Clinton’s superdelegates rejecting pleas to switch [rejecting Pelosi’s plea that lawmakers not..]

The Hill ^

[Sub-Driver]

Clinton’s superdelegates rejecting pleas to switch By Alexander Bolton Posted: 02/26/08 08:08 PM [ET]

House Democrats supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) are rejecting Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (Calif.) plea that lawmakers not overrule voters should they be in a position to decide who will be the Democratic presidential nominee.

Acrimony gathering inside the party has spurred some Democrats to begin discussing reforming the nominating process and perhaps getting rid of superdelegates altogether.

Many Clinton backers representing districts that voted for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) say they are not likely to change their mind should the contest come down to the superdelegates — the 796 Democratic lawmakers, governors and officials who may determine the nominee.

Those lawmakers say they should be able to vote however they want, even if it means giving the nod to the candidate who wins fewer delegates from more than 50 election contests conducted prior to the nominating convention. One member said the only way he wouldn’t vote for Clinton is if he died.

“I am a delegate, I’m a supporter of Hillary, I’m supporting who I’m supporting,” said Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), even though 62 percent of the Democratic voters in her district backed Obama.

Such devotion worries some party officials who say record turnout and excitement over Democratic candidates could fizzle if voters feel their voices do not count.

Democrats supporting Obama, who has a lead among pledged delegates, agree with Pelosi that superdelegates should follow the “decision of the American people” and line up behind whichever candidate has amassed the most pledged delegates by convention time.

[baa39]

Exactly! But that’s so logical.

[originalbuckeye]

I heard Lanny Davis discussing the Super delegates on Fox the other day. His example was the backing of Obama by Kennedy and Kerry. Massachusetts went for Hillary so should those two Senators vote for her or the candidate they really want? The Super delegates are supposed to be ‘independent’. What should they do?

[familyop]

Know, then, that our young men will not fight and die for Hillary as a dominatrix-in-chief. Send the rich boys and girls. You can draft ours, but they won’t fight or die to see their own families further starved and decimated in a class war. Having lived in an area that was rife with organized crime, I’m not ignorant at all on the kinds of people who put Clinton in office during the ‘90s.

[skinkinthegrass]

I’m starting to think there’s not enough popcorn on the planet to last until then...
hear that....got any more popcorn. :)

[GVnana]

Pelosi does not want Hillary Clinton in the white house. I don't know if it's personal, or just a power-mad woman who doesn't want competition.

Pelosi is a horrible individual. Hard for me to say this, but probably worse than Clinton.

[gridlock]

If the delegates were to be bound to the candidate who recieved the most popular votes, the most elected delegates or the vote of their districts, then they would serve no purpose. The system was devised so they could have influence in the decision making process.

These are the rules. The rules have been such for a long, long time. It is a little later for Pelosi, Obama or anybody else to complain about it now.

[uglybiker]

House Democrats supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) are rejecting Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (Calif.) plea that lawmakers not overrule voters should they be in a position to decide who will be the Democratic presidential nominee.

Hillary has copies of FBI files.

Nancy does not.

You be the judge.

[Exeter]

“I am a delegate, I’m a supporter of Hillary, I’m supporting who I’m supporting,” said Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), even though 62 percent of the Democratic voters in her district backed Obama.

delegate-(noun) a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention.

representative-(noun) a person who represents a constituency or community in a legislative body, esp. a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a lower house in certain state legislatures.

“I can make a word mean what I want it to mean.”-The Queen of Hearts

[bruinbirdman]

There are about 500 Democrat superdelegates who have not been heard from. My suspicion is almost all of them are committed to Klitoon. They have already been paid for over the past 15 years.

yitbos

[isrul]

"Takes some of the sting out of getting stuck with McCain."

It's all just a side show diverting attention from the fact that no matter who wins the White House, the American people and their nation = the big losers.

[airborne]

Yeah, it does look that way.

[familyop]

"There are about 500 Democrat superdelegates who have not been heard from. My suspicion is almost all of them are committed to Klitoon. They have already been paid for over the past 15 years."

...agreed. The better Obama's numbers between now and then, the more extraordinary the spectacle will be.

[SierraWasp]

"McCain will win quite comfortably"

I don't know... McCain has already depressed my turnout after publically beating up and berating another conservative talk host TODAY!!! What a stupid schmuck!!!

Political correctness on his part will cost him both conservative votes and the whole ball game!!! What a putz!!!

Obama will dance and sing "can't touch this!" McCain will sway with the stupid rythm with eyes glazed over!!!

[A CA Guy]

Diane Watson is a walking black on black crime anyway.

[JudgemAll]

DuBois’ opinion makers count more than the plantation’s brothers.

[ReignOfError]

The idea is that the superdelegates, as party insiders, are more bound to the party as an institution. If there's no majority candidate as the convention nears, the superdelegates can swing enough rate to make the plurality candidate a majority candidate and avoid multiple ballots (the dreaded "brokered convention").

There are plenty of other byzantine mechanisms on both sides to let the party leadership swing a close race. Both parties. In many primary states and most caucus states, delegates won't be formally chosen until the state party conventions, which are held in the summertime when the handwriting is pretty well on the wall.

The rules have been such for a long, long time.

Only since about 1980, or maybe even 1984, IIRC. Before '68 or '72, most of the delegates were not allocated by primaries or caucuses, and most candidates did not contest many states. The primary process is not enshrouded in tradition going back to the Founders; it's been constantly tweaked over the last 40 years, 50 at the most, and the parties are still working on the balance.

The only reason anyone cares is the same reason the American public suddenly discovered the Electoral College in 2000 -- it hasn't been this close before.

Though everyone is hot and bothered over the superdelegates right now, if Obama emerges as the clear front-runner in citizens' votes after next Tuesday, I'd expect the superdelegates to fall right into line. A floor fight is not good for the party, and a weakened party is not good for them.

[rrrod]

I could enjoy this a lot more if the Republicans had a candidate.

[Caipirabob]

Essential Equipement for the 2008 DNC Convention protester:

1) Molotov Cocktail - For when your opinion can no longer be expressed in proper English, or you can't speak English anyways...

2) Gas mask - Humidity running high? Or is the choking, burning gases released by security forces upon you and 2,000 of your closet friends? Either way, this baby should help.

3) Protest sign - whether you actually have a coherent, viable issue or you're out scoping easy hippy chicks, you'll need one of these:

4) Soap - Sure, you'll never use it, but it's lovely stuff all the same. Keep it handy for when the riot squad hoses the crowd down.

5) Convention guide - Just to make sure you get the right place and the right time. You'd get an entirely different reaction if you show up at a Bronco's game.

Campaign button - just get some. If for no other purpose than to hold your clothes together:

[gridlock]

I agree with your argument, except to say that the Superdelegates are not bound to vote for any particular candidate. They are free to vote however they want, in spite of what Nancy Pelosi might say.

[SunkenCiv]

Pelosi’s an a-hole, but she should try to remember that the Clinton motto is, “don’t get mad, get even, and then get a little more than that.” Last one today.

Pelosi: Don’t overrule the voters
SFgate.com | Feb. 15, 2008
Posted on 02/15/2008 6:03:31 PM EST by COUNTrecount
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971144/posts

Speaker Pelosi and the New York Times’ Blind Eye
American Thinker | February 22, 2008 | Ray Robison
Posted on 02/24/2008 3:27:06 PM EST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975585/posts