Why do some still believe that pledged delegates are allowed to switch?

[Iwasthere]

Pledged are pledged!

[babylonsister]

1. Because during lengthy primaries opinions can change, and do. nt

[juajen]

2. No, they are not. Donna Brazille explained this on CNN last week, and

the week before. They can move their support as stated in the rule book.

I will not be answering this again. You are wrong.

[Skink]

3. It's in the constitution...

I think. Probably it made sense when there were on 13 states.

[Recursion]

10. Party business is certainly NOT in the Constitution

For that matter the Constitution was written by people fairly bitterly opposed to a two-party system, for reasons that should at this point be all too obvious.

[Hugabear]

27. There is NOTHING in the constitution about political parties

The Constitution merely states that it's up to each state to choose its electors for president.

[JCMach1]

4. Untrue... After the first ballot, if there is no winner,

they can choose who they want.

[Henryman]

5. "pledged" is not "voted." pledges can be broken. n/t

[Vinca]

6. Hillary's problem with this is she thinks Obama's delegates

might switch to her, not the other way around (which is more likely).

[0007]

7. Why do some still believe that pledged delegates aren't allowed to switch?

That should be the question, my friend.

[dkf]

8. Yeah and the electors in the electoral college can switch too.

So the myth of one man one vote is exposed as a sham.

[Recursion]

9. Because they get to vote for whomever they want

They just do.

I'm not saying that Clinton's attempt to woo large numbers of them is politically wise or even moral, but it's not illegal or contrary to party rules.

Remember, generally for the final vote everyone votes for the nominee.

[hill_win_2008]

11. Because it makes sense

If you (delegate) haven't VOTED, then a pledge doesn't mean anything.

[tammywammy]

12. Because they can switch

It's very important to select delegates that you know are firm in their belief of a candidate, so that they won't sway.

[tokenlib]

13. All I can think of is "I'd rather fight than switch." Fragments of those old....

..cigarette commercials won't leave my head alone... Every time this issue comes up...

[IDemo]

14. They can switch, but asteroids can also fall from the heavens

The idea that pledged delegates; who are chosen specifically because of their loyalty to a candidate, are a fickle species that will change their minds at the drop of a hat is not one you should worry about or that Hillary should count on. It is not going to happen.

[CoffeeCat]

15. I'm a delegate...

I caucused for Obama, and the Obama supporters vote for pledged delegates at the caucus. Each pledged delegate is "one vote"
that represents the rest of the Obama caucus goers who showed up for the caucus.

That one delegate (or "one vote") goes on to represent Obama at the County Convention. Then, a smaller
number of delegates from the County Convention go on to District Convention. The number of delegates is
winnowed down at each Convention, until we reach the National Convention in Denver.

So, pledged delegates are chosen initially--at the caucuses--to represent the number of people who showed up to caucus
for the candidate.

Usually the notion of pledged delegates switching is not an issue, at all. This year, it's a big deal
because Hillary keeps reminding people that pledged delegates can switch. This is a rather far-reaching scheme
to keep her viable. She needs to convince people that her continued primary run is justified. So, she asserts
that she won the big states, the states with the most electoral votes--and she asserts that the pledged delegates
can switch.

Hillary is correct. The pledged delegates CAN switch. When I walked into the County Convention, no one knew who
I was or who I supported. I didn't have to sign a pledge card. I can do what I want--all the way up until the
National Convention. So, yes Hillary is correct.

However, her statements are absurd--because Obama's pledged delegates are NOT switching to her. No way in hell.
In Iowa, at our County Convention, Obama gained delegates and Hillary lost one . Obama is an alternative
candidate, for people who didn't want Hillary. Support for Obama and anti-support for Hillary has only exacerbated
among Obama delegates.

There is absolutely no reported incident of an Obama delegate switching to Hillary; nor is there an example, in ANY
state that had a caucus--of pledged delegates switching and causing Hillary to gain delegates. Not one example.

