Who will decide the Democratic Party's nomination?
Leslie Sanchez
GOP Strategist and 360 Contributor
My friend Donna Brazile is upset with me.
On Tuesday night, I explained that Hillary Clinton’s presidential aspiration will ultimately rise or fall on the deal making that will occur among the Democratic Party elite in smokeless back rooms at the Denver convention.
When I spoke this truth on CNN, Donna looked at me like those were fighting words. She pointed out that she is a “superdelegate.
”Well, Donna, I respect you greatly and I know you’re not an elitist, but it’s not you I am talking about. Nevertheless, you are defending a system that gives the insiders—rather than the people—final say over who will be your Party’s nominee.
In Denver, Hillary has several options open to her. She can twist the arms of “superdelegates.” She can force a floor fight over the seating of the disputed delegations from Florida and Michigan, both of which are in her pocket.
The folks who pull the levers of the machinery that makes all this work are, by and large, in debt to one or both Clintons for something.
For Hillary Clinton it’s not about the wishes and aspirations, hopes and dreams of millions of Democratic voters across the country. It’s about the deal she can cut with the Democratic Party elite (meaning elected officials and party bosses) to get her the nomination.
There are some—like my friend Donna—who don’t play that game. But most of the superdelegates are professional politicians. And as longtime FDR aide Louis Howe once said, “You can’t adopt politics as a profession and remain honest.”
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Filed under: Leslie Sanchez • Raw Politics |
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I find Ms. Sanchez amusing in a sad sort of way. She would not know the truth if she had a head-on collision with it. The Queen of Republican spin. As far as elitist, the Republican Party, Bush inc., has absolutely no room for comment. Bush, Cheney, "Rummy", all humble folks Leslie? No sense of entitlement there right? Alberto Gonzalez, great civil libertarian? Republican concern for the Latin community, especially the poor, what a joke.
The people who are most afraid of the african-american backlash if Obama, the reactionary politician, is not the candidate.
It is plainly clear that the mathematics does not support Mrs. Clinton's intention to stay in the race. If she cannot read this, then what sort of President will she make?
I disagree with Leslie. The deal has already gone down in favor of Obama, with the help and influence of the GOP who want him one on one against McCain in November because they know he is weak and not trust worthy to millions of Americans who think he still green and lacks the character and experience to lead this Country in such difficult times. All the polls show that Democrats nation wide preferred Hillary over Obama, especially in states that matter; BLUE states which Obama has failed to persuade voters to buy into his so called message of change.
If Obama is GIVEN the nominated, a lot of Hillary's supporters will abandon ship and cross to the McCain side. All McCain needs to do is move a little to the center 'which he is already doing' and he will win in November.
I must agree that Republicans are much smarter than Democrats. They calculated the adds against the candidates and decided that as long as Hillary was defeated the GOP had a chance so they chose to invest in Obama by helping me pile up all those delegates in RED states, and possible with money. This was quite evident in NC and IN where about 20% of Republicans voted in the Democratic primary to help Obama win the nomination there; they almost succeeded.
Any way, I will vote for McCain if HRC gives in to the media pressure..
why not have control of an out of control thing, the primary for the dems makes no sense and has no real meaning, the super delegates make the primary have sense and they are there to protect the party, right now all that matters is november, thats it
You were rude to Donna, and since you are a member of a party that has set this country back who are you to be analyzing the Democrats. I am glad that Donna came back at you. You should be spending your time trying to repair your own party who has lost credibility with the majority of the American people. "Smoke-filled back rooms", sounds like the Republicans trying to pull one over on the American people and start needless war.
