DNC Chair Wants to Exclude Independents From Democratic Primaries

[Gregorian]

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[Renew Deal]

1. West Virginia showed why that's a good idea

[Optimism]

18. Great CBS poll.

It shows that a full 75% will NOT vote for Clinton in the general. Out here in Washington that's also about the same percent that voted SANDERS as well. From coast to coast.

And THIS is the candidate that the Superdelegates are going to put through? The one who by the way is under FBI investigation? The one who stands the greatest chance of losing to Trump? Really?

[riversedge]

77. What percentage of eligable voters voted in the WA caucus?

[Andy823]

108. 5.8%

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/democrats-caucuses-arent-very-democratic/

Caucus's need to be replaced, and independents, and republicans, should not be allowed to vote for the Democratic nominee.

[riversedge]

109. Thanks. And I agree with all you said. (such low counts is not the will of the Wash state people)

[Renew Deal]

86. What did you expect? WV is full of Trump supporters and DINO's.

You know that the same poll had a similar number not voting for Sanders right?

[doc03]

89. Back in 2008 Hillary beat the crap out of the black guy in WV, that should tell

you something about WV.

[CorporatistNation]

110. The SHILLS For The Oligarchy Are Just There For The MONEY!

The 33 of 50 states Super Delegates that were bought anyway to be sure!

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Primaries should be closed, but party declaration should be right up to the casting of a vote.

.


How better to attract people into the party? After all, isn't that the goal, to attract and convert as many people?

It doesn't leave a bitter taste with undeclared/Indys wanting to switch affiliations and being denied at the polls.


But, the fears in this election cycle were that late-bloomer Sanders would draw the most converts to the party.



Unfortunately, the institutional designs of the DNC and many of the state party organizations promote acting as gatekeepers, for not only the candidates chosen, but to control what they deem as 'faction' by those wishing to realign the party. The Democratic Party is no longer dynamic.

The Democratic Party has always been described as a BOTTOM-UP political party, while the Republicans are TOP-DOWN. Over the past several election cycles, the Democratic Party is becoming structured like the Republican Party... TOP-DOWN.


.

[Demsrule86]

71. That would still allow the GOP to screw with our primaries

so no...need a new plan.

[TheBlackAdder]

81. OK, back to reality. You're not going to get an en masse group of people to go through that motion.

[Renew Deal]

87. I'm OK with that, but it's a state issue.

Some states don't have the bureaucracy to handle that.

I agree that the roles have reversed to some degree. It has benefited us on some level. Democrats have won the majority in 5 out of the last 6 elections. I get the feeling that 2016 will be the last time we keep it for a little while no matter who is nominated.

[rhett o rick]

35. Wow, a response withing one minute. You win the prize today. Your refresh button finger must

be tired. But your post lacked substance. I guess that doesn't matter.

[Renew Deal]

88. A one line OP doesn't take long to read

[rhett o rick]

92. Did the admins give you guys a special app to get the first response slot? nm

[rhett o rick]

111. but you must continually hit the refresh button to get a response within one minute.

How childish. But I guess that's all you guys got. Shame.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Except that the majority of those were DEMOCRATS

Unless of course you believe that all 18 percent of unaffiliated voters showed up and somehow they are the majority, By the way chump. 15 percent of HRC supporters are also voting Trump.

It is in that poll, dig in

[rhett o rick]

49. He was going for the first post and that means a short, unsubstantial post.

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. I know but this one is so easy to bat down

not that it matters to these people. The talk of weak candidate is now beyond foreign press (months ago), and high level American Press (months ago) and now it is starting on CNN, WSJ and Huffpost.

[rhett o rick]

53. I think it so strange that they fight so hard to get the first response then blow it with some

half-fast response.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. A graduate student could do a thesis on this, I swear

[rhett o rick]

59. Absolutely. nm

[TimPlo]

83. Maybe they get a bonus for being first?

[Renew Deal]

90. CBS says 34% were independents. 10% identified as republicans.

Only 56% identified as Democrats.

I have a link for my claim. Do you have one for you 18% number?

http://www.cbsnews.com/elections/2016/primaries/democrat/west-virginia/exit

Hillary won Democrats in WV 49-45. Bernie won Indies 58-21. But as you saw from the exits, 44% of the people that supported Bernie were not there for Bernie.

By the way, the insults need to get updated a bit. The last time someone used the word "chump" was a Rocky movie in the 80's.

