Anyone else know pledged delegates to the convention that are considering changing?

[RB TexLa]

I'm just wondering how much Obama and Hillary are going after each other's pledged delegates. A friend of mine who is a pledged delegate for Obama has told me they are considering changing to Hillary depending on how Texas and Ohio go. I know there are a couple of areas of federal employment this person has been interested in for a while, a pretty common interest among delegates.

[lapfog_1]

1. Bullshit.

Name them.

All pledged delegates are ELECTED to their positions, to represent the will of the voters.

Switching candidates, especially if they are promised federal employment, would be a violation of a number of laws, both for the delegate and whoever made those promises.

[papau]

4. I agree this's BS - but I also do not believe switching has any legal effect - just party discipline

but of course anyone can sue anyone else over anything or nothing.

[RB TexLa]

5. They are elected to be a delegate, they are not bound to vote for who they are

pledged to. That's always been the case.

[papau]

7. Agree - but I have not heard of efforts to switch pledged delegates

[lapfog_1]

8. That's the party rules, sort of.

It's actually a bit more subtle than that.

However, the OP states that the pledged delegate that he or she knows is interested in a federal job of some sort, the implication is that one was offered in consideration of them switching their votes. That would be illegal.

Which is why I said name them.

There are what, 3200 or so pledged delegates... probably it would be easy to check out the story.

I think each campaign would be wise to have "minders" for each of their pledged delegates, just to "out" such behavior, should it happen. And file lawsuits and turn over evidence collected for prosecution on criminal charges.

[RB TexLa]

9. Many delegates end up with federal jobs or small federal contracts

There isn't always much "evidence" of such like paper trails. I do not know if anything has been offered, and like I said this is a friend if I did know of such an offer why would you think I would name them? Depending on what happens tomorrow there could be a lot of pressure put on all the delegates between now and the convention.

edited to add.
Of course it's not just federal jobs or contracts, often state parties line up things with state or even local government for them. Usually depends on who has more political power in the state, a federal officer holder or a state one.

[lapfog_1]

10. Sir, I need to be clear.

I am a former federal agency employee, one of my many duties was contracting officer for the federal government. It was my DUTY to report any attempt (or even innocent off hand remark) of an attempted bribe or influence of a federal contract. Went through years of training on the subject of ethics and contracts.

It is illegal for a federal official to OFFER a contract or employment with the federal government in exchange for an item of value (in this case, a vote), EVEN if the person who is offering the employment or contract is NOT currently a federal official. This much I know from my years of training and employment.

It is likely that the person accepting the bribe is also breaking the law, but I'm not a lawyer.

A paper trail is not required for the opening of an investigation.

Be very careful what you throw around as casual banter in a chat room. I am retired... but there may be others reading this who will want to start asking questions, especially given the charged political atmosphere. Would you like to be questioned by the FBI over this? I don't really think you do.

[RB TexLa]

11. Yes, telling the FBI that someone told me they are considering changing

who they are going to vote for at a political convention and telling them that I believe they have had an interest in federal employment. What a time consuming interview that would be.


If the race continues after tomorrow I don't know if the FBI would have enough time to investigate all the offers made through winks and handshakes to delegates.

[lapfog_1]

12. No, it has nothing to do with the convention or the campaign

the FBI does investigate charges of federal bribery. It's really very serious.

An offer of federal contracts or employment in exchange for a vote would be very serious.

But whatever.

Trust me, they would take the time to check it out.

[tabatha]

2. This is as bad as Bush.

Tossing people's votes away.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

3. I have FIVE friends who are Hillary delegates

and they are all going to switch to Mike Gravel if Hillary doesn't win Puerto Rico.

[Exilednight]

6. Rule 11(I) and 11(j) prevent this from happening.

11 (I) : Any delegate at any level of the delegate selection process shall be mandated by law or party rule to vote contrary to that persons Presidential choice as expressed at the time the delegate is elected.

11 (j) : Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a Presidential candidate shall all in good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.


In common terms, if you agree to be a delegate for Obama, or Clinton, you must vote for the person you are elected for. If no one captures the nomination in the first round, then, and only then, are all delegates released.