First of all Hillary will not become president. There is no way that the super delegates will go against the popular vote and pledged delegates and most states won. I respect Hillary for all her hard work as she is the first lady to run for president. However, she is fooling her supporters. I believe that she is staying in this race to raise the money that she loaned her campaign. Yet she is worried about the middle class while she is taking your money to pay her debt. Hillary it is over please go while you still have your dignity and respect
Thank you (sincerely), Leslie, for your brutal honesty. Hillary Clinton will stop at nothing to get this nomination. Absolutely nothing. She has no intention of getting out before the last lawsuit has been thrown out of court during the Denver convention. All of those who are talking about her "negotiating a graceful exit" are just wasting oxygen. I hit the "mute" button whenever I hear her going into the "I'll fight for you" lies on my TV. Talk about fairy tales.
obama has nto won the primary yet, he will need to the super delegates for that and so sould hillary, they need to pick who will win in november
response to "Bree" –
If you live in Obama's state, you don't need to research that his ethics bill was weaker than what conservatives such as Jim DeMint proposed; why isn't cnn pointing that fact out? And Obama tagged along with Republicans on a few bills that WOULD HAVE PASSED with or without his support. The programs Obama pushes for are made possible by successful, productive Americans. That's socialism, and yes, it's "change" but not good change.
But I guess if you look good in a suit, can read a teleprompter better than Barbara Walters and repeat "change", "hope", "unity", and "yes, we can" four million times, that makes you appealing to those interested in style over character and experience.
I said before and i will say it again. The only way H. Clinton could have scratch through in Indiana is to steel the elcection.
Her partner in crime Rush Limbaugh .
"cnn" Did not post my comment because they new ity was the truth.
What happened>>> She again did not win the damn election in
Pa or IN.
CNN You you can take that to the bank
It's over. Take a clue from Obama. The battle is now McCentury.
And electing DEMs down ticket in massive quantities.
Time Magazine has decided the winner...haven't you seen the latest cover with a picture of a grinning Obama and has been shown on CNN?
My husband and I have always been Republican, but have recently changed to the Democratic party. If Hillary Clinton can manipulate the rules in Florida and Michigan, it's scary to think who and what she could manipulate as President. Need I say who's getting our votes.
This election has been about gender, age, race and media pandering more than about character and policy. America is in dire need of leadership from the most experinced people. It looks like the usual reasons for voting have been sent down the drain.
If Obama is on the November ballot, McCain will receive over 60% of the votes.
I've come to the conclusion that we can only bridge this gap of the "racial divide" by having the two supercandidates, Hillary and Barak -come together - otherwise, we'll have endless debate, misunderstandings and controversy.
i'm for a combined Obama-Clinton administration!! We need both the "visionary" candidate and the "economic steward" candidate; together, they collectively represent the entire democratic party.
i may be a "dreamer" - but a united party is a strong party, too strong for any other party to move or displace.
Both the premises and conclusions of Leslie are wrong. Her arguments are not in line with what is unfolding on the ground since Tuesday. Obama has cut the superdelegate gap to just 7. This is a strong evidence to attest that the game will be over before Denver. Maybe Leslie, as a Republican, is arguing on her wishes than realities.
OBAMA HAS THE VOTES TO WIN THE NOMINATION. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS ANOTHER MATTER. HILLARY CLINTON WON THE BIG STATES WITH BIG ELECTORAL VOTES. IF OBAMA HAS A SHORT LIST FOR HIS VP CHOICE, HILLARY CLINTON WOULD BE AT THE TOP AND OBAMA WOULD HAVE TO ASK HER TO RUN AS HIS VP. .THERE IS NO OTHER CANDIDATE OR NON-CANDIDATE FOT THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES THAT HAS MORE VOTES OR MORE CLOUT THAN HILLARY. THE HISPANIC VOTE IS SOLIDLY VOR HILLARY. NOW THINK ABOUT OHIO
PENNSYLVANIA, FLORIDA, KENTUCKY, CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK .AND YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS TO PUT OBAMA OVER THE TOP. THE MATH IS THERE. WITHOUT HILLARY ON THE TICKET,
OBAMA CAN KISS HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT , GOODBYE.
