So wait?! Some Superdelegates are lobbyists being paid by Clinton? Or raise money for her?

[EdwardBernays]

Last edited Wed Feb 17, 2016, 09:30 PM - Edit history (1)

This is Democracy??

Some of the SDs in question:

- Jeff Berman, well-known for his delegate-strategy work in the past, is being paid by the Hillary Clinton campaign to organize her delegate-counting effort while himself being a superdelegate. A “top lobbyist” at Bryan Cave LLP, Berman previously worked as a lobbyist for the private prison company Geo Group and as a lobbyist helping TransCanada build support for the Keystone XL.

- Superdelegates Jill Alper, Minyon Moore, and Maria Cardona are officials at Dewey Square Group, a lobbying firm that is closely affiliated with the Clinton campaign and retained by the Clinton-supporting Super PACs Priorities USA Action and Correct the Record. Alper and Moore are Clinton advisers who have raised over $100,000 for her campaign. Dewey Square Group, as we’ve reported, was retained by the health insurance industry to undermine health reform efforts in 2009, including proposals to change Medicare Advantage. The firm has previously worked to influence policy on behalf of Enron, Countrywide, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, the U.S. Telecom Association and News Corporation.

- Tonio Burgos, a fundraiser for Clinton, is a lobbyist registered to influence New York City officials. Burgos’ current client list includes Verizon, Pfizer, and American Airlines.

Superdelegates were added to the nomination process as a reaction to the chaotic 1980 Democratic convention, in which supporters of Ted Kennedy attempted to challenge President Jimmy Carter. The goal was to give the party elites more control. In 2008, superdelegates flocked to Clinton over Obama, creating a similar controversy over the possibility of subverting the democratic process.

This is preposterous.

https://theintercept.com/2016/02/17/voters-be-damned/


UPDATE!

HEY FOLKS!

Why don't we put this out on social media and see what happens? Not my post, but the information... tell people on FB and Twitter and Reddit, etc. No point in suffering alone at the very least.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

1. The fact that so many people don't see any problem with this is a hallmark of our dying democracy.

[Fuddnik]

60. And a dying party.

Who commits seppuku first, Dems or Repukes.

[Voice for Peace]

63. Unbeknownst to themselves they are playing russian roulette

With a nearly full cartridge.

[Ferd Berfel]

121. Zero Integrity

[Enthusiast]

131. Just plain zero.

[Enthusiast]

130. Huge +1!

[Arazi]

2. "The system is rigged". When Bernie says it, you just know it

and then you get stories like this that back it up

[PatrynXX]

21. nothing says wow he's fucking right

when this shit pops up. Whatever happens at the head of the line. to kill off the snakes food supply one must get rid of it's food. thus going further to both state and local level one must purge conservadems from the line.

[EdwardBernays]

54. first

you need a huge number of people to KNOW the story... then you can get a groundswell of people trying to sort it out...

[Waiting For Everyman]

3. Oh, that's sick.

I didn't know any of the SDs were lobbyists, especially like that first one, wow.

Thank you for posting this, EB.

[Fawke Em]

4. This should be illegal.

If Bernie is president, it will be looked at. If Hillary or any Republican is president, it will continue.

Business as usual.

[restorefreedom]

35. exactly true. nt

[Angry Dragon]

53. yes

[Enthusiast]

132. Huge +1!

[AtomicKitten]

6. Democratic Party: Corruption R Us.

[EdwardBernays]

7. yep

same as it ever was...

[azmom]

8. They are unelected too. Wow.

So much corruption.

[retrowire]

47. wtf really!? nt

[Enthusiast]

133. It's corruption from sea to shining sea.

[CentralMass]

9. It's an incestuous pit of influence peddling.

They couldn't have been more blatant.

[EdwardBernays]

10. There's a weird theory

in the conspiro-culture that state that the PTB BLATANTLY flaunt their corruption as a secondary means of control... people see that you can do whatever you want and they stop even trying to fight... or stop caring at all... it's so futile...

I don't know if that's why we see so much blatant and open corruption, but it's an interesting notion.

[cali]

11. So fucking corrupt. It's chilling. And Hillary is at the center.

[EdwardBernays]

12. yep

the Clintons are the eye of this corrupt ass nonsense in the DNC...

