Proposed DNC Rule Aimed at Sanders; Ignores Superdelegates & Corruption
Friday, the DNC Rules and Bylaws committee proposed a rules change for the 2020 campaign. The new rule is directed straight at Bernie Sanders:
The new rule specifically requires that someone running for president must declare in writing his or herself as a member of the Democratic party and that they will run and serve as a Democrat. Easy, right? Not so fast. The two party system in the US is cemented in place by statute, creating an almost impenetrable wall to outsiders. Party primaries are paid for by the taxpayers, and getting on the ballot in all the states as an independent presidential candidate is virtually impossible. Because of this, the only realistic path to the presidency is as insurgency in one of the two entrenched political parties. You saw that in spades in 2016 where Trump used his television persona to hijack the GOP and Sanders’ grass roots campaign almost uprooted Hillary’s coronation.
This rule seeks to stifle competition for the nomination, all while DNC political operatives are loudly denying that fact, which is as obvious to normal people as a hillbilly at a Newport garden party. Even while these operatives are all sniffy that outsiders understand their actual intent, Sanders supporters aren’t happy. Mark Lonabaugh, a senior Sanders advisor, call the new resolution “stunning”.
Someday, establishment Dems will have to face the fact that they are way out of step with their constituents. The Sanders phenomenon should have shaken these pillars of the party to the core, but it didn’t. They are ignoring, at their own peril, the 13 million voters, many first time voters, who went for the tottering old candidate from Vermont instead of the tottering old candidate from New York, Chicago, Arkansas (pick your accent). He brought a message of social justice, equity, and fairness that the Dems abandoned in the 1990s. And it appears that, rather than learning from that experience, the DNC is trying to keep it from happening again by further rigging the rules in favor of the establishment.
Oh, and one last thing – While the DNC specifically designed a rule to keep out insurgents, there are no adopted rule changes to eliminate or significantly reduce the influence of superdelegates, and no rule that prevents a presidential candidate from controlling the national party until AFTER they are nominated. It appears the Democratic party is the LEAST democratic organization in US politics, and that should piss you off.
The last thing the Corpo-Whores that run the party want is someone that actually STANDS for the old FDR style values.
1It’s like the joke about the two President Roosevelts.
“What do the two President Roosevelts have in common?”
“Neither party wants to talk about them any more”
I don’t believe there is any Constitutional backing for either party. They have basically taken over the country and have removed even the slightest notion of government by, for, or of the people. A third party would need money and support, but there is nothing that could legally keep them from winning. Maybe it’s time the people take back this country
2Bernie Sanders was/is an opportunist and I for one resented the way he wormed his way into the Democratic primaries. Yes, the primaries are taxpayer-funded, but that doesn’t stop anyone from running as a third party candidate.
The Democratic party is what the Democratic party says it is; not what Bernie Sanders says it is. If you don’t like it, make your own party.
I love Juanita Jean. I wish she would run.
3Garbage like this is why we keep losing. Let’s give the wanna-be Rs to the R party (maybe it’ll help them damp down the KKKrazy).
4If you’re going to run as a Democrat, then be a damn Democrat. If you want to be an Independent, then be a damn Independent. This is not an unreasonable rule.
5I resented money I gave to the Democratic Party going to a person who wasn’t a Democrat.
6The fact that a third party candidate can siphon away valuable votes from Democratic candidates, allowing Rethugs to win must be a priority now that we have to save our democracy.
7The need for unity against another Dump-Russian election debacle coming up in 2018 and 2020 is paramount.
Maybe you should just give to the candidate of your choice.
8Since the rules are rigged against independents and third parties in favor of the entrenched parties, what do you suggest?
9If a candidate is so weak that he/she must be protected from challengers, then that person has no business running.
10If people only get exposed to Clinton-era ideas and politics, the Democrats will lose. There is nothing progressive about triangulation and “third way” maneuvering; that’s nothing more than Republican Lite, and a complete waste of resources.
We–Democrats–are either Progressive, welcoming, and honest gauges of the American promise, or we are comic adjuncts to the regressive, repressive Republican Party, and I for one have no sense of humor.
11Mr Sanders was/is a European Social Democrat in search of a Party with which to associate. Apparently he still is.
