Superdelegate reform advances despite corporate lobbyist opposition.

[AtomicKitten]

The Humanist Report: Here’s a more apt headline: “Petulant elites throwing tantrum at prospect of their votes not being 10,000x more powerful than regular peasant votes.”

As 'Petulant' Democratic Elites Howl in Protest, DNC Panel Gives Plan to Gut Power of Superdelegates Final Approval

The plan has widespread party support, but corporate lobbyists who "think their vote is more important" are desperately working to undermine it.

Source: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/12/petulant-democratic-elites-howl-protest-dnc-panel-gives-plan-gut-power

In the face of fervent opposition from Democratic elites who "think their vote is more important" than the will of the party's base, the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Rules and Bylaws arm cleared a major hurdle in the fight to curtail the power of superdelegates on Wednesday by approving a plan that would end their ability to cast votes for the presidential candidate on the first ballot at the party's convention.

While the plan to gut the influence of superdelegates—who have been free since 1984 to put their weight behind any candidate no matter how the public voted—has received broad support from Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as an important first step toward making the party's process more "open and transparent," establishment figures who stand to lose power if the plan is implemented are staging a last-minute "revolt" to block the rule change.

As investigative reporter Alex Kotch noted in a Twitter thread on Wednesday, at least two of the Democratic insiders who are clinging desperately to their undue influence as superdelegates happen to be corporate lobbyists —a fact that Politico neglected to mention in its reporting on the party elites' "longshot bid to block the measure."

"They don't realize it but they're proving the point of Sanders and everyone else who's opposed to superdelegates," Kotch writes. "Many prioritize corporate interests over those of everyday people and thus automatically support the less progressive candidate."

-snip

[RandySF]

1. The Congressional Black Caucus is also in record in opposition

[KPN]

4. That's far more understandable and tolerable for me

Unfortunate but understandable.

[DURHAM D]

2. the usual drivel

[Wwcd]

3. Ahh yes. Commondreams, the org that just cannot speak a favorable word about the Democrats

Figures that this would be from them.

Oh well.

[murielm99]

5. Petulant?

And we talk about Trump's habit of projection.

Sanders is not a Democrat. Until he is, he has no right to criticize.

[lapucelle]

8. I was a bit surprised when BS didn't repudiate his own standing as a superdelegate

when he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination 2016.

[Nevernose]

10. He was probably too busy

Nominating Hillary Clinton and trying to convince his base to vote for her. You must have missed that part of the coverage.

[lapucelle]

12. During his own campaign?

Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2018, 10:13 AM - Edit history (1)

http://time.com/4294398/bernie-sanders-superdelegate/

[Squinch]

6. Commondreams again. They just tried to gin up a fake

fight between Duckworth and Ocasio Cortez. Now this.

They sure do want to make Democrats fight with each other and not with republicans, don't they?

...Things that make you go, "hmmmm."

[demmiblue]

7. Good. Now concentrate on getting rid of the caucus system. n/t.

[Gothmog]

9. House Dems seethe over superdelegates plan

This plan will be opposed by the CBC and member of congress https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/06/superdelegates-house-democrats-630357

The controversial issue of “superdelegates” and their future in the Democratic Party led to an angry confrontation on Tuesday night between Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and House Democrats, according to several lawmakers.

But the members’ angst may not help them since it appears that the DNC is ready to rein in the status of superdelegates, also known as “unpledged” delegates, no matter what lawmakers say or do.


Superdelegates include members of Congress, governors, party elders such as former presidents and vice presidents, DNC members and other assorted “distinguished party leaders.” They made up roughly 15 percent of the delegates during the 2016 convention. Unlike other delegates, they are free to vote for any candidate they want.

The logic is that party leaders immersed in the candidates and issues of the day can provide a guardrail against selecting an “unelectable” nominee for the general election. But the party base loathes this elite class of delegates, saying it stacks the primary process against the wishes of regular voters.

[Garrett78]

11. Much ado about nothing. And fewer than 1 out of every 7 superdelegates is a lobbyist.

Superdelegates will still make public endorsements and will still have a vote, just not on the first ballot. And that just means we'll be much more likely to have a second ballot, as it can be difficult to get to 2382 on pledged delegates alone.

By the way, Bernie Sanders is a superdelegate.

Superdelegates have never overturned the will of the people, and serve as an insurance policy.

Much more impactful would be the doing away with undemocratic caucuses.

[AtomicKitten]

13. "insurance policy" undemocratic - so the elites don't have to run against grassroot activists

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.

https://www.salon.com/2016/02/13/un_democratic_party_dnc_chair_says_superdelegates_ensure_elites_dont_have_to_run_against_grassroots_activists

[FSogol]

14. LOL, commondreams!

[Codeine]

15. This article is complete bullshit.

You should be ashamed, but you won’t be. . .

[AtomicKitten]

16. 63 lobbyists are superdelegates

I'd posit anyone fine with that should be ashamed.

Nobody's vote should be weighted x10,000.

[NurseJackie]

17. ...