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Democrats Work To Avoid 2008 Primary Strife
June 27, 2009 12:09 PM
ABC News' David Chalian reports: One year after the country got an in-depth lesson on "superdelegates," the Democratic Party may consider doing away with them in the future.
It was just over one year ago when Barack Obama accumulated more delegates than Hillary Clinton, causing the former first lady to end her historic campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
But there is no rest for the weary.
The lengthy, expensive, and often divisive 2008 Democratic nominating process caused the launch of a Democratic National Committee review of how to tweak the primary and caucus process to avoid some of the pitfalls exposed in the Obama vs. Clinton battle royale last year.
That review began today at the inaugural meeting of the DNC's "Change Commission" in Washington, D.C.
Of course, to the winner goes the spoils and it is now Barack Obama's Democratic party. Any changes made to the nominating system will, no doubt, reflect the Obama world view of the process such as reducing the influence of superdelegates.
At the beginning of today's meeting, the co-chair of the Change Commission Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., described the group's mission as focused on "changing the window of time in which primaries and caucuses may be held, reducing the number of superdelegates, and improving the caucus system."
The Change Commission spent its first gathering on a fact-finding mission hearing presentations from various experts and scholars on the nomination process.
Touching on what may prove to be one of the more contentious issues considered by the DNC, one presenter, Democratic Party activist and Harvard University lecturer and former superdelegate Elaine Kamarck, suggested that it may be time to completely eliminate superdelegates since most of those party leaders clearly determined their role in 2008 to be one of ratifying the decision made by voters in primaries and caucuses.
"We can probably let go of the superdelegates," said Kamarck.
"Their deliberative role," she added, "has in fact been supplanted by a very very public process."
In addition to the future of superdelegates, the quadrennial turf war over which states get to go first in the nomination season will be up for discussion with Iowa and New Hampshire once again posed to defend their influential role in selecting presidential nominees. Iowa's role in launching the Obama candidacy will likely go a long way in protecting its status.
Ms. Kamarck warned the commission about engaging "in an endless fight in who goes first" and suggested instead that the members change their thinking and focus on how to "equalize the importance of other voters in other states down the line."
The thirty-seven member commission made up of many Obama campaign organizers, state party chairs, representatives of labor, elected officials, and Democratic Party activists must finish its work by the end of the year when it will issue its recommendations to the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee.
June 27, 2009 in Democratic party | Permalink | Share | User Comments (35)
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Looks to me like they're going to pick the candidate (again), tell us who the candidate will be (again), and hope that we didn't change our party affiliation from democratic to independent (after 25 years, no less) after the exhibition of manipulation and suppression that they demonstrated in 2008 AND the lack of leadership they've demonstrated after attaining the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Oops. They're too late.
Posted by: jan | Jun 27, 2009 2:39:25 PM
The way they choose delegates doesn't matter to me. The Democratic Party has become the Socialist Party of America. After 20 years of voting a straight Democratic ticket, I'm done.
Posted by: Dorcas | Jun 27, 2009 3:59:05 PM
I'm an Independent. I voted for Obama as a protest against 8 years of lousy governance by Bush and the Repubs in Congress. I thought no one could do worse. I was wrong. Obama and the Dems are going to bankrupt the country and nationalize everything. Plus, Obama is as corrupt as any other pol. I'm not too proud to say I was wrong, and will rectify my mistake in 2010/2012. (If McIdiot had selected Romney instead of Barbie from Alaska, he'd be sitting in the WH now, and the little Chia Pet over in North Korea wouldn't be runnning his mouth every day.) Congratulations, idiot Repubs who thought Romney wasn't quite "christian" enough for your tastes. How do you like the alternative?
Posted by: Tim B., Portland, Oregon | Jun 27, 2009 4:05:55 PM
Sure sign of a democratic voter...
Someone calling the democratic party socialist. Yeah. Right. (rolling my eyes over that whopper)
Posted by: jan | Jun 27, 2009 4:41:59 PM
They should get rid of Donna Brazile first.
Posted by: EML | Jun 27, 2009 5:22:01 PM
The party will do whatever the Obama
machine tells it to do.....and jump
smartly while doing it. "How high,oh
mighty leader?" will be the mantra.
Posted by: Trajan | Jun 27, 2009 5:28:38 PM
Sure sign of a democratic voter... Someone calling the democratic party socialist. Yeah. Right. (rolling my eyes over that whopper)
You're right, Jan. A Democrat does not call the Democratic Party socialist. An EX-DEMOCRAT does.