[hifiguy]

43. And they have been since 1/20/1993

Though they started selling the party off to the billionaire class well before that.

[Enthusiast]

134. Huge +1!

[Duval]

37. I'm waiting for yet another "revelation".

And it'll come.

[Kittycat]

41. Someone posted this article earlier today, great read.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/clinton-money/

[passiveporcupine]

119. Thank you for posting this

The Clintons’ fundraising operation — $3 billion amassed by one couple, working in tandem for more than four decades — has no equal.

This should really make everyone stop and think about who these people (the Clintons) are. And do we really want them at the helm of our country again?

cough cough

“Hillary does not like to ask for money,” Buell added. “It’s not natural for her. But she’s got really good people who work for her who speak for her, and she’s very, very appreciative when she knows someone has done something for her. And you know it’s sincere.”

All that money for wall street speeches and no influence peddled? Are you kidding me?

[Kittycat]

120. And this Primary season has only begun

Yet we've seen the rollback of Obama's hold on the DNC taking lobbyist money, and HRC embracing corporate money as though they were her only constituent alive.

[Orsino]

113. Congress and the party leadership are at the center.

This shit should be illegal, or sworn off by the party.

Clinton is following, not leading.

[beedle]

13. Hillary should just use her power of 'cut it out' n/t

[highprincipleswork]

14. This is a sure recipe for failure.

[Tarc]

15. This is how the Democratic Party works

Perhaps people should have done their homework before supporting a candidate for the party's nomination?

[gregcrawford]

17. And somehow that makes it all right?

Are you kidding me?!!?

[Perogie]

19. it used to work that only white male landowners in this country could vote

you ok with that also?

[Dont call me Shirley]

22. So you support citizens United then?

[frylock]

23. We already know. Dime's worth of difference comes to mind.

[emsimon33]

34. A rather smug response to what is a very serious shredding of our Party

I find it ironic that a political party called the Democratic Party is so undemocratic. This is another reason why so many people will not vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. Already I hear this so often. When the fact that the voting is so rigged is common knowledge, poor Hillary will have no chance and she will take the Party down with her.

[onecaliberal]

59. SO you're saying we should support the candidate supported by corruption. Surely you're not a dem

[AlbertCat]

68. This is how the Democratic Party works

This is why we are voting to maybe try and change that...... duh!

"There's nothing we can do! It's the way it is! No we can't!" The cry of the Hilster!

[AtheistCrusader]

124. But only the cry of the Hilster as long as the process favors her.

Principle be damned.

[sprts]

72. Spoken like a true Republican

[bunnies]

79. No. Perhaps some shouldnt be in the party.

You know... those who think Democracy should be a will of the people thing. Let them form their own party. amiright?

[Tarc]

87. Well rather than respond 9 times, y'all can read it once

You have some pie-in-the-sky idea that they're gong to be running neck-and-neck form now til the summer, and then she'll pull a nefarious "AHA SUPERDELEGATES!" to snatch victory on the convention floor.

The reality is that Clinton is going to cruise in SC, and maintain huge and comfortable leads in nearly all of the Super Tuesday states.

[bunnies]

89. Well. If thats the case, come what may in November.

She's made her bed and her supporters have tucked her in.

[Tarc]

94. Um, cool?

[bunnies]

96. Doubt you'll think so then.

Bernie has awakened the fire of being sick of being taken for granted. Being sick of being bullied into the lesser of evils. People are fed up. Cool.

[Tarc]

98. Still cool. I guess.

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre

When Hillary wins the nomination, y'all will vote how you like in the fall, no one's going to come on bended knee. So if you decide to sit it out because your guy didn't win the party nomination, then you will get the Trump/Cruz/Rubio that you deserve.

[bunnies]

99. Wont be me that deserves it.

I voted for the guy that can beat any of them.

[LiberalLovinLug]

116. "Every nation gets the government it deserves."

So true. And if yourself and others supporting Her Inevitableness push Hillary over the top to win the primaries, the nation will only have a choice of who will suck up to Wall Street and the MIC the least. When we could have had a long overdue re-organization at the base level to clear out the rot that has been festering for decades. To at least partly help to swing the pendulum back from the massive redistribution of all the created wealth to the top .1%.

