Perfect End to Democratic Primary: Anonymous Superdelegates Declare Winner Through Media

[kadaholo]

This is the perfect symbolic ending to the Democratic Party primary: The nomination is consecrated by a media organization, on a day when nobody voted, based on secret discussions with anonymous establishment insiders and donors whose identities the media organization — incredibly — conceals. The decisive edifice of superdelegates is itself anti-democratic and inherently corrupt: designed to prevent actual voters from making choices that the party establishment dislikes. But for a party run by insiders and funded by corporate interests, it’s only fitting that its nomination process ends with such an ignominious, awkward, and undemocratic sputter.

None of this is to deny that Hillary Clinton — as was always the case from the start — is highly likely to be the legitimately chosen winner of this process. It’s true that the party’s governing rules are deliberately undemocratic; unfair and even corrupt decisions were repeatedly made by party officials to benefit Clinton; and the ostensibly neutral Democratic National Committee (led by the incomparably heinous Debbie Wasserman Schultz) constantly put not just its thumb but its entire body on the scale to ensure she won. But it’s also true that under the long-standing rules of the party, more people who voted preferred Clinton as their nominee over Sanders. Independent of superdelegates, she just got more votes. There’s no denying that.

And just as was true in 2008 with Obama’s nomination, it should be noted that standing alone — i.e., without regard to the merits of the candidate — Clinton’s nomination is an important and positive milestone. Americans, being Americans, will almost certainly overstate its world significance and wallow in excessive self-congratulations: Many countries on the planet have elected women as their leaders, including many whose close family member had not previously served as president. Nonetheless, the U.S. presidency still occupies an extremely influential political and cultural position in the world. Particularly for a country with such an oppressive history on race and gender, the election of the first African-American president and nomination of the first female presidential candidate of a major party is significant in shaping how people all over the world, especially children, view their own and other people’s potential and possibilities. But that’s all the more reason to lament this dreary conclusion.

That the Democratic Party nominating process is declared to be over in such an uninspiring, secretive, and elite-driven manner is perfectly symbolic of what the party, and its likely nominee, actually is. The one positive aspect, though significant, is symbolic, while the actual substance — rallying behind a Wall Street-funded, status quo-perpetuating, multimillionaire militarist — is grim in the extreme. The Democratic Party got exactly the ending it deserved.


https://theintercept.com/2016/06/07/perfect-end-to-democratic-primary-anonymous-super-delegates-declare-winner-through-media/

[geek tragedy]

1. this is shockingly gracious considering it came from Greenwald

I agree that the superdelegate thing needs to go.

That seems like a very worthy prize to offer Sanders supporters, a clear example of reform.

Dump superdelegates, dump restricted-hours caucuses, and everyone leaves happy.

[tonyt53]

2. As opposed to a caucus, the right to a secret ballot vote is the basis of our country.

Nothing like going to a caucus and getting pushed to vote for somebody you don't want, and this is the very reason those caucuses were not a big hit and most people stayed away. The Democratic Party will do just fine. It has survived for years without whiners and will survive for many more.

[TwilightZone]

5. Superdelegates aren't anonymous. Greenwald knows better.

Intentional ignorance is not a compelling trait in a "journalist".

[Beowulf]

6. Pretty close to my sentiments

[Jarqui]

8. +1

Seems like a final nail in my disillusionment with the party and process.

[merrily]

7. Anyone who thinks this primary will have no backlash is kidding himself or herself.

I don't give a frappe what you tell each other or yourselves on message boards, real life and long-term damage has been done. If you can't see that, it's your problem.

[dana_b]

9. they just ripped way ANY possibility of unity

and still have their heads in the sand that we will somehow "fall in line" because of big, bad Trump.

[merrily]

10. I was not even thinking about 2016.

[R B Garr]

11. There is nothing disillusioning about this process. These are the same superdelegates Sanders'

wants to subvert the will of the people to crown him instead of the candidate who actually won through popular votes and the most pledged delegates. But they went with Hillary instead, obviously after the commanding win she had in PR.

Changing things going forward is a goal, but Clinton abided by this same process in 2008 that didn't favor her. So it can be done. Where was Sanders' crying about it then? Oh, he was endorsing the winner -- Barack Obama.

[felix_numinous]

12. Consent

has never been the goal. How the establishment has treated one of the most honest, inspiring and respected representatives in a long time has informed younger generations, and this lesson in how democracy 'works' in the US will NOT INSPIRE them to participate in the usual manners.

HOW on EARTH do you inspire people to vote and participate in democracy when it is not being ALLOWED? I am sure, when the normal channels have been closed off many people will become radicalized--making us ALL more unsafe and creating a greater chance of a militarized response. It is what we supposed to fear with Trump, but we can see that Clinton isn't far off using such ruthless means.

[Octafish]

13. Yay, Oligarchs!

These two make millions off UBS, thanks to Phil Gramm and their work repealing Glass-Steagall and stuff.



UBS! UBS! UBS!



Corporate McPravda

[msongs]

14. truthful ending = candidate with millions more votes wins. loser fights democratically

determined outcome with tricks

[chervilant]

15. "...legitimately chosen winner of this process"?!?

Puh-leeze!

The corporate oligarchs drive this Kabuki Theater, and they don't want Bernie Sanders anywhere NEAR the White House. So, brazenly and deceitfully, they've let We the People see just how far they'll go to insure their candidate(s) gets chosen.

I am thoroughly disgusted.

[AzDar]

16. ... the night before the largest state in the Country VOTES. Fucking DESPICABLE.

[BKH70041]

17. Super-delegates were created for a purpose.

They're doing what they were created to do. The rank & file sometimes can get a little over-the-top and need to be properly tended. The system works. We'll keep it.

[Straw Man]

19. Somewhat ironic ...

The rank & file sometimes can get a little over-the-top and need to be properly tended.

... on a site called Democratic Underground, no?

[Kermitt Gribble]

20. Wow, DWS, is that you?? n/t

[JEB]

18. You little people needn't bother actually voting.

We of the $12,495.00 dollar jacket tribe have taken care of everything. Prepare your children to fight and die in the next war for profit.