As much as I despise the idea of loyalty oaths, the Democratic Party at every level must offer voters candidates that are clearly Democrats. A Mush mouthing candidate being liberal about this and conservative about that will not get elected in a time when the Republicans have summoned up their radical fringe of haters – race, ethnicity, gender, country of origin, religious preference, and etc and etc. Republicans vote for Republican candidates that hate because hate then fires up their base.
12A person who runs on the Democratic ticket should be a Democrat. Duh.
13That rules sounds just fine to me.
14EJ, “coronation” was a cheap lie when it was coined and remains one every time you use it. It is despicable.
Vickie, please define “Democrat.”
15Gotta disagree with you here. If you want to run as the
16Democratic nominee, you need to be Democrat.
@ Charles R Philips
17Vickie can speak for herself, and does so very well.
I would say: a member of the Democratic Party, or somebody who consistently votes Democrat. The problem with belonging to a group is that you’re never going to like/agree with everybody in it.
@Vickie
18Democrats like Manchin and Heitkamp for instance?
@Msb – Really? Let’s see…from 2012 to 2016, Hillary’s campaign co-chair was also DNC chair. DNC staff was stacked with Hillary operatives. DNC staffers actively sabotaged the Sanders campaign. Hillary paid off super delegates to commit BEFORE THE PRIMARIES STARTED to keep others out. The DNC ran that entire operation. Hillary acted like the nominee from the time she walked out of State. You may not like the term “coronation” but it’s certainly not a “cheap lie”, because it is true.
19Remember, Bernie, Manchin, Heitkamp caucus with the Democrats. If enuff gop senate seats turn over Democrats will still need these people to have control. Let’s not start calling out “dinos”.
20For all you naysayers – Exactly what does it mean “be a Democrat”? I think what you really mean is be a part of the establishment that runs the club. Obama was denigrated in 2007 and 2008 as being an “outsider”, but he beat Hillary once, and TWO Republicans, serving 8 years in the WH. To be blunt, the “be a Democrat” mantra is a dodge. If you are not strong enough to hold off ALL challengers in a campaign, you shouldn’t be running and wasting others’ time and money.
21So, you’ve been playing football on the same high school team for 4, years. You show up for practice come heck or high water every day during that time. You go out, learn the rules, master the plays, support the team’s choices for captain and mvp every year.
Your senior year, you work your tail off, you stay late helping other kids up their game, you even help them with their homework so they can stay on the team. You show up ready to lead the team to the State Playoffs and a new guy walks on the field, that hasn’t bothered to learn the rules much less the plays. He thinks it would be much better if you ran his plays and he doesn’t think the rules apply to him. He has zero intention of helping any of the existing members of the team, they are on their own because he’s going to be a star and if he can’t be he’ll just take his ball and go home.
That about right?
22Vicki, just so you know, my question wasn’t meant as any kind of slight, critique, or sanction. It was meant to help me–and possibly others–determine what makes a democrat a Democrat.
I say if you pander to the Right to gain some support, you’re probably not a Democrat.
I say, if you think we should shrink the big tent to allow only strict adherents of current Democratic rules to be candidates, then you are probably not a Democrat.
I say, if you didn’t vote for Hillary in the general for any reason, you are probably not a Democrat.
I say, if you think there are only negligible differences between the two major parties, then you are probably not a Democrat.
Of course, I may be full of it, or of myself.
23@Deb – A better analogy…You are on the team for 4 years, work your tail off, stay late and all the other blah blah. THEN, a new player who’s an All American transfers to your school and has an arm like Joe Montana and can run like Tony Dorsett. Rather than play him so the team can win, you bench him because “he’s not a real team member” and you want to be captain.
That’s the correct example, but I think you know that.
24Oh, good. Just what we need; more strife and infighting.
I’m so damned sick of this.
25So Sanders files Third Party because of your loyalty oath. He is in the general election. Hillary loses the Electoral college more severely and the national popular vote to Trump. Liberal Minnesota only went for Hillary by 1.5 %. With Sanders in the race it goes Trump. Remember Ralph Nader? Be careful what you wish for.
26I dunno, Bernie has cool ideas but there’s a lot of baggage there- tax returns, his wife’s dealings, plus that Russher trying to help him thing. Can’t we find a young member of the Democratic party (that is, look them up on the interwebs voter registration and it says “Democrat” after their name) who espouses the same ideas?
