An Open Convention in August Protects Democracy
By Anita Finlay ("Ani") on July 4, 2008 at 3:35 PM in Barack Obama, DNC, Delegates, Democracy, Democratic National Convention, Disenfranchisement, Hillary Clinton
As reported by Marc Armbinder, at a meeting of Hillary’s fundraisers last Thursday, Senator Obama was asked if he would accept a roll call vote at the Convention. His response, according to a participant:
“Hillary and I are going to negotiate this thing and talk about it, and obviously we’re going to do what is right for the party. We’re all going to make sure we agree.”
There is nothing to negotiate. To remove anyone’s name from the ballot is not legal or moral. Senator Clinton has more than earned the right, in the closest Democratic Primary in history, to have her name put forth into nomination on the first ballot at the Democratic Convention and have a roll call vote.
This is about respect. Respect for 18,000,000 voters, and respect for the pledged delegates whose allegiances were assigned based on the votes cast over the last six months.
Achieving true democracy takes courage. If Senator Obama is truly the ‘uniter’ he claims to be, he would never want his fellow Senator’s rights to be negotiated away.
He would be absolutely committed to respecting all of Senator Clinton’s voters as much as he respects his own. After all, isn’t the eventual goal a Democratic administration? Unity stems from fairness. Not backroom deals or untoward pressure for a powerful opponent to bow out.
The is where The Denver Group comes in, an organization dedicated to ensuring that all delegates can vote on the first ballot as originally pledged, Super Delegates are free to vote their conscience, and most importantly, where both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton’s names are on the ballot. No coronations, thank you.
It certainly looks as though Senator Obama’s campaign fears a roll call vote at the Convention. Given all the gaffes and dustups and policy flip-flops of the last three weeks, I can understand why.
The DNC cannot afford to ignore Senator Clinton’s voters any longer by pretending her name should not be put forth. Even Howard Dean, who only had 130 delegates pledged to him in the 2004 primary, had his name on the first ballot.
While Chairman Dean has made some vague rumblings that this will be an open convention, we have seen that the DNC may not be as committed to the rules as they pretend. Perhaps voters need to both remind and pressure them to do what they know is right. In this regard, the almighty dollar speaks louder than anything else.
Senator Clinton has endured misogyny and bias at the hands of the media. Sometimes, the only way to break through that bias is to get our own message across in the media and one of the best and most reliable ways is to buy it.
Fundraising is not my favorite thing, but three months ago, I was still a “lurker” and not a “blogger”. Until two weeks ago, I had never put a guest post on a site such as this one. I am finding a new comfort with many things. The loud cries we are hearing in the blogosphere, and the resulting movement growing by the day, demonstrates a power that is hard to ignore. A friend said to me today that a full page ad in the Washington Post will send a bigger message to the DNC than 100,000 letters. An ad says money and since The Denver Group cannot accept corporate or union donations, grass roots assistance from everyone out there will send a very powerful message indeed as to the number of voters standing together to achieve one goal.
Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Donna Brazile will hear my message loud and clear – they will know how many donors like me it took to have a full page “voice” in the Washington Post or a 30-second TV spot. Imagine if millions of supporters gave even as little as $5 to the cause. That’s a war chest that will make the DNC sit up and take notice. Money equals power in a situation like this one.
I am not content to restrict myself to writing letters to the DNC or expressing my disappointment privately. Taking action on behalf of The Denver Group is one of the best ways for me to insist that democracy not be taken away.
I will not be disenfranchised. My vote did and does count. I want my voice to be heard. I stand with and will contribute to The Denver Group to make sure that it will be heard loud and proud at the Democratic Convention in August.
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Editor’s Note: Don’t miss this week’s NQ Radio Interview — The Denver Group.” You’l also find more links related to The Denver Group.
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