2016 Postmortem

Chathamization

(1,638 posts)

45. Removing superdelegates means the electorate would make the decision. And 22% is higher than 20%.

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 12:38 AM

Jun 2016

Pledged delegates will vote for the presidential nominee that the electorate voted for. The electorate is more diverse than the superdelegates. So removing the superdelegates would make the people who are choosing the president more diverse. The pledged delegates aren't going to be the ones making the decision (assuming things don't go to a second ballot, but that's a separate issue).

I also thin that 22% might be a bit low - that seems to be the number from 2012. 538 is estimating 24% of the Democratic vote in November will come from African Americans. If we assume the white proportion saw the same decline over the past 4 years that it did the 4 years before that, then the superdelegates are 5% whiter than the party. If there was no decline (I doubt that, but possible), then the superdelegates are 2% whiter. They're also 58% men. Not sure how their inclusion increases diversity in the decision making process.

2016 superdelegate demographics here

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The Congressional Black Caucus objects to eliminating super delegates. Why? [View all] pnwmom Jun 2016 OP

establishment creates the rules... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #1

I was addressing the specific concerns of the CBC. The sound on my computer pnwmom Jun 2016 #2

You've typed it CBO a couple of times ... it's CBC SFnomad Jun 2016 #11

Thanks! pnwmom Jun 2016 #16

establishment creates the rules... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #14

What's wrong with grassroots activists? ZombieHorde Jun 2016 #4

What's wrong with having a convention that reflects the diversity of America? pnwmom Jun 2016 #6

My question was about the video in the post ZombieHorde Jun 2016 #25

Couple things you're missing Scootaloo Jun 2016 #44

In my state of Washington, we had caucuses attended by 230K people, pnwmom Jun 2016 #47

I live in Washington Scootaloo Jun 2016 #49

I've been writing and calling ever since the democratic party decided pnwmom Jun 2016 #50

If the Washington SD's were proportionally split I might be inclined to agree Scootaloo Jun 2016 #51

But the caucus delegates went disproportionately to Bernie. pnwmom Jun 2016 #52

No, they went appropriately and proportionally to bernie. Scootaloo Jun 2016 #56

No, it wasn't appropriate. It wasn't appropriate for the party leaders pnwmom Jun 2016 #59

grassroots... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #12

No-they were created to prevent another 1972 from happening. MADem Jun 2016 #31

Here are the facts HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #36

I know that plenty of people weren't thrilled with Carter, but the SD idea MADem Jun 2016 #42

Superdelegates look less like "America" and more like a Beverly Hills / Hamptons mixer Scootaloo Jun 2016 #46

I think the CBC disagrees with you. nt MADem Jun 2016 #55

I think that the full list of superdelegates proves such disagreement quite meaningless Scootaloo Jun 2016 #57

'plenty of people'.... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #48

SDs have opinions, like we all do, and their minds CAN and are changed. MADem Jun 2016 #54

...deflection... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #58

It's not deflection.SD haven't overturned the will of the people. That is fact. MADem Jun 2016 #61

...deflection... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #65

The super delegates correctly predicted MyNameGoesHere Jun 2016 #71

...now the pivot... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #72

When a candidate is polling at 60 plus percent MyNameGoesHere Jun 2016 #76

This isn't addressing what the OP is asking. Raine1967 Jun 2016 #7

I'm giving a perspective and background... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #9

Does your video specifically address the concerns of the CBC -- or just of pnwmom Jun 2016 #18

it concerns the larger context of what the CBC is considered by many within DEM party... HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #23

Interesting. Evergreen Emerald Jun 2016 #3

Trump IS a "cautionary tale" -- if you will. MADem Jun 2016 #27

Exactly. Watch the Repubs come up with a SD system after their epic Trump loses of 2016. FSogol Jun 2016 #80

This might help: Raine1967 Jun 2016 #5

Thank you -- yes, that passage addresses this directly. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #8

