Quick – when was the last time a political party entered its nominating convention without an official nominee? It was 1968, when the Democrats entered their very ill-fated convention in Chicago. What people remember were the huge fights and protests with the Chicago police and on the convention floor. What people have forgotten were the huge fights and protests within the Democratic party, when closed-door backroom deals gave the nomination to Hubert Humphrey, a decision that satisfied nobody except the party’s elite, led to howls of dissension among Democratic voters and a terrible candidate who lost to Nixon.
In response to Humphrey’s shellacking inside and outside the party, the McGovern-Fraser commission was established to make the process more transparent. Naturally George McGovern, who was probably planning to run for president at the time, took advantage of this to become the Democratic nominee in 1972, which became the worst Democratic loss in modern history. However, the commission’s recommendations did move the selection process from the convention (where the nominee was often decided in secret by the elite) to the primaries (where voters decide the nominee and everything is in the open). Republicans largely adopted this practice shortly afterward.
But after another huge loss in 1980, the Democrats decided to fix what wasn’t broken and initiated the superdelegate concept. The “superdelegates” is a throwback to the British House of Lords and has the possibility of usurping popular sovereignty, and causing protests in the Democratic Party that will make 1968 look like a tea party.
Superdelegates, which compose about 20% of all Democratic delegates, are basically elected party leaders that compose the establishment and the elite in local and state politics. Here in Massachusetts, superdelegates include Governor Patrick, both senators, most or all congressmen and various Democratic leaders. It’s basically a nanny system made up of the leaders to make sure the kids (the voters and regular plebian delegates) don’t go crazy making rash decisions, such as making sure the person who gets the most votes is the nominee. Superdelegates made their mark in 1984 when Gary Hart won more primaries than Walter Mondale, but Mondale had lined up all the superdelegates beforehand and was easily nominated, leading to the second worst Democratic loss in modern history. Yep, those party elites sure understand the voters.
With Obama’s February sweep, he is now leading in popular votes and delegate count, but he’s still behind in superdelegates. Since superdelegates can flip flop their votes and support, Clinton’s count here is not ironclad but she still has the party elite behind her. If neither candidate hits the 2,025 mark before the convention there will be a major fight at the convention. And it is very, very possible that the 700 or so superdelegates will then meet in secret and decide that since most of them are Clinton backers, they will make her the nominee, completely subjugating the will of the people and their own party.
Could it happen? Yes it could. I believe the Clintons will do any fair or foul trick possible to keep the party in their grip, and you may see a throwback to the smoke-filled rooms of machine- and boss-dominated politics that used to determine party candidates no matter what the people wanted. Should Obama continue his surge but Clinton maintains her role as champion of the superdelegates, there could be a true old-school convention showdown this summer.
In response to Humphrey’s shellacking inside and outside the party, the McGovern-Fraser commission was established to make the process more transparent. Naturally George McGovern, who was probably planning to run for president at the time, took advantage of this to become the Democratic nominee in 1972, which became the worst Democratic loss in modern history. However, the commission’s recommendations did move the selection process from the convention (where the nominee was often decided in secret by the elite) to the primaries (where voters decide the nominee and everything is in the open). Republicans largely adopted this practice shortly afterward.
But after another huge loss in 1980, the Democrats decided to fix what wasn’t broken and initiated the superdelegate concept. The “superdelegates” is a throwback to the British House of Lords and has the possibility of usurping popular sovereignty, and causing protests in the Democratic Party that will make 1968 look like a tea party.
Superdelegates, which compose about 20% of all Democratic delegates, are basically elected party leaders that compose the establishment and the elite in local and state politics. Here in Massachusetts, superdelegates include Governor Patrick, both senators, most or all congressmen and various Democratic leaders. It’s basically a nanny system made up of the leaders to make sure the kids (the voters and regular plebian delegates) don’t go crazy making rash decisions, such as making sure the person who gets the most votes is the nominee. Superdelegates made their mark in 1984 when Gary Hart won more primaries than Walter Mondale, but Mondale had lined up all the superdelegates beforehand and was easily nominated, leading to the second worst Democratic loss in modern history. Yep, those party elites sure understand the voters.
With Obama’s February sweep, he is now leading in popular votes and delegate count, but he’s still behind in superdelegates. Since superdelegates can flip flop their votes and support, Clinton’s count here is not ironclad but she still has the party elite behind her. If neither candidate hits the 2,025 mark before the convention there will be a major fight at the convention. And it is very, very possible that the 700 or so superdelegates will then meet in secret and decide that since most of them are Clinton backers, they will make her the nominee, completely subjugating the will of the people and their own party.
Could it happen? Yes it could. I believe the Clintons will do any fair or foul trick possible to keep the party in their grip, and you may see a throwback to the smoke-filled rooms of machine- and boss-dominated politics that used to determine party candidates no matter what the people wanted. Should Obama continue his surge but Clinton maintains her role as champion of the superdelegates, there could be a true old-school convention showdown this summer.
More Info:
You know the Democratic Party could have trouble when The Nation criticizes the superdelegate process.
A good overview in Commentary. Includes quotes from some leading Democrats on what they'll do if the superdelegates decide the nominee.
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