WE, HILLARY SUPPORTERS URGE HILLARY TO ACCEPT THE VP SPOT IF SHE DOES NOT GET THE NOMINATION FOR THE TOP SPOT.. SHE WILL BE AN EASY SUCCESSOR TO OBAMA AFTER THE NEXT 8 YEARS.
before this ever began i knew that Hilary was going to run in 08. I knew then what i know now that bill and hill are a "team" . i did not know how devious and calculating she was. In the beginning i was thinking of voting for her. By Super Tuesday i had changed my mind and voted for Obama. By this time, I am even more behind Obama anddaily disgusted with Hilary. A career politician means to me someone who would put anything on the line in order to justify their aspirations. I look to see what kind of a human being a person is. I have seen this clearly in this race. Hilary acting like she could lower the gas prcies this summer ( you're not president yet honey)....Obama being attacked for what his pastor said (and not dumping him until that same pastor decided to go on national television and imply that Obama would of course lie as any politician does) Now that's ethical.
And what about Hilary signing a pledge to keep Florida and Michigan out and then trying to reverse it when she learns that she won the delegates in those states (with Obama not even on the ballot!)?
How dishonest can you get? I was a Clinton supporter until the day he stood up and said "I did not have sex with that woman". I didn't care if had sex with anyone...i did care that he decided to lie about it. And he didn't lie about it because of Hilary ( i am convinced she knew and didn't care). He lied to us the American people because he wanted to and because he thought he could.
I don't want another 8 years of the Clinton's. I want something fresh, new, hopeful and most of all honest.
Xtina:
Maybe you should conduct a little research – wikipedia even – before you make false statements. In the IL state legislature:
Obama "gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws. He sponsored a law increasing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare. Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained." (wikipedia)
In the senate, Obama has partnered with MY state senator, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Tom Coburn AND Chuck Hagel!
Spider:
Thank you, but I am indeed in the 21st century, but the phrase "smoke-filled back rooms" has its origins much before this time and I for one did not manipulate in order to send some politically-charged message.
At this point, pull straws to decide who wins the nomination. I'm so sick of this race. Hillary is still viable and will be until the end. She is more electable in the general. Many people didn't vote in primaries who will in the actual election, and I'd guess her message and experience will resonate more than that of an eager beaver wannabe with extremely limited experience on the federal level and lots of unknowns we really deserve to know. Besides, she can pull more electoral votes than Obama and we all know that electorals are what wins, not the popular vote. This needs to run its course, go to convention, and be decided by the supers (who were established to handle situations like this). And guess what? Back room politics is part of politics. It happens all the time at all levels. It might not be right. But it is. Everyone needs to accept reality and move on. Honestly, too many people benefit for anyone to seriously want to change and risk losing what they get from cutting deals in the back room.
I can't just understand why Obama can't see the big picture?? The voters have sent him a big message and that don't want him! What is it going to take for him to drop out?? Hillary is winning and working hard everyday to bring this party together! Cnn needs to stop with the negective reporting. We will never vote for Obama and if we have to will go right ahead and vote for McCain. No problem
as of now the democratic party has a failed primary system, this system needs to change, I'm not saying the super delegates are a good idea but the reason for them is, the reason they are here is for exactly what is taking place today, the primary process today makes no sense, each state is different in the way they vote and determine the delegates, the primary should be run like a general election plain and simple, why have one different from the other, in the general election you don't have caucuses or divided up votes, in the general election you vote in the state and win the state, also the number of delegates should be the same for both a primary and general, why would you have a difference in delegates that makes no sense, all that your doing is setting up your self for failure, the super delegates were made for that reason, because a primary doesn't always give you a true winner or someone who would win in a general election, so super delegates are there to make sure that we win a general election not a primary, they have the responsibility to choose the right person who would win the right states to ensure a democratic president, lets say we have someone who wins mostly small states, a lot of caucuses, and doesn't win the real democratic states that we need to win, so it is up to the super delegates to make sure we can win, looking at that resume that someone would have a hard time winning a general election, the super delegates must choose the one who will win, not the one who had a good primary, so until they change the rules which they must do, the super delegates are there to ensure we have our best chance at winning
I truly hope people will ask themselves whether it is important to unite the Democrats and follow the will of the primary voters thereby winning the White house or to allow McCain to steal the election by demanding our candidate Clinton right or wrong.
