almost all would be dead by now.

Good point, and dead people tend to be very loyal democrats.

 

[Angry Floof]

If Bernie doesn't get the private club called the Democratic party's nomination, then he can still run as an independent.

... and wind up being just a great an electoral factor as Ralph Nader was in the eyes of some conspiracy theorists.

Ralph Nader was invisible compared to Bernie.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

I would have guessed that almost all would be dead by now.

Good point, and dead people tend to be very loyal democrats.

They also make the the brain trust of the Republican party