Brazile: I'll Quit Democratic Party If Superdelegates Choose Our Nominee

CNN:

With Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York nearly splitting the delegate count in the race for the Democratic nomination, party leaders have a major dilemma on their hands: a tie ballgame heading into the convention....

...CNN political analyst Donna Brazile railed against the scenario. "If 795 of my colleagues decide this election, I will quit the Democratic Party. I feel very strongly about this," Brazile said.

Read the whole story: CNN

Comments

[mafidl]

I agree that the superdelegates should not be choosing the candidate - unless they agree to choose the one with the higher number of delegate, or, better, the higher number of voters choosing them - which, I understand, is not necessarily the same. However, I also think it would be a great loss to the Democratic party if you quit.

[JackWOrf]

Donna Brazile is a JOKE. It was HER FAULT, more than anyone, that we are in this mess in the first place. She is the IDIOT who disenfranchised Florida and Michigan. If those states had not been "penalized", for God knows what IDIOTIC rule, the election would have been OVER a month ago.

Obviously, that is probably why she DID it. It wouldn't surprise me if she did the disenfranchisement DELIBERATELY in order to help Obama.

And now when Hillary has an advantage, Brazile wants to take THAT away too.

I think that Donna Brazile has made it pretty apparent that she is not objective and fair minded.

And which party is Donna going to move to? The Republicans?

[zull2]

Oh? So you think party insiders should determine the outcome of a vote? You think that follows the supposed Democratic principles of the Democratic Party? That some elite insiders should be able to thwart the popular vote? I wouldn't want to be in whatever party YOU'RE in, buddy.

Florida and Michigan screwed themselves over by tinkering with the rules. No matter how fair or unfair those rules are, moving up your primaries without party assent, meaning, the assent of the other states, is wrong. By moving up those primaries, they cheapen the primaries in those states they decided to usurp. That's not the right thing to do and they were punished for it. If they're disenfranchised, then they should take that out on their own state Democratic Party for screwing them over.

[PeppermintTwist]

Jack, you say: "Donna Brazile is a JOKE. It was HER FAULT, more than anyone, that we are in this mess in the first place. She is the IDIOT who disenfranchised Florida and Michigan. If those states had not been "penalized", for God knows what IDIOTIC rule, the election would have been OVER a month ago"

To which I respond: AMEN and well said!!!! I have several posts to this effect a while back in the discussion. Brazile is, in fact, an unfair idiot. I want her and Dean OUT of the DNC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Preferably, I want them out of the party, but I'll take just getting them out of the DNC.

As I said earlier in the discussion, if she didn't want the nominating process to come down to her super delegate vote, then she shouldn't have disenfranchised the MILLIONS of voters in Florida and Michigan, who did NOTHING to deserve it. But, I guess Dean's DNC is intent on circling up the firing squad. Man alive!

[schoolmaster]

Donna must quit the democratic party if she does not know how to respect the rules of the game. It is unthinkable that she should raise this issue only after knowing the likelihood of Obama's win. Just like Carville she must be suspended from being CNN commentator till after the election as her support for Obama is so obvious.

[zull2]

Those "rules of the game" were created a few decades ago solely for the purpose of quashing the popular vote. That's it. The insiders wanted more control over the process. There's no real serious tradition around superdelegates, none. It's an undemocratic and elitist concept for some party insiders, whom should be treated the same as every other voter, to have their own "special delegate" all to themselves that they can cast either way and throw an election out of balance.

If those folks quash the energy of one side or the other, doesn't matter which, you're going to have a WHOLE lot of disenfranchised voters on your hands going into the general election.

Also, there is an option if you quit the Democratic party. You can become an independent. Lots of people do it. Politicians really want your vote pretty bad. It's not so bad really, unless you live in a state that has closed primaries.

[schoolmaster]

Right. But those rules should have been squashed before the first vote is cast in this election season. One should not wait to see who gets benefitted before advocatig squashing.

[rusdr61]

If the super delegates were to go with the candidate that won thier state, Clinton would have 229 super delegates and Obama would have 227 supers to date. The difference being Kennedy and Kerry would have to go with Clinton. Now that's funny stuff.
Brizle has been around this stuff for more than 15 years and the current system has been in place for 27 years. Why complain now? Maybe its because the supers are not going for her pol of choice.
It's not about the supers anyway or even if we pick Clinton or Obama to run against McCain. It is that if we do not include MI and Fl in our counts, the backlash will be against the Dems in the fall, and we lose again.

