MyDD :: The Simple Solution To The Superdelegate Mess

The Simple Solution To The Superdelegate Mess

by attorney at arms, Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:16:36 PM EST

The blogosphere is blowing up over the issue of Superdelegates. Today, the reductio ad absurdum was brought to the forefront when 21-year old Jason Rae of Wisconsin was interviewed on MSNBC.

He's a Superdelegate, and... he got a date with Chelsea Clinton. (I wonder if he made any moves--doesn't sound like the type on the radio...but, I digress.)

Call me biased, but the reason this is a bigger issue that the MILLION people who voted in Florida and those who voted in Michigan is because, at present, it is hurting Obama. When/if they start to flip to him, I'm sure we'll hear it less. But, again, I digress.

The solution is on the flip.

I live in California, where Senator Barbara Boxer pledged to vote for the candidate that won the state's popular vote.

That sounds perfect to me. If you win a state in number of votes, you get that state's Superdelegates. If you really want to be democratic about it, you could break down the Superdelegates at the same ratio as the pledged delegates were.

But, after all, Obama folks are telling us that number of states matters--put your money where your mouth is.

Poll

Votes: 12
Results : Vote Link : Polls

Tags: superdelegates, primary 2008, barack obama, hillary clinton (all tags)

Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment

This is silly... (none / 0)

There is no superdelegate mess.

Superdelegates have been around for a long time and they are part of the Democrats nominating process rules. No one is going to change the rules at this stage.

The entire "issue" is a media canard.

Individual superdelegates can use whatever rational they want on who to vote for, but no one is going to impose any rules on how superdelegates are forced to vote.

by MediaFreeze on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:25:51 PM EST

since Media=Obama campaign (2.00 / 1)

I agree 100%

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:33:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is silly... (2.00 / 1)

It's all in Obama supporters mind.

And of course, part of the Obama rules:

1. We can only change the rules in the middle of the game if it helps Obama.

by Sensible on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:35:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is silly... (2.00 / 0)

The Obama campaign has not made one claim that the rules be changed. The rules are the rules -- the superdelegates have the right to vote as they wish. No one disputes that.

If you mean that the Obama camp has made arguments as to what superdelegates should do, you're dead wrong about "rule-changing" and a hypocrite besides.

It's perfectly proper for the candidates to argue about what superdelegates should do -- the whole process is built on that premise.

Moreover, your apparent hostility toward the Obama campaign trying to urge superdelegates to vote for him is ridiculously hypocritical -- espeically in response to a story about the latest of Clinton's efforts to gain supers. Clinton has been working the supers relentlessly. But doing that isn't "breaking the rules," is it? No, it's only a problem for you when Obama makes an argument for the supers to choose him.

By the way, if you're interested in a real example of trying to change the rules mid-game, read this:

"It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything" --Hillary Clinton, October 2007, referring to the Michigan primary. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory ?id=3717119

Not so "clear" to Hillary anymore, is it? In 2007, when she thought she didn't need the votes, she freely accepted that the Michigan and Florida votes wouldn't count, because the rules say that they won't. But now that she needs the votes....she wants the rules that she agreed to follow to change.

by Bluebeard on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 07:03:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Simple Solution To The Superdelegate Mess (2.00 / 2)

If it depends on who they voted for in the state:

oh nothing would make me salivate more than the look on Kennedy's face (and Kerry's) when they cast for HRC.

vote blue in 2008

by sepulvedaj3 on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:29:54 PM EST

Re: The Simple Solution To The Superdelegate Mess (none / 0)

A most simple situation is to make Regular Delegates Winner Take all based on Congressional Districts. similar to the Electoral College in Maine/Nebraska. With regarding Super Delegates Winner Take all State wide.

by nkpolitics on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:32:21 PM EST

Re: The Simple Solution To The Superdelegate Mess (none / 0)

I think it was Matt Yglesias who pointed out that if the game is going to be played this way, Obama supporter Scarlett Johansson ought to be able to rake in more than a few superdelegates. Nothing against Chelsea, of course...

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:42:32 PM EST

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