Changes

The Superdelegate plan was designed to re-take control of the Democratic party from "[[extremist]]s" and outsiders that the DNC previously empowered [[George McGovern]], through a series of reforms, to invite into the party apparatus.

The Superdelegate plan was designed to re-take control of the Democratic party from "[[extremist]]s" and outsiders that the DNC previously empowered [[George McGovern]], through a series of reforms, to invite into the party apparatus.

==Hunt Commission==

===Hunt Commission===

{{Cquote|Put aside the caucus and convention. They have been and will continue to be prostituted to the service of corrupt organization. They answer no purpose further than to give respectable form to political robbery. Abolish the caucus and the convention. Go back to the first principles of [[democracy]]; go back to the people. Substitute for both the caucus and the convention a [[primary election]]--held under the [[sanction of law|sanctions of law]] which prevail at the [[general election]]s--where the [[citizen]] may cast his [[vote]] directly to nominate the candidate of the [[party with which he affiliate]]s and have it canvassed and returned just as he cast it....Then every [[citizen will share equal]]ly in the nomination of the candidates of his party and attend primary elections as a privilege as well as a duty. It will no longer be necessary to create an artificial interest in the general election to induce voters to attend. Intelligent, well-considered judgement will be substituted for unthinking enthusiasm, the lamp of [[reason]] for the torchlight.|20px|20px|Bob La Follette}}

{{Cquote|Put aside the caucus and convention. They have been and will continue to be prostituted to the service of corrupt organization. They answer no purpose further than to give respectable form to political robbery. Abolish the caucus and the convention. Go back to the first principles of [[democracy]]; go back to the people. Substitute for both the caucus and the convention a [[primary election]]--held under the [[sanction of law|sanctions of law]] which prevail at the [[general election]]s--where the [[citizen]] may cast his [[vote]] directly to nominate the candidate of the [[party with which he affiliate]]s and have it canvassed and returned just as he cast it....Then every [[citizen will share equal]]ly in the nomination of the candidates of his party and attend primary elections as a privilege as well as a duty. It will no longer be necessary to create an artificial interest in the general election to induce voters to attend. Intelligent, well-considered judgement will be substituted for unthinking enthusiasm, the lamp of [[reason]] for the torchlight.|20px|20px|Bob La Follette}}

After [[Ted Kennedy]]'s [[primary]] challenge and [[President Carter]]'s loss to Reagan in 1980, Democrats rewrote their nominating and convention procedures for the fourth time in twelve years<ref>See Broder, below.</ref>. Anticipating a two-way contest in 1984 between Sen. Kennedy and former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]]<ref>Bad blood existed between the Humphrey-Mondale and Kennedy machines going back to [[Hubert Humphrey]]'s 1960 Presidential primary campaign. Humphrey later wrote of the [[Massachusetts liberal|Kennedy machine]], "underneath the beautiful exterior there was an element of ruthlessness and toughness I had trouble either accepting or forgetting."</ref>, the original point of contention between them was over bound delegates which Sen. Kennedy wanted to loosen, while the Mondale machine wanted a candidate to be able to go so far as to replace a "disloyal delegate"<ref>[http://academic.regis.edu/jriley/413%20democratic_party_convention_rule.htm Democratic party convention rule changes]. academic.regis.edu . Delegates must march in lockstep.</ref>.  

After [[Ted Kennedy]]'s [[primary]] challenge and [[President Carter]]'s loss to Reagan in 1980, Democrats rewrote their nominating and convention procedures for the fourth time in twelve years<ref>See Broder, below.</ref>. Anticipating a two-way contest in 1984 between Sen. Kennedy and former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]]<ref>Bad blood existed between the Humphrey-Mondale and Kennedy machines going back to [[Hubert Humphrey]]'s 1960 Presidential primary campaign. Humphrey later wrote of the [[Massachusetts liberal|Kennedy machine]], "underneath the beautiful exterior there was an element of ruthlessness and toughness I had trouble either accepting or forgetting."</ref>, the original point of contention between them was over bound delegates which Sen. Kennedy wanted to loosen, while the Mondale machine wanted a candidate to be able to go so far as to replace a "disloyal delegate"<ref>[http://academic.regis.edu/jriley/413%20democratic_party_convention_rule.htm Democratic party convention rule changes]. academic.regis.edu . Delegates must march in lockstep.</ref>.  

