The Congressional Black Caucus 'vehemently' opposes Sanders' call to abolish superdelegates.(HRC GP)

[Her Sister]

Last edited Mon Jun 20, 2016, 08:25 AM - Edit history (2)

Sanders collides with black lawmakers
The Congressional Black Caucus 'vehemently' opposes Sanders' call to abolish superdelegates.

Bernie Sanders is on a crash course with the Congressional Black Caucus.
In a letter sent to both the Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns, the CBC is expressing its resolute opposition to two key reforms demanded by Sanders in the run-up to the Democratic convention: abolishing the party’s superdelegate system and opening Democratic primaries up to independents and Republicans.


"The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states," says the letter, which was obtained by POLITICO. "The Democratic Party benefits from the current system of unpledged delegates to the National Convention by virtue of rules that allow members of the House and Senate to be seated as a delegate without the burdensome necessity of competing against constituents for the honor of representing the state during the nominating process."

The letter — which was also sent to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz — follows a Wednesday CBC meeting where members discussed for over an hour the impact of eliminating superdelegates on the African-American community, according to CBC Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.).

"We passed a resolution in our caucus that we would vehemently oppose any change in the superdelegate system because members of the CBC might want to participate in the Democratic convention as delegates but if we would have to run for the delegate slot at the county level or state level or district level, we would be running against our constituents and we're not going to do that,” said Butterfield. “But we want to participate as delegates and that's why this superdelegates system was created in the beginning, so members would not have to run against their own constituents."

The opposition to open primaries is based on the fear that allowing independent or Republican voters to participate in Democratic primaries would dilute minority voting strength in many places.

Much more in link: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/bernie-sanders-black-caucus-superdelegates-224502

Here is the CBC letter: http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000155-6a23-dbd7-a5d5-fe6f76ef0000

Here is the 2nd letter which is attached ~ By James E. Clyburn D-SC: http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000155-69c5-d0c4-a1fd-fbc710260001

HRC GROUP! For supporters only.

[liberal N proud]

1. Good!

The SD's are there to protect the party from outsiders.

[Gothmog]

2. I can see why the CBC is opposing this resolution

[sheshe2]

3. Sorry.

Didn't see yours.

I posted in GDP, the one and only time I posted there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512205977

[Her Sister]

9. I replied there. Like you, I also don't go to GDP!

Don't see the sense in arguing with Republicans and learnt that there was no sense this year doing the same with BS supporters.

[Cha]

29. I'm glad you posted it here in Hill's Group, HS.. I wouldn't have seen it elsewhere. Besides

lots of OPs get posted in more than one Group.

Mahalo, this is excellent News.. WE are on the same page as the CBC!

YAY.. Do NOT get rid of the SuperDels just because BS wants them gone. IF the SDs went for
BS we would NOT be having this conversation.

[stopbush]

6. So, since it's the CBC, you make assumptions worthy of a R.

Sad.

[MichMan]

10. Politicians are politicians....

I generally make assumptions that politicians quite frequently readily abandon principle in favor of their own self interests.

[Cha]

28. Well, you're wrong.. just because some do.. you do not get to broadbrush them in Hill's Group.

It's an asinine assumption.

[sheshe2]

15. This is the Hillary GROUP!

Bernie is that away. <

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. Your racism is showing. Tread lightly.

[Cha]

27. They would have gone with it like they're going with them being behind Hillary now. But that

didn't happen, did it.

We deal in reality here in Hillary's Group.

And, what are you even going on about.. "can't burden them"? Super Dels are there for a reason as a back up safety net.. Hillary didn't need them.

First BS excoriated them.. then he tried to flip them.. when that didn't work.. he wanted them gone. Who cares what he has to say about it? He's just whining because they didn't go for him.

How dare you come in Hillary's Group and insult the CBC.

[DemonGoddess]

5. Good!

I agree with them. The SDs are there to protect the party, for one. And OPEN primaries only open up the process to ratfuckery. We want Democrats selecting the Democratic nominee.