If you want to settle for cheap window dressing and band aid solutions just so you can tell your grandkids that you helped elect the first woman President, then you and those who also helped perpetuate the status quo deserve to stagnate in more wars, more bailing out big banks the next time, and the lobby business healthier than ever in Washington.

[Tarc]

118. /slow clap

The main things I care about this election are social issues, immigration, and the like...all of which Sanders and Clinton are on equal standing on. I did not supporting Sanders (my state has already held its primary) because I feel his economic plans are unrealistic and will never come to pass.

[Unknown Beatle]

139. You're just repeating what Clinton is saying - No we can't!

I never thought I'd see the day when a dem would say that Universal Healthcare was economically unrealistic. Hillary is taking money from big pharma and insurance and you don't think that's why she against Universal Healthcare?

"I did not supporting Sanders (my state has already held its primary) because I feel his economic plans are unrealistic and will never come to pass."

^
This is not original. All you're doing is parroting Clinton. All major economists have already discounted what Hillary is saying and have shown that it will help people tremendously while saving money.

[AtheistCrusader]

125. Bookmarking for later hilarity.

[RiverLover]

16. Could this be any sleazier/shadier/rigged?

I wish she'd be true to her core values and run as a republican.

[Dragonfli]

18. So, in other words, one can simply purchase delegates now? And some say Oligarchy is a myth /nt

[SHRED]

20. Yet people here will defend her

[hifiguy]

136. They would defend her if she held a live, televised kitten barbeque

and puppy shoot co-hosted with DicKKK Cheney. That's how far gone they are.

[Dont call me Shirley]

24. Here a delegate, there a delegate, everywhere a super-delegate. Old McClinton had a farm ee aye

ee aye oh.

[Omaha Steve]

25. It used to be we could vote for the delegates to the D convention

The good old days.

The non-supers are picked at the state convention.

OS

[HooptieWagon]

26. Sure looks that way. Follow the money.

[pinebox]

27. This says it all

[hifiguy]

42. What a great graphic. The truth and nothing but!

[Enthusiast]

135. PLUS ONE, a huge bunch!

[George II]

28. No, and no. By the way, this is the second time this article has been posted this afternoon.

[CentralMass]

30. Is there a limit ?

[retrowire]

55. Somehow...

The rebuttal of "No, and no." doesn't really do much to shoot down the article in question.

Excellent effort though? I guess.

[Duckhunter935]

76. is anything incorrect in the article?

Please go ahead and explain to us uninformed people how this is really a good thing?

[hifiguy]

137. Royalty owes the peasantry no explanation.

[PotatoChip]

29. I knew things were bad, but

this bad? Wow.

It's quite shocking.

[emsimon33]

31. WTF!

OMG! Some of the superdelegrates are lobbyists and/or they raise money for Hillary! OMGOMGOMG! Is DWS mad??? (Actually, no, she is simply craven and soulless). This can not be permitted to continue. No wonder few of us trust Hillary or what has become of the establishment "Democratic" (although I am really voting that it be renamed the "Ironic&quot Party!!!!!

[Not Sure]

32. The only way to defeat this is overwhelming victory at the polls. nt

[jhart3333]

38. How about calling bullshit on this superdelegate thing.

Just one more way the elites have stolen our democracy: Gerrymandering House seats, filibuster in the Senate, unholy marriage between Washington and Wall Street, buying and concentrating control of the media and now this superdelegate bullshit. I'm sick of this rigged game and I want my democracy back. Now.

[Jarqui]

33. This one blew me away as well:

Hillary Clinton-donors hear concerns about Nevada outcome

Robby Mook, the Clinton campaign manager, sat at the head of a conference table in the New York office of Clinton donor and Wall Street investor Marc Lasry, according to accounts from people in the room.

A Wall Street investor is sitting at the head of Hillary's campaign conference table ??

[zentrum]

36. It's Ugly Preposterous.

But Carter/Kennedy was before the internet. Maybe we can do more against it now.

Kennedy would have been a Great President.

Doubt Reagan would have been able to defeat Ted in his second term.

St. Ronnie essentially had a 3 term Presidency—given his halo extending to Bush H. Without those 12 years straight I even wonder if the Dem party would not have tilted so right of center as it did under Clinton as a reaction to the "Reagan Revolution".

