Democrats Do Want Change — in DNC Leadership
By Deb Cupples on April 19, 2008 at 6:28 PM in Barack Obama, DNC, Democrats, Donna Brazile, Florida, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Michigan
In early March, I predicted that party leaders’ attempts to sway the Democratic presidential primaries would create a new wave of Independents. Since then, I’ve seen hundreds of comments from democrats expressing intent to register as Independents. Perfectly understandable.
For starters, the DNC’s disenfranchisement of Michigan and Florida (the fourth largest state) was neither forgivable nor an "error," because the DNC did it with ears closed and eyes wide open.
Thursday, DNC leader Howard Dean hurled gasoline on the fire by insisting that super-delegates declare support for a candidate NOW.
In other words, Mr. Dean wants Barack Obama — and he wants him before democrats in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Indiana get a chance to vote (as Susan at No Quarter points out).
Apparently, Dean was unnerved by Obama’s not-so-stellar performance at Wednesday’s ABC-hosted debate. And some Obama supporters were unnerved by media bias in the campaign coverage — likely because much of the earlier displays of bias were in Obama’s favor.
The DNC’s "sins" go beyond Dean’s flip-flopping (weeks ago, he called for super-delegates’ votes by July 1). Some high-profile DNC "leaders" — people who are supposed to represent all ordinary democrats — have publicly taken sides in the primaries and tried to take the nominating process out of ordinary democrats’ hands.
That’s both un-democratic and un-Democratic. It’s also logically questionable, given the numbers. Outside the Beltway points out:
"The most significant of the early contests, which got incredible amounts of media attention, were in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Those states awarded 57, 30, and 54 delegates, respectively. [i.e., 134 delegates]
"Next Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary has 188 delegates at stake.
That’s followed on May 6 with Indiana (84) and North Carolina (134); May 13 with West Virginia (39); May 20 with Kentucky (60) and Oregon (65); and June 1 with Puerto Rico (63). All those states (and territory) award more delegates than New Hampshire and all but West Virginia award more than Iowa."What’s so all-fired important that it can’t wait for six weeks?
"Barack Obama is ahead of Hillary Clinton, 1644 delegates to 1498. The eventual nominee will need 2,025 delegates. Someone will be much closer to that number six weeks from now.
"So, what’s the hurry? It’s not as if the Democratic nominating electorate has expressed an overwhelming preference for one candidate and the other is just a nuisance, as Mike Huckabee was toward the end of his run.
"Surely, the people of the remaining states deserve a chance to weigh
in? Most of them will be competitive in the fall and Oregon is a key Democratic state."If Dean’s goal is to make sure Democratic partisans think the outcome is fair, what could be better than letting the process take its course?"
As a Floridian and a Hillary supporter, I’m doubly unhappy with the DNC — and I don’t usually get emotional over politics.
Why would any ordinary democrat want to be a member of a party whose leaders are so willing to ignore (or shaft) roughly half of the group’s members?
I’m seriously considering re-registering as an NPA (No Party Affiliation) — unless the DNC replaces leaders such as Howard Dean and Donna Brazile (the self-styled "uncommitted" superdelegate who rarely misses an opportunity to protect or promote Obama when she’s on TV).
Remember, we can vote for Democratic candidates in general elections without registering as Democrats or giving money to the DNC.
To let the DNC know how you feel, use this e-mail form or call 202-863-8000 (thanks to NQ for providing the contract info).
Memeorandum has commentary.
Originally posted at the Buck Naked Politics blog.
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