Mother Talkers

Stop Dean from Dealing Our Election

by camper

Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:52:18 AM PDT

As we watch Super Tuesday fade away in the rear view mirror with an even closer contest than we had going in, talk of a heated convention and brokered deals has started making the blog and talk show rounds.  CNN reported yesterday on an interview with Howard Dean in which he stated that he wanted this settled before the convention and would push for a "compromise" before Denver.

Excuse me? If it is the Democratic Committee's job and privilege to select the nominee then what have we been doing the last six weeks? Why have millions of people gone out in the rain or cold to stand in long lines to vote if not to select the nominee themselves? Why have millions of dollars been spent on ad buys and bumper stickers and jet fuel so candidates can meet these millions of voters "face to face" if not so that the people can choose their nominee?

I appreciate Howard Dean's fear of a heated convention and his disgust at the idea of McCain having a jump start on the general election. But I think a brokered, back room pre-convention deal will be far worse for the party. The image alone is damaging and while the folks supporting the ultimate also-ran will be disappointed after the convention, if a shady deal is cut without letting their votes count those same people will be down right pissed. So, I am starting around a letter pleading with Mr. Dean to let the process unfold and let democracy work.

If you are as outraged as I am by the prospect of Dean and the party bosses brokering a deal, then please come sign my letter.  It's on my blog (sorry for the shameless plug but I really do think this issue needs attention and didn't know how else to draw yours).

My address is: www.camperky.com

Tags: Election 2008, Obama, Clinton, Howard Dean, Democratic Convention (all tags)

Permalink | 5 comments

  • Do you have a transcript? (0 / 0)

    I would like to read his comments more fully to really feel I understand what he is suggesting.  I just had a look at the DNC website and didn't find anything.

    Katherine, mom to two boys 7/00 and 1/04

    by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 11:08:12 AM PDT

  • I don't know exactly (0 / 0)

    what he has in mind, but there are a couple of issues that loom large if it continues to be a virtual tie:

    • There are roughly 700 delegates that are "Superdelegates" who can vote for whoever they want, without regard to any primary or caucus. Those are the party bosses, so they already have a fair amount of brokering power.
    • Florida and Michigan currently have 0 delegates, but their contribution could potentially make a difference. Seating them with the results as they stand seems quite wrong given that no one campaigned there. There's talk of giving them a caucus, I hear, that would give them their delegates back.

    I have no idea how he could talk one into conceding to the other until/unless the numbers change quite a bit. But, that said, Dean is IMHO a good guy and frankly, of all the Big Players, I trust him more than most.

    by shenanigans on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 03:52:54 PM PDT

  • The simple truth (0 / 0)

    The simple truth is, a brokered nomination is going to turn A LOT of people off and dampen Democratic turnout in November.  People will grumble about the nomination being stolen.  I know I will be mighty pissed if Hillary wins the nomination because the DNC decides to seat the FL and MI delegates after all.  This is a very dangerous tactic for Dean to take, and he risks pissing off a lot of enthused independent and first time voters that have been flooding our primaries.  Their vote has to COUNT in order to get them back in November!

    Mom to DD, 3yo, and DS, on the way (Sept 08)

    by tessajp on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 07:00:47 PM PDT

  • Not sure how it will play out (0 / 0)

    But I do think that the Super Delegates are going to skew for HRC - they're the party establishment and I guess she's more the establishment candidate.

    As a Hillary supporter, I think this could be a very bad thing - if she were to win the nomination because of the party insiders, Obama supporters could be very resentful.

    Dean, IMHO, would be better off keeping quiet right now.  There are still alot of primaries left - give the party "rank and file" a chance to vote.  Then, later in the year, would be a time to negotiate compromises and/or work with the super-delegates.

    BTW, the emails I'm receiving from the DNC (Dean, Kerry, Kennedy are the "authors") are focusing on the 'national campaign' and beating John McCain.

    by Sue in Queens on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 03:56:26 AM PDT

Permalink | 5 comments