[bluestateguy]

8. Open primaries gave us Geoffrey Fieger in Michigan and Alvin Greene in South Carolina

So, yes.

[bluestateguy]

7. I frown upon the use of superdelegates

There should be no SD's on the 1st ballot at the convention.

But the rules should be changed for 2020, as they are already set in place for this year.

[FloridaBlues]

19. Why can the elected official have subgroup of eleceted delegates

[Lucinda]

11. That is a good point, and one that I had never considered!

Thankie!

[sheshe2]

12. K&R

Thanks Her Sister.

You either belong to a party and/ or join in the primary or you do not. You know the rules or you do not. If one does not know the rules, they are not an informed voter.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. The CBC is absolutely right, and I agree with them 1000%, but I want the caucuses abolished.

[BlueCaliDem]

47. SDs should stay; caucuses should go; and primaries should be closed. These are the changes I believe

are beneficial to the Democratic Party in the future.

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. Agreed.

[BlueMTexpat]

14. I am proud to stand with the CBC in re

both of these issues.

If the party as a whole at some point wishes to revamp the SD process, then that could and should be discussed and voted upon within the party membership. But it should never be considered as a demand or condition from the loser in a Presidential primary.

ALL primaries should be closed. Period. If Independents wish to vote in Dem primaries, then they can register as Dems. It's easy enough to do. In fact, I know several who did just that in MD. But the individuals I know who did that all voted for Hillary.

[Her Sister]

17. Especially a loser who is not even a Democrat and is going back to his Independent status

as soon as he "really" gets back to doing his job.

[Haveadream]

16. Open primaries could destroy Democratic candidates in red states

And southern state Dems know that reality very well. At this point, it is all they can do to hold on to their votes in state controlled elections.

(Reposting from GDP)

Such an important issue, Her Sister! Thank you for posting and thank you to CBC!

[skylucy]

20. Good for them! I agree! So glad they are speaking up and I

hope they aren't the only ones.

[Thinkingabout]

21. Perhaps seek to change congress attitude on gun control.

[stopbush]

22. Real Ds are standing up to the sore loser usurper.

Good.

[workinclasszero]

23. Of course these moves by Sanders are a naked attempt

to strip power in the democratic party away from the Obama coalition...women and PoC.

He means to destroy the democratic party as is and replace it with libertarians, greens, disaffected tea baggers and independents.

The CBC and all democrats have every right to be righteously angry about Sanders bold attempt at destroying the democratic party then rebuilding it in his image.

[BootinUp]

26. No, Tell us what you REALLY think, lol.

I am done thinking about Sanders and his motivations. So done, you wouldn't believe it.

[Cha]

37. Thank you, Working! Well Done!

[wisteria]

24. Great. I think most Democrsts see the problems

Associated with doing away with Super Delegates.

[radical noodle]

25. I see no reason to end Superdelegates

They're there for good reasons and the chance of them voting in a big block against someone who didn't do well in the primaries is really unlikely. The reasoning in this article makes sense to me.

I do wish that we'd get rid of some of the caucuses or change the way they're done somehow. So many people are left out of those.

[Cha]

32. BS is just haveing a snit fit 'cause they didn't go for him.

[radical noodle]

33. And rightly so, Cha!

Early in the campaign he complained that the Super Delegates should not vote for someone who didn't win the Pledged Delegates. Then later when Hillary won the Pledged Delegates, he totally flipped and said that the Supers should vote for him because he was more electable. Hypocrisy, thy name is Bernie.

[Cha]

35. Yeah, desperately grasping at straws.. not a pretty sight.

Now he's wasting taxpayers money on his SS detail by not dropping out.. There's no more Primaries left and he has no excuses for Wasting MORE of our MONEY.

Mahalo, rad

[Gothmog]

30. Super delegates are a part of the democratic party for a reason

I am not surprised that the CBC is taking a strong position on this issue

[Cha]

36. I'm so grateful they are.. It would be stupid to get rid of SDs because the Loser said so.

If they had gone for BS we would not be having this conversation.