27But there are plenty of Bernie-like actual Democrats that could run: Liz Warren, Sherrod Brown, Jeff Merkley, Joe Kennedy, any number of other senators, congresspersons, governors, etc. ::shrug::
28What is a member of the democratic party?
is it a turncoat r who, like Charlie Chist who for political expediancy, declared as a D after being a r gov. for 8 years and was immediately anointed to be the standard bearer.
Or all the r’s the dccc recruited to change sides to protect the party from those dirty progressives?
Ok you want to have this rule lets propose a few more to protect the ‘integrity” ( joke) of the party apparatus.
1) No rethuglican can adopt the D mantle with out first
A) Publishing in the public record every memo, email, text message, phone call whatever that they ever received or exchanged with any R appuratus and/or member.
B) have been an active member of the D party for at least 8 years. Active means contributing money and loudly proclaiming their present membership.
C) Apolagize publicly and loudly for their grossly mistaken r ideology and admit that their delusional thinking harmed people and weakened the country.
Do not speak to me of the party needing real D’s when the DCCC DNC and DSCC are actively out recruiting r’s to change parties and subvert the D agenda from within.
Because give me a Progressive interloper over a thuglacrat quisling any day of the week and twice on sunday.
29Deb
I think your analogy fits the republicans and trump far better than the Dems and Bernie.
Bernie has many years of being part of and working in government, as opposed to ruining a business and calling it genius.
30Lazrgrl, lot of baggage with Hillary, too, and most of it is named “Bill.”
I think, if you’re a real democrat, you don’t hate as intensely or as violently as a republican. You don’t ever forget, but you tend to forgive.
31Lunargent,
Like the Austin Lounge Lizards tell us, ‘We’ve Been Through Some Crappy Times Before’.
It’s been 50 or 60 years but IIRC, the Texas State Democratic convention at the Music Hall got so out of control they had to call out the National Guard. One time, there was barbed wire around the podium.
32We did our civic duty in NV casting our primary ballots today. If our state party is any example, candidates could learn. There are two credible Democrats running for governor. Probably neither is “perfect” which given the nature of politics doesn’t require a cynic to appreciate. But the last couple of weeks both went nuts with attack ads. Some of us hate it when mommy and daddy fight like that. Obviously only one will win the party nomination, but wish they would keep it in mind that the snacilbupeR also saw those ads. Democratic candidates, please, don’t write the ads that will be used against the victors of the Democratic nomination.
Who is a Democrat? At the state and national level, most of all I want them to embrace the 14th Amendment pledging to represent everyone, do what’s best for the state and our country. And, enough already with religion; respect separation of church & state. No more telling other people ‘how to live.’ Instead talk about policies beneficial to every age, gender and demographic. Unity, not division, going forward.
33I think it would be wise for the DNC to embrace anyone that wants to run under the Democratic umbrella. If you can win the primary – you should be the candidate. Otherwise it is just an invitation for a split vote by a candidate running under a unwinnable 3rd party. BTW – I am a “Yellow Dog” and am tired of these right-wingers beating us simply because of infighting, etc. We cannot expect to win unless we can get people to vote even when there is a concerted efforts to discourage voting in America. After 2016 I hope we have learned a lesson. You cannot win by holding grudges if your candidate isn’t successful We are getting beat by some of the dumbest folks on the planet. Surely we can do better.
34EJ, everything you say is true. And yet — and yet —
To paraphrase Winston Churchill: The Democratic Party is the worst major party in the country — except for the other one.
35Corporate-owned and Identity politics.
36Which party is that?
Sanders partisans are the ones out of step with the Democratic Party base. Also, they seem to not be able to grok that they comprise at most 10% of the electorate.
That is why Clinton defeated Sanders in the primaries, and why the Sanders-backed candidates are doing no better than others in the special elections.
The leftier-than-thou will continue to help elect Republicans until they learn that when you’re a minority of a bare plurality, refusal to compromise is suicide.
37I think one of the biggest problems is that republicans will ALWAYS vote republican. No matter what. Democrats want the best candidate and will vote for who they believe is best, even if that person is third party. Where the trouble comes in is the fact that we have had a two party system forced upon us. It is not fair, but it is how it is. The problem in 2016 was that (fair or not) Clinton was the non-republican choice for president. And whether in spite, protest, disgust, or just plain short-sightedness, those that did not want her as their candidate refused to vote for her. You may not like the choice of lesser of two evils, but you sure made sure the greater of evils won. Lets see if we can get the attitudes sorted out before November because, at this point in the decline of our country, the republicans are going to be out in force and any democrats who stay home and pouts is voting with them.
