Barney Frank: Scrap superdelegates, end caucuses

[insta8er]

Count former Rep. Barney Frank among the prominent Democrats who would like to see their party ditch superdelegates and back off from caucuses.
Frank, who now serves as co-chairman of the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee, says that in his current role, it’s his job to foster a fair debate as the party rethinks its process for picking presidential candidates, but he also admits that he has his own set of preferences for which way the party should go. Specifically, he opposes the prominent role “ex-officio delegates” (commonly known as “superdelegates”) have in the Democratic nominating process.

“I said repeatedly this spring that I believed it would be unacceptable for the votes of ex-officio delegates to overrule the outcome of the primaries and caucuses. While this will not happen this year, and has in fact never come even close to happening since the change was instituted, I support doing away with even the possibility of this before our next nomination contest,” Frank wrote in a letter to Maine state Rep. Diane Russell, who submitted an amendment to Frank and Leticia Van De Putte — Frank’s co-chair on the rules panel — that would eliminate superdelegates.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/barney-frank-superdelegates-caucuses-224771

[geek tragedy]

2. Barney is a smart man. nt

[aikoaiko]

3. He's right. Also SDs can front load their commitments to a candidate...

...and make it appear that an insurgent has no chance.

Although I like the deliberative nature of caucuses, the practicalities of the time commitment and verbal arm twisting that takes place during caucuses make them less appealing than a simple vote.

[AntiBank]

10. that's what happened this year, front loading made Sanders

look like a lost cause, thus stifling the early campaign.

[Tarc]

16. No, it didn't. The people still decided, and decided handily, for Clinton

Many endorsed her early in 2008 as well, and she did not win the nomination, so please stop peddling the absurd "superdelegates handed Hillary the nomination" canard.

[AntiBank]

18. they certainly aided it, but the primaries are over and I am voting against Trump (thus marking

Clinton down for my vote). It's over, it's done.

[Adrahil]

4. I sport that position. NT

[Hortensis]

5. Frank's a very intelligent politician. If he thinks

we can do without whatever safety superdelegates might provide against a Trumpish event, then probably we can. Anything else might he feel should be done instead, I wonder? Regardless, doing away with them would also do away with the possibility that a future candidate could persuade a critical number of superdelegates to disregard the popular vote and bound delegate count.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. And..closed primaries.

[JaneyVee]

7. Scrap open primaries.

We dont need Repubs hijacking our party and diluting minority votes and voices.

[George Eliot]

13. Agree, "and...closed primaries." Exclusive clubs do not promote democracy.

[Exilednight]

8. Frank obviously doesn't understand that the DNC no control of states choice to caucus.

[DemonGoddess]

9. I'm quite sure he does know this

and is well aware of it. By saying as a group we want CLOSED contests, I think that would be helpful in the states to at least try and get that pushed through, where the contests are open.

[Exilednight]

11. Who's going to pay for it?

States hold caucuses due to budget constraints. A caucus is a fraction of the price of a primary. Will the DNC pick up the tab?

[OrwellwasRight]

12. I agree with Barney Frank

[SidDithers]

14. Scrap cauceses, limit superdelegates to elected Senators, Congresspeople and Governors...nt

Sid

[Logical]

15. And they cannot commit until the convention! nt

[TwilightZone]

20. So, no members of Congress can endorse, introduce, promote, etc., candidates during the primaries?

Good luck with that.

[Tarc]

17. I'd trade in the superdelegate system in exchange for no caucuses and closed primaries

[AntiBank]

19. semi-closed, w/ no "double voting" (meaning voting i multiple primaries), no Republicans

or other registered party voters allowed, but indies should be encouraged to be involved.

Deffo end caucuses and SD's.