Are the convention rules racist or otherwise unfriendly to minorities?

[Zidane]

It seems to me that even though the party is supposed to be accepting of racial (and other) minorities when you actually look at the subtle rules of the convetions they are anything BUT minority representing.

This cleansing of something Arabic that (racist) viewers at home might see and have a problem with at the DNC just underscores the point.

In the Texas democratic senate and state convetions, for example, there is an affirmative action process that (supposedly) allows minorities a voice. Specifically I am referring to the at large delegate selection process.

The idea is that minorities (by race, sexual orientation, age, etc) will be chosen as at large delegates to be represented at the next level convention. Sounds nice right? Unfortunately there is a little rule that you must support a candidate that has at least 15% support of the delegates.

So what does this mean? It means that that despite the claim of minorities being represented it ends up NOT being the case.

It has been my observation that the conventions are predominantly white, older, heterosexual. As far as race - many of the senate and county convetions in Texas might be 2% african american or 2% other than white races at the most.

So let's say the african americans at the convention support someone OTHER than who the white majority supports. (for example, Sharpton) Those african americans could NOT be chosen to be at large Sharpton delegates under the affirmative action goal because they don't have 15% support for Sharpton. But how could they when they are only 2% of the convention?

Same for GLBT delegates that might support a candidate that is better for GLBT rights, or young delegates that might support a candidate that is better received by young people.

This means that minorities either

1. Support their preferred candidate and do NOT get considered to be at large delegates. (Despite the fact the major point of at large delegates is to see to it that minorities are represented)

or

2. Support the white/heterosexual/or older majority supports and THEN be considered as at large delegates. But then at this point they are "just along for the ride" as a delegate for who the majority supports instead of ACTUALLY representing the candidate that that minority supports.

Seems to me that the system is set up to look like it is representing minorities, but is actually screwing us over while using us for that goal. Not only are the rules set up this way, but it looks like the people calling the shots are also making sure we don't look bad on TV by being seen. But at least the party can pretend to be representing our views.

After this convention there needs to be some MAJOR reform to the convention process in the 2008 conventions. The party should ACTUALLY be representing and encouraging minorities instead of just PRETENDING like they do.

[eyesroll]

1. Here is the delegate breakdown:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4350917,00.html

Category Pct. of delegates
Men 50.1
Women 49.9
White 60.7
Minority 38.3
Black 20.4
Hispanic 11.6
Asian 3.9
Native American 1.7
Other 0.6
Unknown 1.1
Gay/Lesbian/ 3.8
Bisexual
Delegates with 3.3
Disabilities
Source: Democratic National Committee

Here is the US Census breakdown:

http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t1/tab01.txt
White: 75.1
Black:12.3
Asian:3.6
Native American: 0.9
Asian: 3.6
Hispanic/Latino (could be of any race):12.5
Multiracial: 2.4

[Zidane]

3. Numbers vs reality

So the US population is 12.3 african american is it? Well, then that must be why we had around 5 delegates who were african american out of around 300 at my senate convention.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. I'm glad you're using exact figures.

:eyes: Why don't you fight battles that are worth fighting? Like ones that actually have merit.

[progressivebydesign]

7. Delegates come from a VOLUNTEER pool....

Our State, which has a very small minority population, sent predmoninantly female and minority delegates. What's your point? Except to bash the Convention???

[eyesroll]

10. Well, what's the breakdown of your state?

If your state (or wherever the population is drawn for your Senate convention) is very, very white, then it's representative. If it's not -- that's something to take up with your state.

The figures I stated above were for the Democratic National Convention. Even assuming a rapid growth in the U.S. minority population since the 2000 Census -- there is still greater minority representation at the DNC than there is in the population at large. How does that square with rules being racist?

[wildmanj]

2. minorities

first and last----you have to get in office before you can get a piece of the pie----up until then vote and then you can express your point and have people who are willing listeners----republican seem to know the value of getting in office---democrats wants too much pie before the votes are counted---VOTE THEN MAKE YOUR DEMANDS

[Zidane]

5. Uh....

And what exactly does minorities being represented correctly at the conventions have to do with the general election? More being used I guess? We've been voting democratic in a solid block for a long fucking time. How many DECADES must we vote before being heard?

[Bluebear]

9. Any idea what the Republican minority delegate breakdown will be?

Might help to make a fair comparison. And not just the ones they make sure are right behind Bush every time he "speaks".

[eyesroll]

11. I guess I'm confused here, Zidane

You've got a legitimate beef with the Democrats taking the African-American vote for granted.

However: You're the one who brought up the convention. The entire post has to do with the convention -- are you, in this reply, calling the convention or the election itself the red herring? I'm pretty confused here.

[wildmanj]

13. what exactly does

voting will determine who shares the PIE---its all about economics---the make up of the conventions mean very little-----however i would think the democratic party comes much closer to meeting the numbers that make up society as a whole than what the republicans do---and yes i have voted a straight democratic since 1984 and yes i am white living in a very prejudice state that votes overwhelming republican---so lets all vote----then we can forever ask WHY QUESTION---power is from the inside looking out not from the outside looking in

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Right...

Do us all a favor and cry racism only when it's warranted. These "the sky is falling" routines don't do anything except detract from true cases of prejudice.

[bobbieinok]

8. McGovern rules......late 60s-early 70s

I saw how this works in 20+ years in IA.

The total number of delegates from each precinct had to reflect the demographics of the total number in attendance; the delegates for each candidate had to reflect this as well.

It was often weird to see how this played out-----an 18-20 year-old would be a delegate instead of someone who been in precinct politics for 20+ years.

The procedure at the precinct was repeated at the county and state level.

The result---lots of women, young people, seniors-----not so many minorities because not so many in IA.

I left IA in 89, so don't know how GLBT representation works.

I never was able to figure out how the demographic rules are applied in primary states.

There are always slots reserved for elected officials, who may skew the demographic percentages.

The last time I watched both conventions (88????), it was clear that the democratic convention had a more varied delegation......the republican was primarily white middle-aged males and some women.

The republicans never did attempt to have their convention delegates be some reflection of US population. The democrats, in their commission that came up with the McGovern rules, did.

[eyesroll]

12. There's still gender gerrymandering, but as far as I know

delegates aren't selected specifically on the basis of race or age. Congressional-district delegates are selected on the basis of sex. For instance, my CD was entitled to one female Dean delegate; and one female Edwards delegate; one male Edwards alternate (and maybe a Kerry delegate -- I know Edwards killed in this CD).

For the record -- in my lilly-white district, the Dean delegate is an African-American female, elected through the caucus process.

The at-large delegates are chosen by state and party officials, and often they will try to balance out the delegation's racial/ethnic makeup. But they're not required to, as far as I know.