Spider
I certainly was not deriding ambition when I remarked on the fact that the Clintons are and have been career politicians. A politician in that sense of the word is someone who has cast aside integrity, ethics and a real belief system and instead embraced the "say what I need to", "believe what is expedient" personality because power and getting elected are what is important.
Very rarely, a person with integrity, honesty and ethics comes along who is also electable( usually integrity and honesty are handicaps in politics) and Obama, like Lincoln seems to have that combination. As for experience, career politicians discard integrity and honesty at the door and "experience" steals it away from the rest. I'll take good judgement, honesty and ambition over "experience" any day.
Half the Democratic party has supported her. I think it's ridiculous that people have been crying for months for her to quit. How UNdemocratic can the cry babies be? For crying out loud, my vote should count as much as yours and I don't want your candidate. Let the people speak. Every state should matter and there shouldn't be a delegate count EVER, PERIOD. Between delegates and electoral votes they don't even need voters. And we've seen in elections past that just because the people vote for you doesn't mean you get to be the president. The system is broken and all these Dems yelling for HRC to quit are just breaking it more.
CNN news report Obama in jeans. Then they report mistakes Hillary has made. You can't tell me that the press has not shown gender bias. Who writes that crap? Was it the end of your shift and you couldn't come up with any thing else to write about but a man in jeans. There's something wrong with this on so many levels.
how can anyone say Obama will "bring the country together" when:
-he failed to bring anybody together as a Senator
-he failed to make any "change" as IL Senator in the state
-he belongs to a church that is not bringing anybody "together" , in fact they publish the Black Values System. Only Blacks need apply.
-his voting record is along party lines, not bi-partisan
Obama can't even unify half the liberals; how is he going to unify the whole country? The only "change" Obama will bring is partial birth abortion, trillion dollar tax hike, bigger government and drivers' licenses for illegals.
Leslie:
Hillary isn't going to make it to Denver. This ended Tuesday night.
Hi Leslie, I do agree with your assessment to a point. Hillary truly wants to be the next President of the U.S. She believes that she will be a better President and will attempt to twist the last super delegate arm remaining to try to get the Democratic nomination, but I believe that she will fall short. Where I disagree with you is on your point that powerful democrats owe the Clintons. Perhaps true, but if anyone owed the Clinton’s, it was Governor William Blaine "Bill" Richardson III of New Mexico, and we all know his method of repayment. Not!
She is running to win, but she will not, but she has to fight hard through the last primary. We are approaching the Olympics, and could you image if runners who realized as they entered the final turn that they were too far behind to win, and therefore just pulled up and walked off the track? The stadium would empty in a heartbeat and those runners would be reviled.
Barack will win the Democratic nomination. He will pick someone other than Hillary as his VP running mate. Hillary will support his nomination.
In the end, it will be as close as Bush v Gore 1, but will likely go to McCain. It may even be another case where the democrat wins the popular vote, but the republican wins the electoral vote. Hopefully, nothing as stupid as Florida 2000 occurs.
Leslie, if as you say you can't be a politician and be honest, it does not say much more about political stategists like you who advise and devise all the game plans for them.
i will loose confidence in the system if hillart lets florida and michigan seated because if they do that then you can say that rules can be broken by anyone. This is worst of politics i have seen where they were all told not to hold primarties and still did it will be wrong message to people that leave by the rules.
The American Voters, which I am one. A white Catholi Female over 60!
