2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBarney Frank: Scrap superdelegates, end caucuses
Count former Rep. Barney Frank among the prominent Democrats who would like to see their party ditch superdelegates and back off from caucuses.
Frank, who now serves as co-chairman of the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee, says that in his current role, its his job to foster a fair debate as the party rethinks its process for picking presidential candidates, but he also admits that he has his own set of preferences for which way the party should go. Specifically, he opposes the prominent role ex-officio delegates (commonly known as superdelegates) have in the Democratic nominating process.
I said repeatedly this spring that I believed it would be unacceptable for the votes of ex-officio delegates to overrule the outcome of the primaries and caucuses. While this will not happen this year, and has in fact never come even close to happening since the change was instituted, I support doing away with even the possibility of this before our next nomination contest, Frank wrote in a letter to Maine state Rep. Diane Russell, who submitted an amendment to Frank and Leticia Van De Putte Franks co-chair on the rules panel that would eliminate superdelegates.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/barney-frank-superdelegates-caucuses-224771
Response to insta8er (Original post)
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geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)aikoaiko
(34,185 posts)...and make it appear that an insurgent has no chance.
Although I like the deliberative nature of caucuses, the practicalities of the time commitment and verbal arm twisting that takes place during caucuses make them less appealing than a simple vote.
AntiBank
(1,339 posts)look like a lost cause, thus stifling the early campaign.
Tarc
(10,478 posts)Many endorsed her early in 2008 as well, and she did not win the nomination, so please stop peddling the absurd "superdelegates handed Hillary the nomination" canard.
AntiBank
(1,339 posts)Clinton down for my vote). It's over, it's done.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)we can do without whatever safety superdelegates might provide against a Trumpish event, then probably we can. Anything else might he feel should be done instead, I wonder? Regardless, doing away with them would also do away with the possibility that a future candidate could persuade a critical number of superdelegates to disregard the popular vote and bound delegate count.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)We dont need Repubs hijacking our party and diluting minority votes and voices.
George Eliot
(701 posts)Exilednight
(9,359 posts)DemonGoddess
(4,640 posts)and is well aware of it. By saying as a group we want CLOSED contests, I think that would be helpful in the states to at least try and get that pushed through, where the contests are open.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)States hold caucuses due to budget constraints. A caucus is a fraction of the price of a primary. Will the DNC pick up the tab?
OrwellwasRight
(5,170 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Logical
(22,457 posts)TwilightZone
(25,512 posts)Good luck with that.
Tarc
(10,478 posts)AntiBank
(1,339 posts)or other registered party voters allowed, but indies should be encouraged to be involved.
Deffo end caucuses and SD's.