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. Yup Secretary of State site

And I am at a breaking news story so sorry. Was going to post an update

[Number23]

107. That person was hollering that it was 15% of Hillary voters that said they'd support Trump just a

few days ago. Now it's miraculously gone up to 18% and that those guys were supposedly all Democrats. And person can never seem to find a link that supports these homemade numbers. Probably because the vast majority of analysis on the WV primary say the complete fucking opposite http://www.mediaite.com/tv/hillary-clinton-slaughters-bernie-sanders-in-west-virginia-with-non-trump-voters/

It would be funny if it weren't so incredibly stupid. And all of the personal attacks you got in this thread do absolutely nothing but bolster your assertion that the rat fucking that happened in WV and other states wouldn't be allowed to in a closed primary which is exactly why they need to happen.

[Time for change]

85. That's one more reason why Bernie needs to run as an independent

He'll take a lot more votes away from Trump than he will from Clinton.

[livetohike]

2. I agree with her. n/t

[rhett o rick]

39. Really, was there ever a doubt? Don't you always agree with her and Clinton?

[livetohike]

50. Usually. I don't like some of the things DWS has done. The primary

debate schedule wasn't the best. I do support Democrats, having been a member of the party for 45 years .

[rhett o rick]

58. I registered as a Democrat 50 years ago. I did strayed during the Vietnam War. I couldn't support

Johnson. He did a lot of good but many of my friends died for nothing during that war. May those that profited from that war rot in hell.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

3. Charisma....

...is not the first word that comes to mind here.

[Bleacher Creature]

4. Makes sense. Republicans as well. nt

[KingFlorez]

5. I agree with her completely

If you want to help select the Democratic nominee you should be a Democrat.

[rhett o rick]

43. Have you ever not agreed with her? or Clinton? It's easy to always agree with

your authoritarian leader.

[KingFlorez]

47. "authoritarian leader"

I think you are confused. It's your guy who thinks he should be President without getting the most votes. That's authoritarian.

[hack89]

6. No shit.

they can vote in Independent primaries. Repukes can vote in Repuke primaries. And Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries. Pretty simple.

[scscholar]

12. This, and we won't have those Republicans...

making spoiler votes.

[rhett o rick]

44. The excuse of the day.

[LonePirate]

64. So you support Republicans interfering with Democratic primaries?

If excluding Independents is an excuse, you must want everyone to be able to vote in Dem primaries as there is no difference between excluding Independents and excluding Republicans. Either accept both or exclude both.

[rhett o rick]

78. So you support the wealthy 1% at the expense of the 50,000,000 living in poverty?

[LonePirate]

82. What does that have to do with asking what's the difference between excluding Indies and Repubs?

[wendylaroux]

7. Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debbie does fascism.

[jwirr]

8. The list of people Hillary & DWS do not want to vote in this

election is getting longer. Bernie supporters, independents, socialists......

Who is going to vote for Hillary? Oh, yes, I forgot - the Rs.

[msongs]

13. you are all perfectly free to vote for anyone you want in the general election nt

[Renew Deal]

15. Fantasy

[BuelahWitch]

25. DWS lurves her some Republicans!

They are among her best buds!

[lunamagica]

34. If she "lurves her some Republican" she'd be for Open Primaries

So Republicans could choose the Democratic nominee!

[BuelahWitch]

79. No, because they wouldn't vote for her chosen candidate

But when it comes to Florida politics she supports Republicans over Democrats.

[Buzz cook]

9. Should Canadians or

Argentinians be able to vote in US elections? That's what you're asking for.

Any organization is set up to benefit its members not people outside that organization.

[Glamrock]

27. Why not

They can make campaign contributions...

[Buzz cook]

96. Really?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/supreme-court-retains-ban-on-foreign-campaign-donations/?_r=0

In a terse four words, the Supreme Court on Monday issued an order upholding prohibitions against foreigners making contributions to influence American elections.

The decision clamped shut an opening that some thought the court had created two years ago in its Citizens United decision, when it relaxed campaign-finance limits on corporations and labor unions. On Monday the Supreme Court, upholding a lower court’s decision in Bluman, et al., v. Federal Election Commission, refused to extend its reasoning in Citizens United to cover foreigners living temporarily here.

[Lizzie Poppet]

75. They're not paying for them.

Want closed elections? The let the party pay for them. Not a single red cent of public money...

[Buzz cook]

94. I'm paying for lots of things that I don't use.

From national parks too far away to visit to parts judicial system. The same is true for you.

Why pay for the social safety net, I don't use it.

