The DNC's structure of super delegates has become an issue this campaign season as it has just about every presidential election cycle since that of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The continued and unflagging support of the Democrats' party elite, including that of DNC national chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for the super delegate system stands in complete opposition to the concept of one-person, one-vote and the basic tenets of government by the people for the people; it unfailingly demonstrates the need for a multi-party system. Our current two party system bears the jaundice of political elitism. And if one listens to the rhetoric coming from the Dems' power structure this election cycle it is becoming increasingly similar and politically symmetrical to the Republican agenda. Crossing the aisle in Congress on matters of social and economic policy, historically was akin to swimming the Atlantic; today, it is an endeavor much more closely aligned with stepping over a day-old rain puddle.
The Dems' super delegates wonderfully represent the corruption of ideas and agenda that has taken hold of the Party. The distinct anti-grassroots stance which the Party has of late become extremely comfortable in espousing is strong and damning testimony. It is important to realize that the concept of unpledged and/or super delegates is little more than a construct of our two-party system. No mention of super delegates in the Constitution.
The Dems' super delegates can also be referred to as PLEO's or political leaders and elected officials; as they include former as well as the current President (i.e. Bill Clinton is a pledged super delegate for Hillary, Pres Obama is a currently undetermined super delegate), past and present Vice Presidents, current members of Congress, Democratic Governors, etcetera. Of the 5,083 delegates attending the Dem National Convention, 747 are unpledged or super delegates and can vote for whomever they prefer at that particular moment. Super delegates are able to vote for whichever candidate they personally support; their vote is neither influenced nor constrained by the primary results of the state which they represent.
Simply stated, 15 percent of the Dems' delegates for this election cycle are independent operators, put in place for the sole purpose of protecting the interests of the Party elite. It would appear, then, that those individuals granted the title of super delegate can, in theory, vote twice during any one election. And they can also then, in theory, vote twice during the same election for the same individual. A super delegate who pledges his/her support for Hillary at the convention, can also vote for Hillary at home in their assigned voting precinct or via absentee ballot. This only further mocks the concept of a popular vote. We the People vote as an exercise in political organization--it is of little consequence to and has even weaker influence over any election's ultimate outcome. The People's choice is always in danger of having too few delegates and subsequently losing the election. It would appear to this registered voter that the Democrats' super delegates enjoy much more influence over who becomes the Party's nominee than those of us who essentially ARE the Party. A multi-party system would necessitate that this poorly designed system be revisited, revised and hopefully relocated to the confines of election history.
The Republicans also have unpledged delegates, however, this group is not nearly as significant, representing less than 7 percent of Republican delegates at the convention. In addition, an unpledged Republican delegate CANNOT cast a vote in contradiction to those they represent--they must vote how their state voted.
Irrespective of party, it becomes increasingly difficult to deny that the expiration date on the super delegate packet of promises sold to the Democrats decades ago, has arrived.
Please reference: washingtonpost.com, politico.com, votesmart.org, al.com, bustle.com, uspresidentialelectionnews.com
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