This Super Delegate Deal is incredibly destructive.

Carter was very weak and was absolutely idiotic to side with the Shah so publicly. Kennedy would have maybe been more like his brothers and defied the CIA a little more.

[hifiguy]

39. My best guess is:

"What is BOTH, Alex?"

[Duval]

40. No, this is not Democracy. eom

[840high]

44. Jesus H - WTF

The odor of this overhelms.

[ananda]

45. What does Sanders have to say about this?

!!!

[EdwardBernays]

49. he's probably

thinking that he can't take on Hillary and the DNC and the GOP and the 1% all at the same time.

[stevenleser]

110. Well, his chief strategist praised the role of super delegates in 2008...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89369899

[Admiral Loinpresser]

123. That's because they abandoned the loser

and supported PBO. If Bernie wins the pledged delegates they better do likewise, or else.

[billhicks76]

46. Protest On Their Front Lawns

[EdwardBernays]

51. That wouldn't do anything

the media wouldn't even blink...

it would take someone asking Hillary about it at a Debate in front of cameras... and even then she'd just "look into it"..

the contempt for voters is just sickening

[billhicks76]

107. It Would Make The Super Delegates Think Twice

[EdwardBernays]

109. Nah

They'd just call the cops.

[billhicks76]

140. Have You Ever Been To A Big Protest Doing This?

I have...and the cops often cant do anything if they are in the street or on sidewalk. Once the media shows then it gets harder.l

[kristopher]

48. K&R

[99th_Monkey]

50. That's how Clintons roll: Pay-to-Play Wink*Nod Who me? Corrupt? nt

[merkins]

52. The corruption flaunted in broad dalight is just unconscionable.

K&R!

[libodem]

56. I signed some petition

To let the convention just go with a popular vote and nix the super delegates.

I'm down with it.

[MrMickeysMom]

57. Do you have a link to the petition?

[Art_from_Ark]

90. Here's a MoveOn petition

http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-democratic-superdel?akid=161947.33147366.SdOaO-&rd=1&t=1

[MrMickeysMom]

97. Thank, Art_from_Ark!

[Art_from_Ark]

108. My pleasure

[Paka]

58. Unreal!

[Ferd Berfel]

61. ANyone hat supports Clinton or the DNC with this shit going on

is a waste of time - Fuck 'em

[A Little Weird]

62. Wow!

I thought the concept of superdelegates was bad before. Just the idea that certain special individuals had votes with the power to equal thousands of regular voters seemed undemocratic. And that's when I thought they were elected officials. To think that it's industry insiders and lobbyists that are given this power is particularly galling.

If nothing else, this election is showing the world what a sham our system is.

[EdwardBernays]

64. very true

sadly I'm not sure how many actual Americans are noticing...

[A Little Weird]

67. You're right

I pay attention to politics more than most of my friends and I didn't know about it. I don't have a social media presence but a lot of people communicate that way so I think your idea of putting it out that way is a good one.

[polly7]

65. I'm shocked, I have to admit.

Your system is very different than ours (and I'm not saying ours is better - we did end up with Harper way to *'ing long), but this seems like one big, incestuous corporate protection racket - not having much to do with actual will of the people at all.

I think it's terrible.

[A Little Weird]

70. I admit that I know nothing of Canada's system

But it isn't hard for me to believe that it's a better system. I'm beginning to understand why so many people have just checked out and don't participate. It's pretty hard to get enthused about a candidate when the deck is so stacked. I hope this election is one that wakes up enough of the electorate to turn things around.

Congrats on electing Mr. Trudeau - he sounds like a good guy!

[polly7]

73. Thanks, I'm crossing my fingers he is.

He made a lot of promises I hope he keeps.

Really hoping for Bernie Sanders for President - for all of you. I have family and friends in the U.S. and I worry about some of them, they aren't wealthy people and I fear for them in case of sudden illness or injury. And honestly, I cringe when I think of someone who has no problem with war in charge of the world's largest military again - it made me sick under Bush, it made me sick with Libya when Clinton pushed for it. I so, so hope Sanders can do this. But it looks like they're using every trick in the book against him. This super-delegate/lobbyist stuff is seriously nasty.

