My brother Rahm Emanuel is a superdelegate. I love my brother, and I trust my brother. But I gave up letting my brother dictate my life since he determined whether he got the top or bottom bunk in our bedroom back in Chicago.
So, as much as I love and respect him, I don't trust him and his fellow superdelegates to decide for me and the American people who should be the Democratic nominee -- and, therefore, most likely the next president of the United States.
I want voters to make that decision. The superdelegates, my brother included, have not been elected by anybody to name the nominee. They've either been appointed by the Party or, as in my brother's case, have automatically inherited the role simply because they are elected officials. This isn't the place to debate the entire history of superdelegates. Suffice it to say, however, they were created by the Party machine decades ago for the express purpose of giving Party insiders the ability to thwart the popular will.
After what Democrats went through in Florida in 2000, we should be the first to reject any such funny business. We should be as opposed to superdelegates changing the course of an election as we were to the Supreme Court appointing George W. Bush president.
The right thing for my brother, and all the other superdelegates to do, is to support the decision of the voters. Whichever candidate has won the most delegates going into the national convention should be granted the endorsement of the superdelegates. Period. And we should put pressure on them to agree to do so now -- before the jockeying, lobbying, and infighting get really ugly, as they inevitably will.
Likewise, Democrats must firmly oppose any shenanigans regarding delegates from Michigan and Florida. The party and the candidates all agreed that the delegates coming out of those states would not be seated. Unringing that bell after the fact and by fiat would be an outrage. We have only two legitimate options when it comes to Florida and Michigan: either we stick by the original agreement. Or we organize new elections in those states this summer in which both the Obama and Clinton campaigns can evenly compete.
After the democracy-snubbing arrogance of the Bush years, the last thing Democrats should be doing is wavering on our democratic principles on these issues. No super-power granted to superdelegates. And no backroom fudging on Florida and Michigan. Are you listening, bro?
I don't trust my brother to vote for me either, and I SURELY don't trust yours!
Jonathan Berr
http://ketchupandeggs.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/the-muzzle-is-off-bill-clinton/
I have to keep training them "how to do the job".
So what - If Obama has the "educated" white people, the blacks and the young.
Hillary has the working class white people, the hispanics and the seniors.
Ask yourself. Where do you fit? Whose struggle do you want to support?
We've given our children everything they have demanded.
Why not give them their own president?
"Young people unite! Tear down the bridge to the past, and follow me. I will give you the power, you so deserve."
The only thing Obama has to offer aginst McCain's senority and POW status, is the power of the Internet.
The majority of Americns in November will vote AGAINST giving power to the Internet.
This year - The Best Man For The Job Is The Woman.
Michigan and Florida: Do over or do without.
Or is Hillary afraid she can only defeat "uncommitted"?
So...how fair to them to count it now?
That said, I suppose they could seat Florida and have caucuses in Michigan--then let the superdelegates redress the unfairness....somehow.
that favors obama
totally unfair
Barack Obama is very much on the center-left of his party and is the most likely candidate to win against an elderly sell-out like McCain. The Florida and Michigan delegates should not be seated because the national Democratic Party decided that those elections would not count. The candidates agreed prior to the pointless elections, but Sen. Clinton now has no other way to win if they are not counted retroactively.
If McCain only takes federal money, Obama should do the same. Both had agreed to that prior to the primaries. Clinton should similarly agree to new elections in Michigan and Florida or should allow those votes not to count.
Dean better find a fair solution....soon.
Hillary can't even insure us the votes of Democrats, so how can we be sure she will give us the votes of independents. Barack has shown that he can win ACROSS the board.
These are her words. “It was a little nudging from my 18 year old Daughter.” “It was Maddie in my face.”
“She said, ‘How can you look yourself in the mirror, you’re a slug, you’re playing it politically safe, I believe in this guy, I’ll never speak to you again if you don’t stand up and have some courage.’ “
“It was pretty intense, she was right, it was like a cold bucket of water on my head, she was absolutely right.”
This is one of the new breed of Democrats we sent to Congress in 2006 to end the Iraq War. The war has not ended and this is what we got instead. Are your kids holding their breath unless you vote for Barack Obama? Are we making the right choice now?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/primaries/superdelegates/search.php
nce to campayne against Hillary in these two states, it might have been different. So please be informed when you go to blogs and talk width us. There are many sights to go to to get all this in formation. Florida an Michigan disinfranchised themself by not following the Demacrate party rules and laws. If you can't follow rules and laws set out for you what kind of Nation would we be? America stands on Laws and Rules.I know clinton would like to know inclulde those two states know she is loseing every where------------but America is about honesty, rules,laws and regulation.
Ive been disenfranchised! :P
The comment by the SD thinking he knows what is best for his constituency speaks of true self-righteous arrogance (Are we sure he isn't a Bush supporter?) Not listening to the will of the voters should demand his replacement in the next election.