[Cha]

31. Bottom Line .. newcomer and Loser of the 2016 Democdratic Primary Election doesn't

get to dictate terms.

The CBC has been in the Democratic Party for a long time and they've earned our trust.

"We passed a resolution in our caucus that we would vehemently oppose any change in the superdelegate system because members of the CBC might want to participate in the Democratic convention as delegates but if we would have to run for the delegate slot at the county level or state level or district level, we would be running against our constituents and we're not going to do that,” said Butterfield. “But we want to participate as delegates and that's why this superdelegates system was created in the beginning, so members would not have to run against their own constituents."

The opposition to open primaries is based on the fear that allowing independent or Republican voters to participate in Democratic primaries would dilute minority voting strength in many places.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/bernie-sanders-black-caucus-superdelegates-224502

And, I would like to take another opportunity to thank them and their Constituents for Voting for Hillary! And, President Barack Obama.. we owe them our Country! They get out and VOTE!

Mahalo, HS.. the CBC makes perfect sense~

[radical noodle]

34. THIS ^^^^ eom

[Her Sister]

39. Am so glad real Democrats are speaking out!

We won't be cowed by non-democrats who want to weaken our Party!

[Cha]

40. I know! this news is so heartwarming... I do not want them to get rid of SuperDs.

BS is just whining about them because they didn't go for him. That's no reason to change our rules... sanders just wants to throw his damn weight around.

Thank you CBC for not letting it happen on your watch if you have anything to say about it.

Mahalo again, HS~

[Her Sister]

43. I added the 2 CBC letters to the OP and below.

[Cha]

44. Thank you, HS! Who are you going to trust.. James Clyburn who has

been involved in this for decades and has sound reasoning for his positions.. or BS who wouldn't even be bringing this up if he had won?

P.S. I adore Rep James Clyburn!

[Cha]

38. Kicking this!

[Her Sister]

41. Here is the CBC letter: http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000155-6a23-dbd7-a5d5-fe6f76ef0000

June 18, 2016
An Open Letter to our Democratic Colleagues and Party Leaders
To: Secretary Hillary Clinton
Senator Bernie Sanders
Hon. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, Chair, DNC
Hon. Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader
Senator Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Leader

To Whom It May Concern:

The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any
suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National
Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states.
The Democratic Party benefits from the current system of unpledged delegates to the National
Convention by virtue of rules that allow members of the House and Senate to be seated as a delegate
without the burdensome necessity of competing against constituents for the honor of representing the
state during the nominating process.

The origin of the unpledged delegate selection process authored by Congressman James E. Clyburn, DSC
is attached to this letter. It accurately chronicles the use of the unpledged delegate system and sets
out with particularity the reasons why this system was enacted many years ago. The system of allowing
members of Congress to serve as unpledged delegates has worked quite well. There is no need to
succumb to the pressure of a few individuals to make this change. We oppose any change to the
current delegate selection process for members of Congress.

The CBC is opposed to any state nominating system that would allow independent or Republican voters
to participate in a Democratic Primary. The Democratic Party primary is the process used by the party to
allow political aspirants to compete for their party’s nomination. Allowing independent or Republican
voters to participate in the Democratic primary would dilute minority voting strength in many districts
across the country.

Finally, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus respectfully request that we be included in any
discussion that will change the system of unpledged delegates. In addition, we should be included in
any discussion that would seek to change the nominating rules to open primaries. These are significant
issues that directly affects our ability to effectively participate in the political process.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
G.K. Butterfield
G. K. Butterfield, Chairman
Democratic Caucus of the Congressional Black Caucus

Here is the CBC letter: http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000155-6a23-dbd7-a5d5-fe6f76ef0000

[Her Sister]

42. Here is the 2nd letter which is attached ~ By James E. Clyburn D-SC.

http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000155-69c5-d0c4-a1fd-fbc710260001

[TwilightZone]

45. As I noted in another thread, the SDs are there to avoid situations like Donald Trump.

The GOP is wishing that they had SDs similar to ours right about now.

[Quayblue]

46. Kick