The National Democratic Party Organization and the

[MineralMan]

primary race are two different things entirely. The DNC is the body that represents the Democratic Party nationally. Its members are the result of 50 state party organizations electing representatives to the DNC.

The DNC handles the organization and operation of the Democratic Nominating Convention every four years, among many other things it deals with. That process begins, not when the primary candidates declare their candidacy, but shortly after the end of the previous convention.

Members of the various committees at the Democratic Nominating Convention are chosen from current DNC members. Every one of those DNC members have been active and working for the Democratic Party for many years, and even decades in most cases. They've been active in their own state Democratic Party organization and have risen over time to top leadership positions.

The DNC represents a continuation of Democratic Politics that dates back to the founding of the party itself.

At this year's convention, pledged and unpledged delegates will vote on everything, from the nominee to the platform, rules, and other operational aspects of the convention. The details of all of those things have been worked on since the last convention by various committees of the DNC, beginning long before any candidates had declared their candidacies.

The Democratic Party is an organization with a very, very long history. This year's convention is based on that long history, not the temporary wishes of the presidential candidates. There's much more to the DNC than that.

The DNC runs the Democratic Nominating Convention. That's how it works. The candidates do not run the convention, nor do the delegates. Delegates vote on what the DNC committees have worked out. Minor changes can occur, but there is not time at the convention to deal with the details, as anyone who watches the convention on CSPAN will quickly understand.

Bernie Sanders does not have a lot of pull in the DNC, because he is a new Democrat. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has been a Democrat for decades and has built relationships with the DNC members. They know her. They don't know Sanders quite so well.

The Convention is a Democratic Party function. It's not a short-term thing. It has long-term views and an organization with a very long history and numerous conventions under its belt.

If you want to be part of the decisions made by the DNC, become a part of your local, district, and state Democratic Party organization. If you don't want to bother with that, then decisions will be made without your help or input. It's an organization with a membership of Democratic Party activists. Be one, and you'll be part of those decisions. Opt out and you won't. Simple.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. The DNC is a private corporation

that sells its services to other corporations who can afford it. Its management is not interested in anyone who won't acquiesce to that "pragmatic reality".

[MineralMan]

2. The Democratic Party is also a private organization.

It is a non-profit organization. It is a membership controlled organization, as anyone who participates in party organizations at every level understands perfectly well. It's a bottom-up organization, with leadership elected at all levels by the membership.

I know that, because I have been an active member for decades and have seen the process first hand, right up to the state level. Beyond that, I have not participated, due to lack of time.

[Kelvin Mace]

12. Well, that is a conundrum

If what you say is true, then the membership has become so corrupt, that it is willing to excuse an immorality, like this one on the basis of "pragmatism". When people who stand up and object to the most monstrous of actions are mocked as "moral purists" because they refuse to back a candidate and a party that functionally endorses war crimes and embraces the people who commit them, well, that society is pretty much done, and deserves the fate it has chosen.

Yeah, I am done here.

[MineralMan]

15. It is what it is. It changes when its membership

wants it to change. Outsiders and party non-members, however, have little to say in making those changes. You have to join to change it. You have to be active to change it. If you don't want to do those things, it will find its own path. That much is certain.

It's up to you, really. I'm just explaining how it works and what you can do to change it.

[kstewart33]

7. As it shouldn't, if anyone's purpose is to break up the organization.

Especially if that anyone doesn't give a whit about the welfare of the organization.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. I care about people, not corporations

[MineralMan]

18. The Democratic Party IS people.

Lots of people. It's a bottom-up organization that would not exist without all of the people who get involved with it. You can join them, if you wish. It's easy.

[LuvLoogie]

3. But they really, really WANT their voices RESPECTED!!!

The Revolution will not sweep or do dishes.

[MineralMan]

6. How about setting up chairs for meetings

and writing and distributing all of the paper collateral that goes into Party activities? Or attending boring committee meetings to figure out what to do next? How about maintaining membership and canvassing data and doing voter registration drives?

Will the Revolution do those things? Because without people doing that stuff, nothing much happens, really.

[LuvLoogie]

23. That's what I mean. Right now they're guests,

But they want a say in running the household over others who have actually been running the household.

[Jitter65]

34. Right now, many are intruders who have no intention of abiding by the house rules. nt

[kstewart33]

4. MMan, a great post.

Wish that all on this forum would read it.

