You can hear in this Sanders speech how much of a role structural change of the party will have in his closing push. Think: open primaries.— Gabriel Debenedetti (@gdebenedetti) May 18, 2016
Open primaries = if GOP contest is over, Republicans get to choose the Democratic candidate. https://t.co/gFD2joK3ju— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
Getting rid of superdelegates would be easier than getting rid of closed primaries. Almost all election law is STATE law.— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
The problem is that each STATE chooses how to conduct its own primary. And those state laws have to get through whichever legislature and whatever governor they have.The DNC can unilaterally kill superdelegates. They can't get open primaries through 50 state legislatures.— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
So the DNC can SAY Open Primaries Only, but that has no binding power over Terry Branstad or the Iowa House Republicans. Or, for that matter, over the Iowa Senate Democrats. Just like the parties can set a nomination calendar, but states can break the rules and usually get away with it (which is why we caucused on January 3 in 2008 and 2012). In fact, Florida Democrats used this as an excuse for their against the rules primary date in 2008: We didn't WANT to break the rules, the Republicans made us.
Superdelegates? That's a more realistic reform, because that the DNC can deliver on its own.
Primary law affects both parties. While Bernie Ds are pushing for open primaries, Cruz Republicans pushing for CLOSED primaries.— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
And none of these state elections laws, if any, can get changed till AFTER the election.— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
So next Hillary unity move should be putting superdelegates on the table, because that they can deliver. Open primaries, no one can promise— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
The downside to dumping superdelegates: does NOT open up grass roots seats.— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
Dumping superdelegates just means the bigshots have to run against grassroots activists (and likely win) which means FEWER grassroots folks— John Deeth (@johndeeth) May 18, 2016
1 comment:
The Democratic and Republican parties are a form of "fraternal" organization like the VFW, Moose Lodge, or the Elks Club. Their members vote for their membership. What Sanders is advocating is akin to letting anyone walk into an organization's meeting and vote for the Exalted Ruler, potentially overturning the will of the the lodge's members.
If Sanders wanted to start another party, he should have done just that. It's unfortunate the Democratic leadership didn't put a stop to him getting on the Democratic ballot in the first place. If the Democrats want to change the rules, they should require people running for office to actually be a registered member of the party.
And it's equally amazing the Republicans allowed exactly the same thing in their party in this cycle as well. While there is a cry for the elimination of superdelegates in the Democratic Party, the Republican Party is wishing they had them so they could have stopped Donald Trump from becoming their nominee.
It's truly a fascinating election cycle this time around...
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