Super Delegates: What are they?
February 10, 2008
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, you’ve heard of “super-delegates”. I’m not even going to try to explain how super-delegates work because it’s pretty complicated (see how confused President Bush gets when he thinks about it).
I’ll just say this –for the first time, super-delegates may be in a position to essentially overturn the votes of the electorate and personally (as a group) choose the next Democratic Presidential Candidate. There exists great potential for conflict at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The video below does a good job of explaining the significance of super-delegates. The only thing I would add is that super-delegates seem to get to cast two votes in the same election (not cool); they presumably vote as a normal person and have the opportunity to influence the “not-so-super-delegates”, then they have the opportunity at the convention to vote as a super-delegate, potentially negating the votes of thousands of citizens. Anyway, watch the video and tell me what you think.
Comments
4 Responses to “Super Delegates: What are they?”
Got something to say?
Stay connected and subscribe to comments.
-
VOTE FOR THECANDIDACY.COM
I have just watched the video. I might as well have lived under a rock for the past week because I had never heard of these super-delegates. It was really interesting to watch how this works (at least what I got of it) , but I still don’t see the perks (at least for the general public) of having these super-delegates. As close as the race could get, it is not going to be by one or two delegates (anybody correct me if I’m wrong) I think it is not fair that people’s votes can be completely overruled by the opinion of just a few.
Also, is there any specific difference in number of votes by which the system decides to use the super-delegates?
I really don’t see how this system helps. The point of democracy is to have a popular-elected government. Sure, super delegates can’t make any Joe president, but they can really tip the scales in a close race. Wouldn’t it be constructive to a healthier democracy to get rid of these super delegates? I don’t see how a couple super delegate’s opinions are worth more than thousands of people’s opinions.
OK, I’m speaking on what I’ve known as reality from living here in the DR.. I don’t know how closely monitored this is in the US. But, wouldn’t this put any temptation for corruption, or “regalitos” for the super-delegates? Nothing as obvious as here I would imagine. Or maybe not at all - I’m guessing that’s super regulated in the States, especially around election time. Any insight??
Super Delegates are right out of Orwell’s Animal Farm: “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
Gotta love political parties who don’t fully trust their members. Speaks well for how they would govern non-members.