The DNC is like any organization, private or public. Put in the hours, effort and commitment to the organization, and you move to positions of gradually increasing authority.

[MineralMan]

10. My pleasure. I'm always looking for people who want to become active

in the party. I'm old, and I'll be ending active participation before too many years pass. We need new people who understand how politics actually works and who are willing to help make politics work better.

[JoePhilly]

16. + 1

[Triana]

5. I wish it was a continuation of Democratic Politics.

There is really very little that's "Democratic" about it. Specifically, this one thing and there are others:

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

LINK: http://www.salon.com/2016/02/13/un_democratic_party_dnc_chair_says_superdelegates_ensure_elites_dont_have_to_run_against_grassroots_activists/

The Democratic Party’s superdelegate system has come under attack this presidential election, as critics blast it as undemocratic. There are hundreds of superdelegates, unelected party elites, who can sway the primary election, undermining the candidate democratically chosen by the party’s mass base.

Bernie Sanders won the primary election in New Hampshire by a landslide in early February, with 60 percent of votes to Hillary Clinton’s 38 percent. Sanders won every demographic group, excluding rich voters and those aged 65 and older. Yet, although Clinton drastically lost, she ended up leaving with an equal number of delegates. This is because of the superdelegate system.

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.

“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.

IOW they - whatever they call themselves and their elite little club - need to make some changes.

This kind of thing is one reason (besides the Democrats having become essentially 1960s Republicans in regards to economic policy in the past 50 years or so - just look at HRC's support of KeystoneXL, TPP, outsourcing American jobs, etc) why so many voters are now registered as Independents.

Sooner or later...it's going to become painful enough for this party that they will have to change some things in both their platform/rules and their candidates to remain relevant.

[MineralMan]

9. All political parties are big clubs, really.

Through organization, they make themselves relevant and do all of the scut work required to elect people to office. As I said, if you want to become part of the decisions the Democratic Party makes, all you have to to is sign up and become active, starting with your local Democratic Party organization.

Or, you can stand on the outside and complain that the party doesn't reflect your wishes. It's really up to you. I'm old, and will soon stop actively participating. Would you like my position? I can set you up, if you live in my precinct. We'll need a new chair by 2020. Then, you'll be a delegate to the convention at the next level and can run to be a delegate at the level above that, and so forth.

Warning: If you're a precinct chair, you'll be responsible for running your precinct caucus and other assorted duties. For example: I maintain and write the precinct's website, and canvass the precinct for each election. I like doing those things, and they make a big difference in voter turnout. Just let me know when you move into the neighborhood and I'll introduce you to other precinct chairs and help you get started.

[MineralMan]

11. Democratic is part of the name of the party.

Want to learn more about why that is true? Go here and then branch out from there:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Democratic_Party

[rock]

8. No, no, no

You were supposed to say, "The National Democratic Party Organization and the primary race are two different things, altogether". Then we could reply, "The National Democratic Party Organization and the primary race are two different things."

[whatchamacallit]

14. Fuck the DNC

That syndicate needs to be flushed.

[MineralMan]

17. Lovely. You've missed the point entirely.

If you're not in it, you can't change it. That is the entire point of my original post.

Apparently, you have no interest in doing that.

P.S. The DNC is picky about who it has sex with.

[whatchamacallit]

19. You love to brag about your participation

What has your "influence" wrought? At this point it's evident the DNC is a corrupt gatekeeper for the establishment. Your "be the change" message is flaccid.

[MineralMan]

31. We have progressive legislators, state and local, from

my districts. I helped with that. That's the biggest way I've helped. Any other questions?

[kstewart33]

21. Your comment summarizes the reason why Bernie is having a hard time with convention appointments.

You want to clean out the DNC if not destroy it. DWS and other DNC top officials know that, and they're going to stop it.

Why? Because Hillary will have the most votes, the most delegates, and she is far more committed to the party, and has done eons more for the party than Bernie has done or is willing to do. Bernie doesn't give a dang about the Democratic party.

So the DNC is commonsensibly doing what they should be doing.