[RiverLover]

69. The only way this wouldn't make national news is if the media is in on the scam,

the tampering with the Democratic process. And they're ok with it. Looking the other way because their owners are the same people buying off the candidate in question. Or maybe friends with them.

They're sticking together as they stick it to us & manipulate US into thinking we're actually living in a Democracy.

I'm beyond outraged.

[A Little Weird]

74. That's true

I think breaking up the big media conglomerates may be just as important, if not more so, than breaking up the big banks.

[RiverLover]

83. Looking at the big picture, I think you are onto something. This IS an enormous problem in a "free"

society. At least we have the internet, kow, to help offset their skews & slants & manipulations. Its a seriously bad problem, but it could be worse.

[warrprayer]

66. Welcome to the coffee club

[hollysmom]

71. I don't like the idea of super delegates, but they have to be someone, don't they?

they are going to be supporting someone before the election, and the odds are they will be pretty much for the establishment, that is a given.
That some are lobbyists is not surprising, they get involved in the political process as a part of business.
I can't worry about this. But we can question what is the purpose - yet, I think the republicans will like this to get rid of people like Trump in the future.

[RiverLover]

100. Justifying industry lobbyists rigging our primary. Trumping popular vote for Moneyed Interests....

That's swell.

[hollysmom]

102. Iamnot justifying them, I have not idea how they are selected

if they are selected for their jobs, that is wrong. They most likely are selected because they are connected and they are connected because it is their job to be connected - see the conundrum?

You can't say, no you can't be selected because of your job because that is discriminatory, but they should be. These people probably raise a lot of money (duh) and participate in a lot of events, etc.

In this world, it is not what you know, it is who you know.

[tazkcmo]

103. "...no you can't be selected because of your job because that is discriminatory"

It's not discrimination. And, yes you can say you can"t be a super delegate AND in fact, f your super delegates or f this party. There"s always a choice, just some aren't good ones.

When I say "your" I don't mean YOU. Just want to make that clear! : )

[CentralMass]

111. The Republicans don't use superdelegates.

[hollysmom]

112. I bet they want them this year, Trump seems to be what they were supposed to stop.

[liberal_at_heart]

75. K&R

[Yog-Sothoth]

77. It's a good thing that most superdelegates, like most Democrats, support Clinton.

Sanders doesn't appear to know what he's talking about and based on his economic illiteracy, foreign policy ignorance, extreme proposals, and magical thinking regarding some political revolution...it's obvious he wouldn't be a good president.

[polly7]

78. He just needs Kissinger!!!

Revolution!!!!


(I post this - I first heard it in the Bernie Sanders group - every time I see the claim that 'revolution' is unrealistic, when really so many are just deathly afraid of change to the status quo and need to make fun of the word).

[Yog-Sothoth]

80. Unrealistic to say the least...

We need to do big things and they aren't happening this go round. Incremental change is best. We need the Senate. We need the House.

Sanders isn't bringing a political revolution with him...

He's bringing at best gridlock (even the Democrats don't agree with him) and most likely a sound defeat in the general that will result in the rolling back of voting and civil rights and much more as we lose the next Supreme Court replacements.

Thankfully...most Democrats are aware of this...like most superdelegates...and support Clinton over Sanders.

[polly7]

81. Thankfully it seems like most people there are being shown as disagreeing with you.

And I mean, thankfully, for the whole world.

[RiverLover]

82. Yes. The world.

No one wants a corrupt war mongering slave wage loving president in the US again. We want peace and decent wages. No more Neoliberals.

[polly7]

85. I so hope you get those things and more. I believe you will. nt,

[RiverLover]

88. ?

[polly7]

91. Sorry ...

"We want peace and decent wages."

(I should have specified, I'm doing three things at once here.)

[RiverLover]

93. Polly! I was afraid there was another Polly I confused you with. haha

I thought a mean Polly was wishing a neoliberal on me!

haha

[polly7]

95. Oh noooooo!

I would never wish that on you! I only want what's for my neighbours ........... and that means - Bernie!!!

Sorry again.

[Yog-Sothoth]

86. Not

really.