I laugh when she tries to suggest that she can get Obama's pledged delegates to switch? HOW? Unless Obama
murders someone--it's just not going to happen. And it may not even happen then! haha

That's the long answer...

[Skink]

22. So that is why Obama is Gearing up for the Presidential campaing...

Hillary is just being hypothetical to keep up with the campaign.

[crispini]

16. There are no legal consequences for pledged delegates switching.

So they CAN in fact switch. Whether or not they WILL is doubtful.

The ethical thing to do, if one finds oneself in that situation, is to drop out and let someone else take your delegate spot. In the senate district conventions last weekend, one of my friends said that in his precinct, the delegation chair switched from Clinton to Obama, but that is what she did. She let someone else have her spot.

[madfloridian]

17. I think we should just count popular vote and think electoral votes.

Let's just forget the party rules.

Pledged delegates CAN shift, but they seldom if ever do.

Only in the mind of Hillary who is reinventing the rules daily.

[RichardRay]

18. They HAVE to be able to switch, think about it...

Yes, they're expected to vote as pledged on the first ballot. If that ballot fails to select a nominee what's the alternative to delegates switching? Start over with the primaries? The first ballot tries to get a nominee. If it doesn't, it at least establishes where the strength lies. After that it's a floor fight. That means that it's really important to be able to trust the folks you send to the convention since it's up to them to make good choices at that point.

[Florida22ndDistrict]

19. re: Why do some still believe that pledged delegates are allowed to switch?

Pledged delegates are under no obligation to stick with the candidate they are pledged to. During the first ballot vote they are expected to vote for their candidate and may be removed by their candidate if thought to be disloyal prior to the vote. They are in no way legally bound to do so, but they usually stick with their candidate on the first ballot. After the first ballot vote they are set free to vote how they wish to without any threat of being removed. Many pledged delegates stick with their pledge even though they are free to stray elsewhere. With that out of the way, it is common for pledged delegates to break ranks and vote for other candidates in the event that a compromise needs to be reached. This convention will be complicated, if it is not rigged by Dean before it occurs.

[Adelante]

20. Because they ARE allowed to switch

They are selected to represent the voters of a particular candidate. They themselves are activists for that particular candidate. So it is highly irregular that it would happen. However, if events warrant it, say a candidacy unexpectedly implodes between now and then, they have the freedom to use their own judgment on what to do in the best interest of the party and the country. The only imposition in the rules that exist is that pledged delegates are guided by their conscience and act in good faith toward those who they are representing, if such a situation occurs. It is not intended that pledged delegates switch candidates just because they feel like it or for political purposes, unlike superdelegates who have more leeway.

[yellowcanine]

21. They ARE allowed to switch. In practice, few do as long as their candidate is viable.

At this point it is more likely that Clinton pledged delegates will switch.

[jasmine621]

23. Maybe because unless people can vote for their own choice it's not democracy?

Just a guess. Besides, SDs who were for most purposes "pledged" have not stuck to their own claimed morally correct vote. For, example, Kennedy will still vote for Obama and Richardson will vote for Obams despite the fact that their states went for Clinton. Same in places like NJ were several SDs have endorsed Obama and will vote for him.

[grantcart]

24. The add on super delegates that were added this week to Obama

typically had endorsed him May of last year.

They are usually the die-est of the diehards

[kwenu]

25. In Texas, pledged delegates may not switch once the state convention is held.

Don't know about other states.

[Hugabear]

26. Has this ever been tested?

Just curious.

[kwenu]

30. Not that I am aware of but the rule seems pretty clear. Failure to support the candidate that you

are pledged to will result in your being immediately stripped of your delegate status.

[otohara]

28. Thems The Rules

switching is allowed, get over it!

[L0oniX]

29. It's the same people who think there are WMD's in Iraq and that Iraq attacked us on 9/11 and...

they also think Obama is an Al qaeda sleeper.