Posted on 06/05/2008 5:12:02 AM PDT by Man50D
According to the media, Barack Obama has won the Democratic Presidential nomination (Obama Clinches Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket). That's only true if you count the so-called superdelegates. Neither Barack Obama (1750) nor Hillary Clinton (1624.5) has won enough elected delegates from the popular vote in the actual primaries and caucuses to hit the delegate number needed (2118) to seal the nomination.
That brings us to the one important thing that the major media (but not AT) aren't sharing with the public right now. Obama's nomination is secured only by the promised votes of the Democratic superdelegates -- and they are free to change their pledged support as often as they like, even right up until the time they place their vote at the Democratic convention in August. They are not bound to any candidate in any way, other than by their own word. As Obama has surpassed the 2118 delegate number by virtue of the changing whims of superdelegates once pledged to Hillary Clinton, can't the opposite happen between now and August?
That, in a nutshell, is why Hillary Clinton did not concede the race last night. The media did everything possible to throw her out, reporting at various times yesterday that Hillary was going to concede or that Hillary was going to force herself upon Obama as his Vice Presidential pick. The drive-by media is scared stiff that this thing is going to continue and rip apart the Democratic Party -- their party -- and they are doing everything in their power to put a stake through the hearts of the Clintons.
It won't work.
And if she carries out her pledge to concede on Friday then that tosses this conspiracy theory out the window, doesn't it?
“Didnt the media do a similar thing with the McCain selection? Since McCain was the most left leaning liberal of the Republican candidates, the MSM biased the news to report things favorable toward McCain, while under reporting positions of other genuinely conservative candidates. Basically conservative Republicans got blindsided by the media so now we have the presumptive nominee, McCain.
Its a simple strategy, declare a winner, and the win is self-fulfilling. Even the dems are being blindsided by the media, and most dont realize whats happening.”
Yes, McCain is STILL referred to as the “PRESUMPTIVE” nominee. Since the pledged Republican delegates could change their support after the first vote at convention, maybe just maybe there is a chance McCain could be dumped for someone else. That is my hope, and it would be my dream come true if it happened!
According to the rules (not legally) they can switch after the first ballot comes up without a winner. The Super Delegate are supposed to make sure there is a winner on the first ballot by voting on that ballot at the convention. What's legal or not legal is up to the courts if Hillary decides to take it there. For entertainment purposes and the total annihilation of the Democratic Party, I hope she does :)
Be careful of what you wish for. Ron Paulies have been infiltrating the state conventions and may have a number of delegates to influence the outcome at the national convention.
My understanding is that the pledged delegates, awarded during the primaries, are not supposed to switch until after the first ballot.
I think that's what bio is saying. The "pledged" delegates - awarded based on the primary vote - are required to vote as pledged on the first ballot, but after that they can switch.
Nope. Amazingly enough, after Ted Kennedy tried unsuccessfully to unbind Carter delegates, the rule was changed, and pledged delegates can now vote for whoever they want to on the first ballot:
Delegates are NOT bound to vote for the candidate they are pledged to at the convention or on the first ballot, a recent DNC memo states. A delegate goes to the convention with a signed pledge of support for a particular presidential candidate. At the convention, while it is assumed that the delegate will cast their vote for the candidate they are publicly pledged to, it is not required.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8583.html
McCain is where he is because of Howard Dean’s OWN operation chaos (Dean staffers went to work on the McCain 2008 staff starting in 2006).
Obama's nomination is secured only by the promised votes of the Democratic superdelegatesEveryone with a brain has known that for a long time. Trouble is, Demwits don't ha-, well you know...
LMAO! Good one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.