[Bradical79]

122. Not really what? -nt

[TBF]

84. Nice work if you can get it ... nt

[senz]

92. Hillary Clinton REEKS of corruption.

[warrprayer]

104. They don't see it as corruption

They see it as "business as usual", and feel that we "just aren't realistic".

[nadinbrzezinski]

101. I am going to love myself some 1968 convention going

If the voters chose Bernie and they go this route... oh release the kraken inside the Convention time.

[jfern]

105. Ridiculous that the fat cats get the votes of 10,000 peons each.

[UnBlinkingEye]

106. I'm shocked!!!

How did these corrupt super delegates get to Hillary?

[Corey_Baker08]

114. Well A Majority Of Those Super Delegates Chose Obama Over Clinton In The 2008 Primary

[Amimnoch]

115. Good morning, and welcome to the Democratic Party. (cross-post)

Since this is a repost of the same article from this forum:

Super Delegates, in this elections just like ones past come from 5 sources:
Distinguished Party leaders: 20
Governors: 20
Senators: 47
Representatives: 193
DNC members: 432

First, let's take a full look at the members that are being libeled by this blogger:
Jeff Berman: Not even close to his first round. Hell in 2008 He was Candidate Obama's Delegate mastermind
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/06/09/532746/-Jeffrey-Berman-160-Obama-s-Delegate-Mastermind
Perhaps you can show where you had an issue with him then?
He's a long standing DNC member, and has earned his place as a delegate.

Bill Shaheen (DNC): he WON his position on the DNC via election.
http://nhjournal.com/updated-state-democrats-choose-bill-shaheen/
Perhaps you all here also agree with Republicans that Obama shouldn't appoint the Scalia replacement? You're making the same kind of argument here. Bill has EARNED his place as a Delegate, and cry me a river that you don't like him because of the very legal work he has done for the party.

Joanne Dowdell (DNC): Another DNC leader with a long and established record in the Party (she's been an ACTUAL Democrat for decades longer than Sanders to say the least)
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Joanne-Dowdell/1872940244

Joanne Dowdell was nominated to be a DNC At-Large Member by then-DNC Chair, Governor Tim Kaine.
...
Joanne served as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008 & 2012 for President Obama.
Board of Directors - Joanne Dowdell

These are your first 3.. Should I go on? Point: Each person you listed has EARNED their place (much more so than your Candidate has earned his at that).

On to the second point. Now that you have so gleefully opened this can of worms, let's take a look at some of those few delegates Sanders has been able to win over:

Erin Bilbray Kohn (DNC) - Here's one of Sanders star supporters.. and.... *drum roll please* in 1996 and 1997 was a LOBBYIST.

Larry Cohen (DNC) - is the president of the communications workers of America labor union.. a Union that has endorsed Sanders. Is this a conflict of interest? I don't think so, he's earned his place just like all of the ones who are throwing in for Hillary earned theirs.. but if we want to talk conflict of interest.....

Troy Jackson (DNC) - Rated 100% by the NRA. Was also endorsed by the NRA.

Paul G Kirk (Democratic Leadership) - American lawyer, politician, and .... lobbyist.

At the end of the day, every one of these people who have been selected to be Democratic Party Primary Super Delegates have earned their spot, and it is downright disgusting the attempts to disenfranchise their voice just because you don't like a cherry picked part of their background.

[questionseverything]

117. some animals more equal than others

Shaheen, the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, was a campaign chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign but resigned in late 2007 after making remarks about Barack Obama’s admitted drug use as a youth. Shaheen said the Republicans would use that admission attack Obama should he win the Democratic presidential nomination.

//////////////////////

if the supers do not follow the will of the people, we are doomed

[seaotter]

126. Yes, a great many are just political whores.

Which only firms up the fact that they will NOT vote against the vote of the people, after all, they are, above all, political whores.

Pretty simple.

[valerief]

127. Oligarchy "democracy." nt

[UglyGreed]

128. You scratch my back

[Enthusiast]

129. Kicked and recommended! More bullshit!

This is no way to run a political party!

[hifiguy]

138. The sheer corruption of the Clinton machinery is breathtaking.

And I was around for Richard Nixon and Watergate.

This would make Nixon feel even more inadequate. He's even been out-corrupted by a "Democrat."

[amborin]

141. kicking