MoveOn.org Superdelegates: Let the voters decide

[Jefferson23]

Petition by Ilya Sheyman

To be delivered to The Democratic superdelegates
The race for the Democratic Party nomination should be decided by who gets the most votes, and not who has the most support from party insiders.

That's why we're calling on all the Democratic superdelegates to pledge to back the will of the voters at the Democratic Party convention in Philadelphia.

There are currently 26,329 signatures. NEW goal - We need 30,000 signatures!


Petition Background

Bernie won New Hampshire. And by a hair, Hillary won Iowa. In other words, there's a long Democratic primary ahead, possibly fought all the way to the convention.

But there's a problem: There are 712 superdelegates—made up of Democratic elected officials and other prominent party leaders—who have the power to tip the scales, potentially shifting the vote at the convention to whomever they choose. This process is undemocratic and fundamentally unfair to Democratic primary voters.

In 2008, when the primary looked like it could boil down to superdelegates, MoveOn launched a similar campaign calling on the superdelegates to hold off making their decisions until the voters had spoken.

Now, as we face a similarly contested primary, it's critical that we speak out again for the integrity of our voting process. Democracy only works when the votes of the people—not the decision of a small number of elites—are what determines the outcome of elections.

http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-democratic-superdel?akid=161947.33378598.lv7Fcg&rd=1&t=1

Filmmaker Annabel Park says the people in support of Sanders are developing their own leadership and must start challenging superdelegates instead of waiting for the convention - from TRNN's live coverage of the New Hampshire primary

[truedelphi]

1. Technically speaking, the delegates can do what they want.

But I got this tidbit of info off of a Facebook post earlier tonight:

If you believe Hillary won or came away from NH with more or the same amount of delegates, you don't understand the system. She had 6 superdelegates before voting started. Superdelegates may pledge support for someone early but they are not counted until the end after the popular vote is determined. 98% of the time, superdelegates switch to whomever the popular vote has chosen at the conference when they choose the nominee. Keep winning states and delegates and the superdelegates will switch sides when its time. This is how it works. This is why Hillary lost her superdelegates in 2008. Obama had the popular vote and they jumped ship at the conference. Don't sweat this shit right now. Concentrate on the caucus and primary wins. ‪#?FeelTheBern‬

It is a rather hopeful post, although I do think all of us Bernie supporters do need to sweat the small stuff, because some of it is not so small.

[Jefferson23]

2. I agree, it's small stuff in an ordinary primary..but we don't have that, we're fighting

more than just Clinton.

Thanks for the info though!

[Art_from_Ark]

3. This is not your usual election

In the past when super-delegates switched votes, it was always for an establishment candidate. And I get the feeling that a lot of the Hillary superdelegates didn't switch to Obama just to get on his bandwagon-- they were offered something in exchange for their vote. I'm pretty sure that Hillary was not Obama's first choice for Secretary of State. And it's interesting that Hillary left the State Department just after Obama started his 2nd term.

[truedelphi]

4. That is a very good point. I am trying to be

Positive, and to realize that the country as a whole has grown so much over the last ten years.

And you are right - it does seem like a lot was given up by Candidate Elect Obama - he was only three weeks into his victory when he came up with Geithner as Treasury of Secretary. At around the same time, all the old Clinton appointees became newly named Obama appointees. I remember thinking, "What the hell is going on?"

[gyroscope]

5. Superdelegate system = voter disenfranchisement

a violation of the 15th amendment.

[Jefferson23]

6. kick