It was interesting to me reading that article. It reminded me of the Film on HBO: *All The Way* Raine1967 Jun 2016 #17

I'm sure the GOP wishes they had them! pnwmom Jun 2016 #20

I agree with them--I want them to weigh in. They deserve input. nt MADem Jun 2016 #28

I don't see how this would impact that percent of African Americans either way dsc Jun 2016 #10

This isn't true for the Senate, is it? How many black people come from a state pnwmom Jun 2016 #13

the Senate has one black Democrat and only three living former black Demcorats dsc Jun 2016 #15

Well, 1 is better than none. And adding the 43 ensures that there will be at least pnwmom Jun 2016 #22

But people are talking around the issue and using uncertain proxies. Igel Jun 2016 #78

Cory Booker is the only Dem incumbent. Mo Cowan was a temporary appointee, MADem Jun 2016 #29

as to women dsc Jun 2016 #19

That didn't happen at my caucus in WA. There was no concern as to gender. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #26

JOHN CONYERS is not--repeat NOT--a Senator. He's a Congressman. MADem Jun 2016 #21

Sorry! So it's Corey Booker, right? pnwmom Jun 2016 #24

Yes, for us! And the Republicans have Tim Scott. MADem Jun 2016 #30

Once again, you have it completely wrong Android3.14 Jun 2016 #32

You are overlooking the fact that black people comprise 22% of Democrats. pnwmom Jun 2016 #33

Your point, underlined in the OP, is incorrect Android3.14 Jun 2016 #67

Let's assume the #s are right. Igel Jun 2016 #79

They're not representing the entire country. They're representing Democrats. TwilightZone Jun 2016 #37

Not sure I understand your point - if the establishment is less diverse than the electorate, then Chathamization Jun 2016 #34

No. Eliminating the black super-delegates would make the overall body pnwmom Jun 2016 #35

"White men hold superdelegate power balance" - Politico, 2008 Chathamization Jun 2016 #38

You have more faith than I do in the process producing a more representative pnwmom Jun 2016 #40

If we had the electorate decide (no supers), we would have a more diverse and representative group Chathamization Jun 2016 #41

We have about 20% AA delegates now, compared to 22% of Dems -- INCLUDING super delegates. pnwmom Jun 2016 #43

Removing superdelegates means the electorate would make the decision. And 22% is higher than 20%. Chathamization Jun 2016 #45

The CBC is comprised of incumbents; superdelegates protect incumbents from grassroots activists. Vote2016 Jun 2016 #39

From a mathematical perspective it doesn't hold true PaulaFarrell Jun 2016 #53

That would only be true if pledged delegates were magically more diverse. pnwmom Jun 2016 #60

but they are more diverse PaulaFarrell Jun 2016 #69

Gee, the DNC has put some effort into increasing outreach to create more LGBT delegates because Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #81

I'm not sure that this system leads to greater representation for African Americans. David__77 Jun 2016 #62

That percent is a percent of the total, including superdelegates. pnwmom Jun 2016 #64

I think that African Americans might comprise <26% of senators/house members. David__77 Jun 2016 #66

Because super delegates are less diverse than the body of regular delegates TheKentuckian Jun 2016 #83

Yeah, no getting rid of SuperDs... Thank you, Cha Jun 2016 #63

I have less of a problem with superdelegates than I do with their vast number. John Poet Jun 2016 #68

If you're going to argue that SDs Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #70

More importantly they object to "open primaries." This is their main gripe with BS glennward Jun 2016 #73

Ironic in that the current rules were set up Warren Stupidity Jun 2016 #74

The DNC was planning to make the nominating process less democratic Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #75

Posted to for later. 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2016 #77

I would say that if Democratic Primary Voters actually want more Black representation.... Armstead Jun 2016 #82

I don't endorse the use of super delegates at all. avaistheone1 Jun 2016 #84

The primary is frontloaded with southern "black belt" states. LeftyMom Jun 2016 #85

Because they are themselves super delegates AgingAmerican Jun 2016 #86