[Mileva Maric]

What a dissapointment Brazil has turned out to be. I used to think her a sharp dimplimatic Democrat who stood on principal.

Right now, she is just standing by the black candidate.

I am not sure if she recognizes how stupid she came across when she compared Hillary to Obama by saying Clinton talked about issues and Obama speaks about "Hope."

And this is the argument?

Hope and $5.50 will buy you a latte at Starbucks.

And I honestly don't think they are thinking clearly. I for one will not vote for Obama under any circumstances. Neither will most of my family, my hair dressed, my nail tech and my produce manager, just to name a few.

Some of them would rather vote for McCain (egads) or will just stay home.

And yes, Mrs. Brazil some of us feel that strongly about it. You are counting on all democrats to vote for the democratic candidate, whomever that may be.

Wrong assumption.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

I've heard her explain this position a bit differently over the weekend. When I heard her it sounded as if she meant that she want the super delegates to stay out of it until ALL the primaries are completed. She wants all the voters to get their chance. What she doesn't want is for Dean to broker a deal BEFORE all the states get to voice their opinion.

In fact she stated that she hadn't decided yet which of the 2 she will support.

[TheDisenfranchisedVoter]

I hate to break it to you, Mileva, but if the Super delagtes decide this race--either for Obama or Clinton, the Democrats will lose the general.

I'm not a democrat, I am an independent but clearly anyone should be able to agree that whichever candidate has the most pledged delagates at the time of the convention, should receive the bulk of the superdelagtes.

I also am suspect of why you say you would never vote for Obama. If you and your friends only criticism is that he is too idealistic, the claim that some would rather vote for McCain ridiculous. Either there are other reasons as to why you dislike Obama and if there is no other reason, then I think the reason you and your ilk won't vote for someone like Obama is obvious...

[uheardme]

You are just standing by the white candidate.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Can you tell me where you found these numbers? I've been looking for this information. Do these number have just a state breakdown? Or, are they done by congressional district as well?

[zull2]

It's a little something called fixing the party. This stuff wasn't such a big deal the past couple decades, as there's only been 1 Democratic president elected, and most of the time there's one candidate that is way out in the lead by the time the superdelegates get around to casting their votes.

This primary brings it all into focus because it's so close. It's not about bringing Florida and Michigan back into it either. They're going to vote the direction they want to and they're not going to fault the major candidate for what their own state Party did to remove them from the primaries. But Clinton supporters like to say that because changing the rules later in the game help out her campaign. If she had lost those states, I doubt you'd be suggesting that Florida and Michigan be brought back in.

[Silpat]

Finally, a Democrat who stands on principle as oppose to self-interest.


Brazille Rocks!!!

[Demoid]

Maybe she's trying to make up for her bonehead decision in 2000 to pull Gore's TV spots from Ohio. She is a much better commentator than she was a campaign manager.

[dividedgov]

Will she also promise the same if caucus states decide the Nominee? A system that disfranchisees the elderly, the night class students, the shift workers while inviting Republican tampering.

If I was a Republican this year I would probably participate in a democratic caucus too. I was guilty of participating in an Iowa Republican caucus in 2000, not knowing whether to support Gore or Bradley. I thought a vote for McCain might mean I wouldn't need to take the chance of having Bush as our President.

Okay this year the rules are we have them. Should we know say they don't count at all. Or how about this Super-Delegates are awarded winner take all according to the state they are from. If Clintons camp agrees to this, then Obama's camp should agree to have summer primaries for Michigan and Florida.

[VivaZapata]

Debating the logistics of what is best for the party vis-a-vis primaries or debates is one thing, but non elected participants holding sway against those more democratic methods will put a terrible stain on the party itself and probably sink the chances for election. Donna is right. If the majority of voting people go for Hillary, she should get the nomination. If they go for Obama, he should. Simple as that.

[LeoMarvin]

You're right. Unfortunately that has almost nothing to do with the argument here. Donna's seen as supporting Barack, so that's all anybody responds to, pro or con. The merits of her argument? Who cares? (And by the way, none of the critics seem to consider the real possibility that Hillary will win by the objective measures, and the SD's will decide Barack is the best chance for victory). Anyway, until we can get some of the zealots in both camps to take a chill pill, it'll be real hard to have an actual debate.