When Sen. Kennedy decided not to run in 1984, two insurgent candidates did appear, McGovern's 1972 "[[New Democrat]]" campaign manager  Sen. Gary Hart, and [[Jesse Jackson]], who was to be the first [[African-American]] to win states in a major party primary election for president. Susan Estrich's words were prophetic: the good old white boy network, including Hart, shot him down.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/20/us/disparity-between-jackson-s-vote-and-delegate-count-vexes-party.html?pagewanted=all DISPARITY BETWEEN JACKSON'S VOTE AND DELEGATE COUNT VEXES PARTY], By DAVID E. ROSENBAUM, ''New York Times'', May 20, 1984; see also ''New York Times'' on April 24, May 11, and May 24 of 1984 for articles reporting Jackson's complaint</ref>. The rules were written for a two-way contest between establishment insiders--Mondale and Kennedy, not the three-way slugfest between baby boomers, blacks, and the party Old Guard it came to be.

When Sen. Kennedy decided not to run in 1984, two insurgent candidates did appear, McGovern's 1972 "[[New Democrat]]" campaign manager  Sen. Gary Hart, and [[Jesse Jackson]], who was to be the first [[African-American]] to win states in a major party primary election for president. Susan Estrich's words were prophetic: the good old white boy network, including Hart, shot him down.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/20/us/disparity-between-jackson-s-vote-and-delegate-count-vexes-party.html?pagewanted=all DISPARITY BETWEEN JACKSON'S VOTE AND DELEGATE COUNT VEXES PARTY], By DAVID E. ROSENBAUM, ''New York Times'', May 20, 1984; see also ''New York Times'' on April 24, May 11, and May 24 of 1984 for articles reporting Jackson's complaint</ref>. The rules were written for a two-way contest between establishment insiders--Mondale and Kennedy, not the three-way slugfest between baby boomers, blacks, and the party Old Guard it came to be.

==Insurgent candidates==

==="insurgent candidates"===

The original "insurgent candidate" the Hunt Commission referred indirectly was George McGovern whom after his massive Electoral loss in 1972 was seen as anti-[[patriot]]ic for his longstanding opposition to President [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s War which had the effect of dividing the party, and the country, and permanently tarnished Johnson and Humphrey's<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/opinion/27Perlstein.html?_r=0 </ref> [[civil rights]] records, painting these two [liberal]]s for posterity as "war hawks".

The original "insurgent candidate" the Hunt Commission referred indirectly was George McGovern whom after his massive Electoral loss in 1972 was seen as anti-[[patriot]]ic for his longstanding opposition to President [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s War which had the effect of dividing the party, and the country, and permanently tarnished Johnson and Humphrey's<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/opinion/27Perlstein.html?_r=0 </ref> [[civil rights]] records, painting these two [liberal]]s for posterity as "war hawks".

It further should be noted, [[Lyndon LaRouche]] was considered by some as a viable candidate in 1980 & '84. While his ability to fundraise was impressive if not frightening to some, he never garnered more than 2% in any primary, won no delegates, nor had his name placed in nomination. LaRouche however would also fit the generic term "insurgent candidate" at that time, although his bluster never amounted to any real threat of hijacking the party.

It further should be noted, [[Lyndon LaRouche]] was considered by some as a viable candidate in 1980 & '84. While his ability to fundraise was impressive if not frightening to some, he never garnered more than 2% in any primary, won no delegates, nor had his name placed in nomination. LaRouche however would also fit the generic term "insurgent candidate" at that time, although his bluster never amounted to any real threat of hijacking the party.

==Superdelegates steal the show, 1984==

 

===Superdelegates steal the show, 1984===

In 1984 longtime party mechanic Walter Mondale entered the convention 40 delegates shy but secured the nomination with Superdelegates, a contingent of unelected party insiders he helped write into the rules two years earlier. Superdelegates include sitting and former elected officials who can bypass regular rules governing delegate selection to avoid a grassroots backlash and still enjoy a position of power, prestige, and privilege<ref>[http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511228164 DNC Chair Says Superdelegates Ensure Elites Don’t Have To Run “Against Grassroots Activists”], Ben Norton - Salon, Saturday, Feb 13, 2016. democraticunderground.com</ref>.