[Bluenorthwest]

20. The Party had to be subjected to a great deal of pressure and out positioning in order to

accept LGBT as an acknowledged Democratic voting block and to more of the same to get the Party on board for supporting our rights. So while you claim it's a simple, be active and be rewarded, the fact is that for many of us it's been an intense struggle to simply be allowed to be active in the Party and this is just one example of the many networks and power hoarding alliances that often offer great resistance to minority persons or just to new persons becoming involved.
In 2008 we had to fight with DNC folks whom I could name because they did not want to do outreach to encourage the very participation you speak of among LGBT, eventually that crowd lost out and there was some proactive work done toward more LGBT in the delegations and in the process. But powerful and famous Party leaders thought that was a terrible idea, just a few years ago. Many still do.

So show up, donate, put up chairs then argue with Leadership for a couple of decades and then you can donate some more if you promise not to mention that Nancy Reagan episode again. That's the actual deal offered.

[Agony]

22. you exude privilege right along with the DNC...

you said it best yourself… "I don't have time for that"

simple

[AgingAmerican]

24. Translation: The DNC has been coordinating with

...and openly cheating for the Hillary campaign.

[silvershadow]

25. There is no functioning DNC. Debbie-gate proved that. We are wholly DLC now. nt

[JonLeibowitz]

26. "because he is a new Democrat" -- No, Bernie is an FDR Democrat; Hillary is the New Democrat

Hillary represents neoliberalism economics and a neocon foreign policy.

People who value the Party and "time served" above the issues that matter to real people have their heads up their asses.

That is all.

[highprincipleswork]

27. DNC and Democratic Party - Short on principles and ideas, long on Republican-lite politics.

[azurnoir]

28. the old Democrats introduced the "war on poverty" the new democrats put in front of a firing squad

and turned into a war on the impoverished if only by writing them out the picture entirely

[Wellstone ruled]

29. Thanks man for the Primer.

Yes,we rank and file can and do make a difference in how the Democratic Party operates. The Planks in our Platform for the most part,come from State and County Party Conventions. We are not a Political Club but a Organization of like minded persons,and despite what some believe,our rules and bylaws as to Governance have been and will remain in place .

Like MM,get involved in your Precinct,use your voice,offer sensible Ideas,and you will make a difference.
People do pay attention.

[MineralMan]

32. Thanks. I wasn't in Minnesota during Paul's time.

I moved here later. Before that, I was involved in California Democratic Party activities. And you're right about everything you have said. I've had resolutions and platform items get through the state convention. I wasn't the only one to introduce similar ones in a precinct caucus, but ones I have introduced at that level have progressed and have been adopted. I've also helped to elect progressives to office in my districts.

People underestimate what participation can do. That's too bad, I think.

[Wellstone ruled]

35. Livin here in Vegas

when it comes to Democratic Party and it's participants,one really appreciates Minnesota and it's Educational Standards and the awareness of Civics. Short story,at this years Precinct Caucus,most people had not a clue as what happens or how to make it happen. Found a Teacher and from there we held a brief Civics lesson with everyone and suddenly we had a Caucus. With Hillary supporters in the front of the room and Bernie supporters in the rear. Within a Hour we had Delegates chosen and resolutions collected and handed to the Delegates for our County Convention. Understand one of our resolutions has made it's way to the State Convention. And that one calls for Same Day Registration with only one I.D. required.

[MineralMan]

36. Caucuses are foreign to most people.

We're going to switch to presidential primaries in Minnesota, finally. That's good news for future elections.

[Wellstone ruled]

37. Yes they are foregin to the younger

participants,and that asked the question,what the heck happened to Civics or Government classes in our schools.

[MineralMan]

38. I don't know.

We learned about all of this. Today, apparently not so much. Or maybe students are just not paying attention. The ignorance of our system of government, even here on DU, is shocking.

[Wellstone ruled]

41. Short answer is YES.

Have a great one.

[dmosh42]

30. Sounds like a secret club--Nothing about all those voters in the primaries who didn't......

realize about DNC policies. I'm the same age as Bernie, but hoped for some sunshine on these 'rigged' parties. Mostly crooks and liars holding on to the power strings anyway they can.

[MineralMan]

33. Hardly a secret. Go to your Democratic Party website and find out when

the next public meeting is. Go to it. Volunteer to help. People will love to see you there and encourage your participation. There's no secret. Everything is public and open to participation.

I know dozens of people in my district organization. Not a single one of them is a crook or liar. Not one. Get active and make a difference.

[cherokeeprogressive]

39. Yawn...

[MineralMan]

40. Uff da!

Take a nap if you're tired.