[pollster08]

Thank You Donna! I have much respect for you for your comments. I'm happy to be an Independent! I'd NEVER want to be a part of EITHER party!

I LOVE OBAMA!!!

[sklfcats]

Bye Bye !

[standforpeace]

Donna Brazil, I am proud of you for saying what large numbers of African Americans think. If Obama wins the most delegates in the primaries and caucuses, and then loses the nomination because Super Delegates throw their support to Hillary Clinton, many of us are going to see this as another example of the ways in which we have been denied a chance to cast a meaningful vote. The struggle to vote (and have our votes counted) is a historic one that will trump any partisan loyalty for many of us.
I'd imagine that many of the white women who have supported Hillary Clinton will feel the same way if she wins the primary process but the Super Delegates throw the election to Barack Obama.

[LeoMarvin]

"I'd imagine that many of the white women who have supported Hillary Clinton will feel the same way if she wins the primary process but the Super Delegates throw the election to Barack Obama."

Which is why both groups should agree they'll support either candidate irrespective of grievances that develop along the way. I'm an Obama supporter unhappy with the Clinton tactics and comments by some of her supporters, but I also see her supporters honestly believing that they're the ones not being respected. We're all sure our side is right, and there's no way to convince either of us we're mistaken.

The bottom line is McCain will be worse for all of us than either Barack or Hillary will. We should learn from the Republicans that the way to win elections is to put the differences among ourselves aside until AFTER the election. Beating them has to come first. That's been their strength, and until we learn it we might as well not bother caring about any of this stuff, because they'll just keep beating us anyway.

[Seattlelite]

Donna Brazil has it right, let this race play out, let the voters be heard before these super delegates get involved. Frankly I don't see a reason they should be involved, if either of these candidates wins by one single pledged delegate vote then that's who the candidate should be! Unfortunately for the Clinton's if it comes down Obama wins the pledged delegate votes over Hillary and the super folks who owe them -- then the democratic party will divide and McCain will be our next president. And the DNC better NOT seat FL and MI delegates without a re-do because I will as I suspect others will see this as totally unfair.

[uheardme]

Well said. You are right. It may be time for black voters to leave the Democratic party plantation.

[BUSHsurvivor]

Oh dear Donna, what then do you suggest? First we must stick to the rules on Florida and Michigan. Then, we must change the rules on superdelegates.

Which is it?

[Mileva Maric]

Whatever elects who empty suit candidate.

[Jazzylady26]

Quit then dummy, who cares? Haven't you ruined enough campaigns already?

[sklfcats]

Good one Jazzy !!

[uheardme]

Carville's dumb ass has ruined more campaigns.

[vshabazz1]

I agree 1000%, I will not only quit but I will campaign for a republican. Bill and Hillary thought this would be a cake walk. Otherwise why would they only have enough money to last through Super Tuesday, how could they be so arrogant and Stupid.

[sklfcats]

Bye Bye!! :)

[Karenina44]

Those of you who are concerned about the super delegate situation, I urge you to lodge your opinion with the DNC ... http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contact

Remember, bringing our voices together is the only way to rock the establishment.

[Didi47]

If she feels so strongly about the delegates and fairness blah, blah, blah, then why has she been on CNN everynight - promoting the non stop biased pro Obama, anti-Hillary media campaign.

She 'sold her credibility down the drain' months ago - when she got on the 'best political team on television' that pretend to be ethical.

[standforpeace]

I think you actually make the point for those of us who don't want Super Delegates to decide. Donna Brazil is an unelected political operative. Exactly, why should she get a vote that counts as 1 out of 4000 (in addition to the vote that she got in her home state primary) and I get a vote that only counts as 1 out of the million or more that may be cast in Ohio? What is democratic about that?

[AgathaX]

Let's cross one bridge at a time. I think the situation will work itself out. Let voters vote. Short of an actual tie, I cannot imagine that there will be a lot of enthusiasm for overturning the outcome of the primaries.

Rather than opine about leaving the party, we should be discussing how the sytem can be reformed so that we don't have these sorts of concerns in the future. There have been a number of problems with the seasons primary season. Let's try to fix those.

[loki]

First of all, I really doubt she would quit.
Secondly, I will agree that Superdelegates should be allowed to have anything to do with a public election. Letting Superdelegates decide is like allowing the supreme court to pick the president.
You know which way they are going to side, and its not with the popular vote. Its for the Corporate vote.