In 1984 longtime party mechanic Walter Mondale entered the convention 40 delegates shy but secured the nomination with Superdelegates, a contingent of unelected party insiders he helped write into the rules two years earlier. Superdelegates include sitting and former elected officials who can bypass regular rules governing delegate selection to avoid a grassroots backlash and still enjoy a position of power, prestige, and privilege<ref>[http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511228164 DNC Chair Says Superdelegates Ensure Elites Don’t Have To Run “Against Grassroots Activists”], Ben Norton - Salon, Saturday, Feb 13, 2016. democraticunderground.com</ref>.

After the Mondale-Hart debacle, another player who ran McGovern's [[Texas]] campaign, [[Bill Clinton]], helped organize the [http://www.blackcommentator.com/46/46_cover.html Democratic Leadership Council] (DLC). By 1992 the DLC had taken over the Democratic National Committee, but it failed to reform Mondale's rules of special privileges for party insiders. The DLC, made up originally of New Leftists, as "New Democrats" followed the view of old guard Democrats that the party had been hijacked by [[extremist]]s, and the new Superdelegate structure could be used by a new generation of insiders to keep control. But the New Democrats went a step further: they sold out their leftist idealism for corporate greed.

After the Mondale-Hart debacle, another player who ran McGovern's [[Texas]] campaign, [[Bill Clinton]], helped organize the [http://www.blackcommentator.com/46/46_cover.html Democratic Leadership Council] (DLC). By 1992 the DLC had taken over the Democratic National Committee, but it failed to reform Mondale's rules of special privileges for party insiders. The DLC, made up originally of New Leftists, as "New Democrats" followed the view of old guard Democrats that the party had been hijacked by [[extremist]]s, and the new Superdelegate structure could be used by a new generation of insiders to keep control. But the New Democrats went a step further: they sold out their leftist idealism for corporate greed.

==Sold to the highest bidder, 2008==

===Sold to the highest bidder, 2008===

Even though [[Hillary Clinton]] won the popular vote at the ballot box<ref>http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2008&elect=1M </ref>, [[Barack Obama]] gave more money to the Superdelegates<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/02/superdelegate-update/ Superdelegate Update], By Lindsay Renick Mayer, Center For Responsive Politics, February 28, 2008. opensecrets.org </ref>.

Even though [[Hillary Clinton]] won the popular vote at the ballot box<ref>http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2008&elect=1M </ref>, [[Barack Obama]] gave more money to the Superdelegates<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/02/superdelegate-update/ Superdelegate Update], By Lindsay Renick Mayer, Center For Responsive Politics, February 28, 2008. opensecrets.org </ref>.

==''Deja vu'' all over again, 2016==

===''Deja vu'' all over again, 2016===

In [[Bernie Sanders]]' 25 years in Washington caucusing with the Democrats, he never once served as a Superdelegate -- not until he registered as a Democrat to seek the party's presidential nomination a few months earlier. Although he had voted for party leaders and was awarded preferential committee assignments, his absence as a Superdelegate earned him very little, if anything, from his Congressional colleagues for decades of loyalty on votes and bills. Their support overwhelmingly went to a one-term Senator, multi-millionaire, and effective fundraiser who swamped the delegates with cash donations for their own campaigns<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/clinton-money/ 41 Years. $3 Billion. Inside the Clinton Donor Network], By Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger and Anu Narayanswamy, ''Washington Post'', 19 November 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/01/how-hillary-clinton-bought-the-loyalty-of-33-state-democratic-parties/ How Hillary Clinton Bought the Loyalty of 33 State Democratic Parties], by MARGOT KIDDER, April 1 2016, counterpunch.org .</ref>.

In [[Bernie Sanders]]' 25 years in Washington caucusing with the Democrats, he never once served as a Superdelegate -- not until he registered as a Democrat to seek the party's presidential nomination a few months earlier. Although he had voted for party leaders and was awarded preferential committee assignments, his absence as a Superdelegate earned him very little, if anything, from his Congressional colleagues for decades of loyalty on votes and bills. Their support overwhelmingly went to a one-term Senator, multi-millionaire, and effective fundraiser who swamped the delegates with cash donations for their own campaigns<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/clinton-money/ 41 Years. $3 Billion. Inside the Clinton Donor Network], By Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger and Anu Narayanswamy, ''Washington Post'', 19 November 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/01/how-hillary-clinton-bought-the-loyalty-of-33-state-democratic-parties/ How Hillary Clinton Bought the Loyalty of 33 State Democratic Parties], by MARGOT KIDDER, April 1 2016, counterpunch.org .</ref>.