38@joel hanes
“The leftier-than-thou will continue to help elect Republicans ”
Actually it is the dccc and the dscc that is actively recruiting and promoting rethuglicans to the ballot under the d label to torpedo any uppity progressive who dares to think that the d’s should not be the second corporate owned party preventing citizens, workers, minorites and women from ascending the political ladder to power.
39After all, they say, that is reserved for candinates that the plutocrats approve of only.
Do not blaim progressives for the failure of the establishment corporate stooges.
I’m with Joel. And I voted for Bernie in the primary and sent him money.
I’m still pissed at the Sanders delegates. They did everything they could to make the Democrats look like crooks.
My son was at the convention every day from start to finish, working. He tells us the Sanders people didn’t even have floor leaders. That tells me Bernie was never serious. He was just lobbing turds in the punch bowl.
We don’t need any more half assed candidates or whole asses at the DNC. I’m too old for this.
Go Beto.
40K :
I too am disgusted with some of the choices made by the dscc and dccc. There’s some hope: in at least a few primaries, the DINO candidate favored by the dccc was defeated by a more progressive candidate who had a better ear for the primary electorate. Things are changing.
Also, I have disagreed with at least some of the policies and management decisions for every organization in which I’ve ever been involved. It’s an unavoidable part of collective action : consensus decision-making in groups larger than about 20 people is pretty close to impossible. So I disagree with the national Dems, and with the careerists in my state Democratic Party a good deal of the time.
But even Republican-lite “Democrats” caucus as Ds, and that determination of who is in the majority is actually more important in choosing a course for the nation than are the policy ideas of the candidate.
And the very best Republican available is far worse for the policies I prefer than the worst Democrat.
So I send serious money to individual progressive candidates, and damn little money to the dscc and dccc, and cuss the Party apparatus pretty much every day. But in the end, if you refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils, you effectively help the greater of two evils.
(There has never, in my opinion, been a political candidate who was anything better than the lesser of two evils: unfortunately, they’re all human and imperfect and inconsistent and have weaknesses)
best
Joel
PS
I do boggle a bit at your claim that the Ds are “preventing … women from ascending the political ladder to power”, given that the Ds were the first party in the nation’s history to select a woman as their Presidential candidate.
41Um. Interesting how, each time EJ writes about this subject, folks end up “screaming” at each other. This kind of intraparty warfare is exactly what brings GOP victory and Dem defeats.
I taught history and government for 33 years in public schools and colleges. There were all kinds of people in my classes, but there was (at least) one who always caused trouble between others in and outside of classrooms, who seemed to “get off” on encouraging individuals and/or groups to get angry enough to fight with others, sometimes to the point of violence. Given your historical record on this blog, EJ, that sure does sound like your motivation: write something that you know will make folks (pro- and anti-the Clintons/DNC, etc.) fighting mad, then sit back and watch others fight. My “Momma” used to call folks like you “mixers.”
BTW, here’s what The Google sez when you type in “define Democrat” —
dem·o·crat
noun
1. an advocate or supporter of democracy.
2. a member of the Democratic Party.
You either consider yourself a Democrat, or you don’t.
Bernie? Don’t.
42PS.
Basic U.S. Politics 101 tells us that the voters in the United States will never elect a president who is a democratic socialist, no matter how much magical thinking some folks put into it. Wishing will not make it so.
And, EJ? It’s past time to let this one go, hombre.
43Last Time I checked neither Montana or Dorset got to go to the Super Bowl if they couldn’t win a playoff, but “I think you know that.
Lazrgirl, is right, Bernie has LOTS of baggage that never aired because, like Trump no one thought he could win. All of that will come out if he’s the nominee.
You think he would of won? Why would Russia have interveened on his behalf instead of Trump? Do you honestly believe that Trump land would have shifted their allegiance to an East Coast socialist?
He does not raise money for Democrats, his candidates are not winning in places like Birmingham or Jackson Mississippi, left wing activists who have toiled for years in the trenches are. If you want to be the nominee of Democratic Party, you need to be a Democrat, if Bernie thinks that is too onerous then he shouldn’t be the nominee.