Posted by: Dorcas | Jun 27, 2009 5:30:00 PM
Yeah, right. I know over the last 25 years, I've heard lots of voters call the democrats socialists. ...Funny thing though, every single one of them was a republican.
All that spinning making you dizzy yet?
Posted by: jan | Jun 27, 2009 5:36:30 PM
I only wish they were Socialists. Nothing would make me happier. And besides, then they'd be just like the army!
Posted by: derridog | Jun 27, 2009 5:55:53 PM
Judging from the polls, the Independents don't care for Obama's socialist agenda. Looking good for Romney.
Posted by: Capitalist Tool | Jun 27, 2009 7:09:27 PM
Because of the super delegate [bleep] the only reason I didn't vote McCain was his choice of Palin as VP. But she was what the RNC wanted, wasn't she? I guess both sides control our choices. What the heck happened to "the people" choosing their leaders?
Posted by: LadyintheDark | Jun 27, 2009 8:16:31 PM
Someone suggested that Independents might like Romney. No. I am more offended by Republicans than I am Democrats but not thrilled by either. One of the things that gives me fits about the Right: Fearmongering, as in: "Eeek! A socialist!" (Or commie or whatever the fear of the moment may be.)
Posted by: LadyintheDark | Jun 27, 2009 8:21:18 PM
I think the Democrats will do whatever it takes to keep Obama in office. It was sad the way the StupidDelegates lined up against Hillary in the primaries. I'm a Democrat and now regret that I EVER voted for Obama. I feel he is trying to turn America into a "socaialist" country. Hillary would have been a much BETTER President. I will NEVER vote for Obama again....I pray that Americans will continue to rise up against Obama and his degrading of America.
Posted by: jogger | Jun 27, 2009 9:19:55 PM
jogger, don't worry. He'll be a one-term president, due to cap and trade, socialized medicine, etc. I know too many disillusioned Obama supporters. Some in my own family, I'm ashamed to say. But it sure does feel good to say I TOLD YOU SO!
Posted by: Sarah | Jun 27, 2009 9:28:07 PM
Sarah, anybody tell you they told you so on Bush? Because we could.
Posted by: FedUp | Jun 27, 2009 11:52:45 PM
SEC. OF STATE CLINTON GOT MY VOTE .
Posted by: DARSI | Jun 28, 2009 4:24:08 AM
Hillary was robbed of the nomination and the caucuses were a FARCE. I am sure race card playing Clyburne will ensure caucuses across the nation for 2012, so ACORN thugs can steal them again...
20 year Dem also and I am done with the party too...
Posted by: jedimom | Jun 28, 2009 9:20:45 AM
Hillary got my vote in the Wisconsin Primary, and unfortunately I voted for Obama in the General. I should have stayed true to myself and wrote Hillary's name in the general. I am very disappointed in obama. He blasted Hillary for advocating manadtory Healthcare now he says his thinking has evolved(yeah after you win) He blasted McCain for proposing taxes on Healthcare benifits now Obama appears to be open to that idea. What sham. I hope you post this. Networks like Abc Cnn and Msnbc have lost their journalistic objectivity. I mean really abc had michelle on then Barack then aired a town hall meeting for barack? Pushing his agenda much? Obama just loves to be on tv, while other people in his administration like jime jones and Hillary clinton just want to get down to buisness. I am disappointed in the media that it would prefer to report on how Obama killed a fly or Bo Obama's baseball card or what type of icecream obama's little girls had than what or top diplomat is doing, or why Obama is firing people who question him.
Posted by: rachel | Jun 28, 2009 9:54:00 AM
I totally agree with the above posts. Obama secured the nomination with the lying of ACORN and the fact that the SuperDelegates wanted history to be made by electing an African-American President. I agree with the earlier post that Donna Bazille needs to go....she was in the tank for Obama from the beginning with absolutely no objectivity in the matter. Of course the Dems want to change the way the primaries are carried out, this is the only way to keep Obama in office. I did vote for Obama as well and now wish to God I hadn't. This Cap & Trade is going to continue to bankrupct America. I regret voting for Obama, the "empty suit no substance" of a President. I pray that 2012 will come quickly so we can vote Obama out of office. Not sure if I will continue to vote as a Democrat....I feel becoming an Independent is more appealing. Whatever the case, Obama will NOT receive another vote from this Democrat!
Posted by: TiredOfObamaLies | Jun 28, 2009 11:02:13 AM
I see that the paid RNC bloggers are out in full force today. It is kinda weird because all of these comments basically say the same thing.
Posted by: AdamND | Jun 28, 2009 11:12:40 AM
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