Why pay for rural electrification, I don't use it.

But we do benefit from those things. Just as we benefit from supplying a mechanism for the parties to pick nominees.

[Lizzie Poppet]

95. How, specifically, does everyone benefit from paying for private elections?

Feel free to go into detail.

[Buzz cook]

97. How do you not? nt

nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

98. As expected...

No useful reply.

Bye, Felicia.

[Buzz cook]

99. My names not Felicia

And I am curious. How do you not benefit by supporting the two party system?

The system has become the base on which our majority rule stands. Without this system a majority would be difficult if not impossible to obtain.

Without the two party system where would Sanders be? As a supporter of Sanders you benefit from state support of the primary and caucus system.

[onehandle]

10. Hopefully.

Not watching the video.

[-none]

23. Facts too much for you?

Alienate too many people in the primaries and then you have no one left to vote for you in the general?
That is they way to let Trump win.
But if you let people vote for who they want in the primary, then you run the very real chance of your anointed not winning, even though Trumps chances of then winning the general are greatly reduced because the Democratic winner is very much more popular than Hillary. Rock and hard place for Hillary supporters.

[rhett o rick]

45. Their minds are made up. They agree with everything Hillary. It's Authoritarian Adulation. nm

[-none]

48. That has been obvious for some time.

Karl Rove is grinning from ear to ear.

[msongs]

11. so if I wait 74 years to suddenly become a democrat because that's where the $$ is I have to run

in primaries where only registered democrats can vote....oh the injustice of it all?

[Joob]

14. Yeah. It's clear if a lot of people don't like this, time to move to new party.

If a lot of people are okay with this, and a lot of people are not okay with it. And the DNC chair Establishment is okay withit
'Nuff said. Going to another party if Bernie doesn't win.

[Renew Deal]

16. That's a good idea

Will you let Democrats vote in your primaries?

[randome]

21. I rarely give a simple +1 but...

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[yallerdawg]

33. There will only be one candidate!

Democracy!

[Attorney in Texas]

17. She is on the record as favoring limiting access of grassroots Democrats from the process

[Renew Deal]

20. Link?

Since its "on the record" and all it should be easy to find.

[Attorney in Texas]

100. “DNC chair says superdelegates ensure elites don’t have to run 'against grassroots activists'”

Un-Democratic Party: DNC chair says superdelegates ensure elites don’t have to run “against grassroots activists”

[LiberalFighter]

28. Independents are not grassroots Democrats.

[-none]

52. Many of the independents used to be until the Democratic party moved too far to the Right.

It is time to find our progressive roots again.

[bahrbearian]

22. Independents aren't Real American's

[lunamagica]

31. No, independents aren't Democrats

[katsy]

24. Just curious but why should all taxpayers

Foot the bill for primaries but then exclude indies?

Let the 2 parties foot their own primaries or figure out a way for all to participate.

Since when are democrats about exclusion?

[LiberalFighter]

32. Nothing prevents Independents or Third Parties

from conducting their own primaries.

[katsy]

61. Flippant answer.

So disaffected Democrats who stop identifying as D for whatever perceived wrongdoing by Democratic Party should be encouraged to run candidates 3rd party? Way to lose elections.

[LiberalFighter]

84. Seems someone else is being flippant about their response.

It appears that you would advocate that anyone can vote in a Democratic primary.

If primary elections are not held that would also mean that caucuses would not be held. Instead, state conventions would conduct the nomination process which would be limited to just regular party activists. That would be precinct committee persons on up. Nobody from the general public would be allowed in not even those that vote Democratic regularly. If you are not a member you are out. At least this way there is more representation of the voters.

[Autumn]

76. No, nothing prevents that. Nothing prevents you having to pay for your primary either.

[Maedhros]

41. Two things should come from this:

1. We should stop publicly funding Democratic and Republican Primaries unless they are open.
2. Independents should stop voting for Democrats, since the Independents' ideas and input are not wanted by the Party.

[lunamagica]

29. Good!

[OhZone]

30. Good.

Join the party if you want to be involved.

[Maedhros]

36. This is a very illustrative incident.

Democrats are announcing that they are no longer the Big Tent Party that so many used to pretend they were. It's clear from Debbie's proclamation, and many Hillary supporters on this site (such as the first couple posters to this thread), that the Democratic Party is not interested in growing and changing to encompass the ideas of the younger generation.

"The Party doesn't listen - IT TELLS. So shut up and toe the line."

