Superdelegates and the Congressional Black Caucus. I'm Taking the CBC's Word on This.

[VermontKevin]

The CBC, representing millions of people in America is vehemently opposed to eliminating the Superdelegates. I defer to them:

In a letter sent to both the Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns, the CBC is expressing its resolute opposition to two key reforms demanded by Sanders in the run-up to the Democratic convention: abolishing the party’s superdelegate system and opening Democratic primaries up to independents and Republicans.


"The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states," says the letter, which was obtained by POLITICO. "The Democratic Party benefits from the current system of unpledged delegates to the National Convention by virtue of rules that allow members of the House and Senate to be seated as a delegate without the burdensome necessity of competing against constituents for the honor of representing the state during the nominating process."

The letter — which was also sent to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz — follows a Wednesday CBC meeting where members discussed for over an hour the impact of eliminating superdelegates on the African-American community, according to CBC Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.).

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/bernie-sanders-black-caucus-superdelegates-224502

The toll on African-American voices in the DNC would be devastating. I trust PoC to speak on this issue and the impact it would have on their communities.

[sheshe2]

1. I am with the CBC on this.

[VermontKevin]

2. I think the article outlines exactly why the superdelegates were created.

I trust the CBC on this issue.

Perhaps someone can tell me why I should not.

[sheshe2]

3. Since they are more than half our base...

I will listen to them.

[JI7]

4. Exactly. Only reason for many of these changes

That people want is to decrease the influence of those most supportive of the party.

[sheshe2]

8. That is the way I see it, JI7.

Hell, no!

[VermontKevin]

11. I'm waiting for someone to tell me why we disregard the CBC.

Not going to sign on to "reform" until I get an answer to that.

[VermontKevin]

9. Yes. Our base is who we should listen to.

[VermontKevin]

7. I am sure Senator Sanders took the letter from the CBC seriously.

That's why he hasn't spokes about it since.

Who has?

[dsc]

6. this problem is exhaserbated by gerrymandering

many black voters are packed into those districts that have black Congress members. I think a fair compromise would be to seat them as delegates, let them vote on everything but the nominees.

[VermontKevin]

10. ???? Please explain what you mean.

[dsc]

14. In NC to take an example

an overwhelming majority of black voters are in one of three districts (Beddingfield, Price, and Adams) thus if those three people have to take one of the delegate slots then blacks have three fewer slots they can run for.

[VermontKevin]

16. ???? What?

Can you please explain what you are talking about referencing the primary source article you were given?

[dsc]

18. there has been an eight year long court case about this

do your own homework.

[VermontKevin]

19. Oh Lordy, hope there are tapes.

[dsc]

20. actually there were emails which is why they have repeatedly lost

they later tried to claim partisanship and not race but courts so far haven't bought it.

[dsc]

22. Here is one of numerous articles

http://www.npr.org/2017/08/30/547065920/under-pressure-north-carolina-draws-new-voting-maps

[VermontKevin]

23. Yes. Can you tell me how this applies to Superdelegates?

[Igel]

26. I think the point is something like this.

Blacks are underrepresented, at least in part, because of district packing. To get majority-black districts you gerrymander, SCOTUS has prescribed that; but NC went beyond simple safe districts to make sure that there are fewer black (or (D)) representatives than there would otherwise be.

Therefore, since blacks are underrepresented by design, it's only fair at the convention level to adjust their level of representation by design.

[VermontKevin]

28. Right. So why change Superdelegates.

[dsc]

29. I will try

Delegates, who aren't super delegates are chosen by CD. Those three districts in NC are represented by Democrats (two black one white). The other 10 districts are GOP. The black voters who live in districts represented by Democrats would have to run against those Congress members to become delegates. Thus three slots, two of which would almost certainly be filled by a black voter would be eliminated. Repeat that in every such district and you have eliminated 44 such slots at a minimum (the current number in the CBC). It would all but certainly be much higher in practice since some districts have a large number of black voters but white members.

[pnwmom]

25. I think dsc is pointing out that being superdelegates is giving African American politicians

more influence in the Presidential election process than they otherwise would. Member of minority groups are underrepresented in Congress because of gerrymandering. If we got rid of superdelegates we would further reduce the influence of AA politicians on the Presidential election.

[Codeine]

12. Maybe give them three fifths of a vote?

This place some days.

[VermontKevin]

15. They don't hear themselves.

[dsc]

17. I am not sure why you chose to call me a racist

but the fact is blacks have been packed into districts in a whole bunch of states. Thus having Congress people who represent those districts forced to run for ordinary delegate slots takes away ones that black people can run for. I am sorry you didn't under stand my point, I am outraged you called me a racist out of your ignorance.

[murielm99]

13. Sanders has reverted to his independent status.

He and his followers have no right to demand anything.

[mcar]

21. I'm with them

[LuvLoogie]

24. "abolishing the partys superdelegate system and opening Democratic primaries up to independents and

Republicans"

WTF!? I have to say that Bernie Sanders would rather destroy the Democratic Party than join the Democratic Party.

[Codeine]

27. That's been clear for quite a while now.

And sadly, plenty of people here back his efforts to do so.

[Gothmog]

30. I agree with the CBC

[VermontKevin]

31. Yes. I will take the word of the CBC over anyone who is calling for the ending of the superdelegates

because the CBC has established bona fides.

[Gothmog]

32. I am friends with two CBC members

I believe that these members are more important to the party compared to the people going after super delegates

[VermontKevin]

33. Precisely. The base of the Democratic Party comes first in these decisions.

Anything else would be lunacy.

[coolsandy]

34. I am definitely with them. Usually the CBC is dead on point with what is good for all of us.

There are a few outliers but in general one can go with them.

[VermontKevin]

35. Well, I haven't read a cogent argument that makes the case why the Democratic Party should

suddenly ignore the CBC and ban superdelegates.

Crickets and all when I ask that question.

[Wounded Bear]

36. I have yet to see a legitimate argument to support the change...

I see a lot of rationalization from those who want to eliminate SDs, but I am far from convinced by any of those arguments.

Change for the sake of change got us Trump in the White House. If you really want to change something, give me a reason.

[mythology]

37. Super delegates voting on party positions fine

But I'm not okay with super delegates theoretically overturning the votes in the primaries. Sure it's never happened, but it would destroy the opinion if it ever did.

[VermontKevin]

38. And if everyone went to the same restaurant on the same night and ordered blintzes, there'd

be chaos.....

[Gothmog]

39. I was a delegate to the national convention and I have read DNC rules on voting

I have read the DNC and the model state party rules on delegate selection. Under DNC rules no delegate (both pledged or super) are legally obligated to vote for any candidate. The DNC rules are in effect based on the same legal reasoning that says that presidential electors are free to vote for the candidate of their choice. I understand and agree with the legal analysis underlying the current DNC rules which is why I think that the proposals and the plans to "bind" super delegates to vote the same as the results of such super delegate's state primary do not make sense and will not work. If the legal reasoning in the presidential elector case is correct, then the DNC cannot bind either pledged delegates or super delegates to vote for a particular candidate. The current DNC rules are clear that pledged delegates as well as super delegates can vote as such delegates deem fit.

I know a number of members of the Congressional Black Caucus as well as a number of super delegates. Elected officials are free to endorse the candidate of their choice during the primary process and should not lose this right simply because they are a super delegate

If you understand the DNC rules, the proposals to restrict the rights of super delegates make no sense.

[Gothmog]

40. Rep. Cedric Richmond, the Congressional Black Caucus chair, blasts proposed superdelegate changes

Link to tweet