I’m sick and tired of hearing about Bernie. I’m tired of hearing about Hillary she isn’t running. If I never hear about Bill and Monica again it will be too soon.
I’m going to recommend a really good movie, it’s called “Frozen” my Grandkids just love it. Like many Disney films it has some delightful songs, in fact we should all take a page from Elsa’s book, If we don’t we can reconcile ourselves to 4 additional years of Trump – if we are lucky.
44You are just flat out wrong. The rule was voted on by democrats including many of the top Bernie people. Sowing discontent is pointless and not productive. If I had made the rule I would have ruled out Bernie Sanders personally but the people in the meeting were nicer then me.
Why should we as democrats do all the work and let someone come along, trash the party, yet feel entitled to use all the tools the party works to develop. It ‘s just stupid. We would be in the mess we are in now if Bernie and all of his bro’s were team players instead we have Trump.
45It’s been a hectic day but I’ve been dropping into the shop as time permitted. I really appreciate the well-articulated passion on all sides.
But here’s the deal. Trite but true, all politics are local. As it should be. The Ds from rural Texas are rarely going to hold the exact same views as the Ds in NYC. If the big tent is still our ideal then there’s got to be room for a few differences amongst ourselves. Forcing the kool-aid down each other throats towards ‘one way only’ makes us no different from the rigid kooks and cowards in the other party. In-fighting is just going to grease the slide into the authoritarian nightmare currently overtaking our country. Voting out the bad scary people needs to be the big goal right now.
There’s a delightful German colleague on a professional listserv I read. She recently shared a German word (which I’m never going to remember any universe) that she said roughly translated as “the better bad”. So from time to time, when there’s no candidate that knocks our socks off, we’re gonna have to put on our big kid undies and vote for the better bad.
One last thing then I’ll step off the soapbox. Fer cryin’ out loud, would both the Clintons, Sanders, Feinstein, Schumer, etc. pulleeze stand down! We need more Betos and Staceys! And a pox on super delegates too.
46“But even Republican-lite “Democrats” caucus as Ds”
Yeah lets return to the days when the dixiecrats did everything possible to embaresss and nueter the d party while holding the line on segragation and bigotry against them there northern liberals.
47And rejoice in the memory of those turncoats who sabatauged health care during the Clinton years.
That’s what we need is more faux D’s to help implement R policies and give the r’s that “bi-partisan” creditability.
People will vote for a real thuglican over a cheap imitation running as a d every time.
Want to bet the dccc and dscc are tripping over themselves in trying to recruit mark sanford now that the r’s have rejected him?
Go back to my original comment. If one is going to ban progressives because they have not contributed enough to coffers of establishment “consultants” ( mark penn etc) then ban anyone who has not been part of the party for at least 8 years and if they were R’s a public apology for their abysmal choices and ignorant policies that they supported. Plus a public airing of any and all communications with the r’s going back to the beginning of their political life.
Why accept a change of registration occuring just before election such as the d’s did with ex gov. of florida who had been actively working against the d agenda and policies until he got beat in thuglican primary over a progressive who has been pushing and advancing policies consistant with the progressive D agenda?
So if the Joe Montana in the illustration above is a disgruntled R, we let him use our party because??? I have worked too hard to get our guys and gals to do the right thing, I can’t house break another party’s super star, no matter how much “energy” he brings to the table.
48Mary beth has got it right.
49These false flag d’s that the dccc is so in love with that they anoint them as d nominees even before the ink is dry on their new registration are a classic example of surrendering the party for very short term, and ephermeral, gains.
Much like the scorpion in the classic tale of the Frog and the scorpion they will turn and poison the party first chance they get.
Plus they inject their toxic economuc delusions into the mainstream of d politics.
It is not enough for an r to switch sides exclusively because of social issues ( pro Choice instead of anti choice of r’s as an example) they must totally repudiate the economic, trade, militarism and all other of the foul nightmares of r policies before they are even allowed to become a precinct captian much less a nominee of the party for any elected office, even dog catcher.
So until the d’s implement rules to prevent r’s from ever being allowed to claim the d’s ballot line I say welcome progressives no matter your party label.
Right now the DNC is following demented donnies strategy of offending and punishing our friends and allies while comforting and embracing our foes.
EJ
50More lies. This stuff doesn’t get any truer with repetition.
Is this frothing vitriol poured over all who oppose your hero, or just women?