Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Super Delegate There are a lot of growing whispers and murmurings regarding the role the so-called Democratic Super Delegates will play during the Democratic National Convention this year. Considering how close the overall delegate counts are some speculate the voice of the delegates selected by the voters may be trumped by those holding the designation of being a super delegate so just what makes these delegates super?by Gary Wood
(Conservative Libertarian)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Party politics enjoy rewarding long-term party elite with numerous titles and honors. Simply look at the history and tradition that surrounds some of the, now, most powerful positions in Congress to see how Democrats, as well as Republicans, enjoy their titles. Majority leader, majority whip, committee chairs, and more are esteemed honors usually reserved for long standing party office holders. Although it is not the Democratic Party that coined the term super delegate it is the desire for delivering titles to some within the party which has given the upcoming convention 796 delegate votes from 800 delegates.
The official term spelled out in the DNC's Rule 9a is "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates." These unpledged leaders and elected officials include all current Democratic Senators and Representatives (excluding Joe Lieberman for endorsing McCain and Florida and Michigan as punishment for changing their primary dates), all Governors, all former Presidents and Vice Presidents, Minority Leaders, National DNC Chairs, etc. In other words, there's a lot of them. Just over 39% of the total delegates required, 2,025, will carry the destinction of super delegate going into the convention.According to the most recent counts from Real Clear Politics, Senator Hillary Clinton still owns a commanding lead in total pledged super delegates and it was this lead which provided the appearance she had been so far ahead in the delegate count until the last 8 primaries allowed Senator Barack Obama to overtake her despite being behind in super delegates. Currently there are 407 of these delegates pledged leaving another 389 yet to pledge. However, there also is rumor some of those that pledged early to Clinton may elect to reconsider and switch their pledge to Obama. No matter, these super delegates do not have to vote with their constituents nor are they required to maintain a pledge once they provide it. It was this type of party leadership control of the convention that led to the McGovern-Fraser Commission in 1968.The attempt to stop this practice lasted until 1980 when current party leaders felt their roles had been somehow diminished in their ability to influence the selection of the Presidential nominee. In 1984 the super delegates, or party elite, were once again in place giving Walter Mondale the nomination over close voter selected delegate contender Gary Hart. Clinton's early super delegate lead this year may well go the way of Howard Dean's lead in 1984. Many pledged to Dean early in the process yet eventually John Kerry gained the nomination despite this fact.
Should super delegates vote based on how their constituents vote or simply vote their conscious. That depends on the day and the lead if you listen to the Clinton campaign long enough. Just as she has changed her mind about the Florida and Michigan delegates (first supporting the decision to punish the states for moving up their primaries and now supporting the stance the delegates be allowed to be seated since she won both states) she seems to think now all super delegates need to not worry about anything but voting their conscious and who is best to lead the party and nation which is her.
If I were a betting man I would bet on the super delegates being very careful about their votes if the regular delegate count continues to build behind Obama. They each may relish their title and power yet to be called king/queen makers is a title they know could tear the Democratic Party apart. To go against the regular delegate decision based on voters could disenfranchise voters at a point in history where the Republican Party is looking as if it may implode, leaving the Democrats poised to change their mascot from donkey to top dog.
If Obama clearly wins with regular delegates but loses simply based on overwhelming super delegate dedication to Clinton the mascot will remain a donkey while most leaving the party will simply call it a jackass. After the convention look for a return to the process implemented after 1968, super delegates will lose their cape but this controversy will be put to rest, at least for another two decades.
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2008 Gary Wood, all rights reserved.
Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Last modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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2008 Gary Wood, all rights reserved.