In my opinion, this is an important and needed step forward. As the Party leadership sheds it's sheep's clothing, liberals and progressives will see more clearly just what slavering predators the leadership are.

Small-minded personality cultists dedicated to identity politics no doubt praise this proclamation by DWS. To them, it's all about being in the club and feuding with the other club.

[longship]

37. How is she going to do that?

Many states do NOT have partisan registration, mine included (MI). This is decided by the legislature, not by the parties.

So how does little Debbie plan on finding out who is, or is not, a Democrat in these states? BTW, there are a lot of states w/o partisan registration.

Screw her.

[Eric J in MN]

54. She said she was speaking personally and not for the DNC. (NT)

NT

[longship]

56. My question stands, no matter who she speaks for.

[Eric J in MN]

57. Hopefully, she was just giving her opinion and

...isn't planning to pressure states to have closed primaries.

[longship]

62. MI CANNOT have a closed primary.

And a Dem party chair cannot pressure them to close it since it was the GOP legislators who eliminated partisan registration and opened the primaries.

And MI is one of many states without party voter registration, by law.

So again, how can anybody credibly state that they want closed primaries everywhere? How do they accomplish that? Wish in one hand, shit in the other and see which hand fills up first.

It really is simple. We need open primaries everywhere so that all registered voters get to vote.

[Il_Coniglietto]

38. If the majority of independents were supporting Clinton

and the majority of Democrats were supporting Sanders at the polls, I think a lot of people would magically change opinions. After all, few made a fuss over open/closed primaries in previous elections. Funny how that works.

[Txbluedog]

42. That's a great idea for both parties....

only registered democrats and republicans should get to choose their party's nominee. If you are an independent you get your say in the general. Also, the deadline to register to vote in a particular party's primary should be several weeks ahead of polling day

[-none]

60. Great idea if you want who you can vote for chosen by the party leaders...

When the party leaderships are in collusion behind the scenes, is a great way to run a dictatorship.
Give the people a voice with open primaries.

[Lodestar]

46. The system is rigged...keeping up the charade of choice is almost over.

Both Hillary and Trump represent the 1% so there really isn't a choice.
Just the illusion of one.

[obamanut2012]

63. good

[DrDan]

65. DEMOCRATIC nominee selected by DEMOCRATS . . . simple

[brooklynite]

66. Who gets to vote in the Green Party nomination process?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

67. Oh, the irony. "Democratic" Party indeed.

[TheProgressive]

68. Doesn't everyone have the right to vote for a primary candidate?

Our 2-party system is democratically inadequate.

It makes sense that a 'party' candidate should be voted on by the members of the party. But what about independents? Why should they be disenfranchised? I am not sure of the answer except to say everyone should be able to vote for a primary candidate of their choice.

[-none]

69. How can the party leaders get the person they want, if everyone gets a vote?

That sounds too much like some kind of democracy for their 1% owners.

[Demsrule86]

72. Nonsense

Join a party or start your own.

[Demsrule86]

70. I agree

Look at WVA and Oregon with thousands switching registration...the GOP is screwing with the primary. This is why primaries need to be closed.

[Sheepshank]

73. It is Democratic for Democrats be able to pick thier candidate

....without others with unknown agendas fucking with their decision making.

I honestly think indies should form their own party if they want to be involved in the Primary selection process to choose a candidate. And how intersting would that be of the Independent party can pick the same person that is currently under consideration by the Dems or even the Reps.

[Lizzie Poppet]

74. It's the only way she can get her venal, dishonest, incompetent candidate nominated.

But hey, Debs...if that's how you want it, fine. Let the Democratic Party have closed primaries...and pay for every last cent of the expense of holding them.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

80. if Hillary was winning independents then she would want them

[dana_b]

93. fine. then don't ever expect a THING from us

no help, no money and especially no VOTES

[Thinkingabout]

101. Good idea, this is DNC Primary, it is not Independent Primary, I promise not to vote

Or attempt to vote in the Independent Primary. When the GE happens then all will be able to vote.

[rateyes]

102. I thought she said it was a big tent party.

Oh wait. She meant big enough for the corporate overlords.

[milestogo]

103. She should be excluded from the Democratic Party

for the rest of her life. She's done enough damage already.

[felix_numinous]

104. Winning is everything

but without attracting potential supporters, they must have other methods of getting there.

[Jitter65]

105. Sounds right to me. What's the problem. Let them join or form a party of their own. nt

[Barack_America]

106. Excellent incentive for a 3rd party!