2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe real story behind Bernie's ballot issues in DC
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/no-bernie-sanders-was-not-kicked-off-the-dc-ballot/2016/03/30/53be925c-f6c6-11e5-8b23-538270a1ca31_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop_bBottom line:
1. It's more complicated than the screaming internet headlines suggest.
2. It will be fine.
3. People need to calm down and learn the full story before sharing misleading headlines.
Thats not to say it wont be a little complicated. And some D.C. Democratic party officials still have some explaining to do. Heres the story:
Somewhere in the course of raising $140 million for his White House bid, Sanders chose to use a tiny fraction of his haul to skip the hassle of collecting 1,000 signatures to get on the D.C. ballot.
The self-described Democratic socialist instead went the capitalist route. He took advantage of a rule allowing any candidate running for president to buy a spot on the District primary ballot with a $2,500 donation to the D.C. Democratic State Committee. The Sanders campaign submitted a check at 3 p.m. on March 16th, the deadline to do so, according to signatures on a party document. March 16th was also the day for the party to certify its list of candidates for the June 14 primary to the D.C. Board of Elections. But the party did not forward Sanderss name until it sent an e-mail at 1:31 p.m. the next day, March 17th.
A D.C. Democratic activist challenged Sanderss status as a legitimate candidate because of the delay and that has forced the Board of Elections to take up the matter later this week, according to D.C. Democratic Party Chair Anita Bonds. In an interview, Bonds, who is also an at-large D.C. Council member, called the delay a non-issue. Party rules required her to accept checks until 7 p.m. on the 16th, she said, but the board of elections closed at 4:45 p.m.In each of the past four elections, Bonds said, the names were submitted the next day with no problem. If the D.C. elections board (which has had problems of its own) is not willing to certify Sanders, Bonds has another solution to make sure Sanders makes the ballot.Bonds said she will ask the D.C. Council to pass emergency legislation on Tuesday to make clear that the party has 24 hours from when it stops accepting checks to submit the names to the elections board.
Three D.C. Council members called the situation embarrassing and sloppy, but said they would be willing to make sure all candidates who had submitted their information in good faith before the deadline make the ballot. . . In a statement, Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said he was not worried. We did what the D.C. law requires in order to get Bernie in the ballot, and we are confident he will be on the ballot, Briggs said.
For her part, Hillary Clinton submitted over 1,000 signatures, and the insurance policy of a $2,500 donation to the party. But Clintons name is not on the ballot yet either. The elections board wont certify the ballot for the June 14 ballot contest for about another month.
Renew Deal
(81,897 posts)Thanks for the detailed info.
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)If these little "mishaps" kept happening to Hillary's campaign, would you say the same thing? Given the behavior of thr DNC, specifically DWS, it is absurd to believe that someone just "forgot" to file the paperwork in time.
I suppose what happened in AZ just another coincidence. Keep telling yourself that the 2016 Democratic Primary contest is completely fair!
MBS
(9,688 posts)Last edited Thu Mar 31, 2016, 08:34 AM - Edit history (1)
The DC story is "embarrassing and sloppy", but it reflects bungling, not conspiracy.
Plus, most importantly, it's soluble. Even the Bernie spokesman is confident everything will be fine.
My personal loathing and contempt for DWS knows no bounds.
But, seriously, this is one situation that is not her fault.
Also, the AZ problems, though awful, and in urgent need of fixing (especially before the GE) , were the predictable result of Republican cost-cutting and attempts at voter suppression. It's a serious and scary reminder of the urgency of doing as much as we can to counteract the systematic attempts at voter suppression across the country.
But, sorry, it's not linked to the DC story.
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)MBS
(9,688 posts)Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)I just believe that too many dirty tricks are being played on the Sanders campaign. We will have to agree to disagree on the DC ballot story.
ThePhilosopher04
(1,732 posts)email conveniently not be forwarded until the next day, then a Hillary activist be right there to pounce on it. Obviously they knew to look for the delay. More reasons not to trust the DNC and Hillary Clinton.
MineralMan
(146,351 posts)will appear on the DC ballot. I also have no doubt that Hillary Clinton will win DC in a landslide.
Much ado about nothing, which seems to be the order of the day during this primary season.
MBS
(9,688 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)before it votes
MineralMan
(146,351 posts)will have any effect on the nomination.