If Hillary wants Michigan and Florida to count, first of all Michigan should have a revote with all the canidates names on the ballot and Florida should be split! And, Hillary should have to pay for Michigans revote. As she agreed that because they moved their dates, they new the rules and now she (Hillary) is blaming everyone else about this process!
Also, Hillary's degrading and disgusting remarks about the, so called,
uneducated white blue collar americans, and that she likes them to the lower level of our country. My grandparents and other members of that so called uneducated white blue collar americans, who sacrificed for their future generations to better their lives and educated. She is the worst of the elitest degrading white female politican that needs to be stop and definitely not put in any political office! She is a DIVIDER not UNITER!
I am totally disgusted with her and shame that she is of my female gender!
Bree-
Join us all here in the 21st Century. Smoking is not allowed in public buildings.
Jim Stowell-
Such a terrible thing to decide to be a career politician!!! Does the Messiah Obama not have this failing? Let's see...two years as a state congressman before he decided to jump to the federal level. One year as a federal congressman before he decided he was due the highest job in the land. No over ambition there!!!
Rob-
Those are the rules as the Obominations want to read them. The rules say there is a number of pledged delegates that a nominee must capture. Neither candidate seems like they will acheive that number before the convention. To make it easier for you to understand. There is a three point shot line in basketball. You get three points if you make a basket from that line or beyond it. Three points IS NOT given to the player who shoots inside, but closest to that line.
Sarah-
This situation is exactly why the superdelegates exist. When no candidate reaches the prescribed number of needed delegates from the popular voting, the superdelegates are to decide, based on what is best for the Party, and therefore the Country. Their decision is to based on that criteria, not a popularity contest. If we did not have them where will we be if we go to the convention without a consensus?
I was a replubican but voted for Obama as i think he can bring country together and also will be viewd as someone who can be rational to all races and i am an Indian in this country since1972 so have seen all I think we should elect him and see what happens and being woman and ehtinic women feels that in middle east hillary Clinton wil.
not be accepted with her agenda of going to war in the first place. and Obama seems like he will be the president for all races and all country and will use right jugement and talk before start war and take us in the very expensive situation and cost billiions which could have been used at home.. Going to war is not the only way to protect our interest of oil in the middle east
I am sick and tired of Hillary Clinton insinuating that Barak Obama can not win the Presidential Election in November. She insists that he can not get the votes of white senior citizens, white blue collar workers, rural whites, and whites who simply refuse to vote for him. I can say that Barack Obama has worked dilligently to gain support of those demographics by going to factories and plants, rural communities, small dinners, etc., to try and gain the support and respect of these voters. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has never made an effort to regain the support of black voters. Rather than try to explain comments made by her husband and herself and apologize for them, she has been indignant and defensive. Yet, she calls Barack Obama elitist and out of touch, when in fact, she is the most elite of them all. Will someone please inform Mrs. Clinton that the United States will survive and be just fine without her.
This is going to come off real snide. I am going to say it anyway without editing myself.
A few weeks ago when I learned Ms. Brazile was a "super delegate" I thought what the heck and now she is pushing her commentary on CNN.
Now all you have to do is check the public records and learn that Gergen's family is supporting Obama financially but at least the man has the level of emotionally competency to be a commentator and not so defensive. He comments on all three candidates with a level of trust and respect.
Here's my last snide comment.....I wonder if she would be making this fuss if you were male. Just my perception, is it reality, who knows?
I am off to the bookstore to buy some Danielle Steel for tonight. Guess you would say I am desperate for some better fiction!
politics were always dirty. Some politicians are less, some are more. It is a jungle. How do you go through?
What os the reality behind the word Hope? It is just a hope, nothing to grab, nothing real, just hope. To make this hope real it has to be defined what this hope really means, and how to do it – have the blueprint, the map, plan.
I like the way Leslie slips in "smokeless" back room; I get it – Hillary is the one who started the whole movement to ban smoking on Capitol Hill (because you know , politicians know what's best).
As far as the SuperDelegate system, how else can you see it other than the elite few having the power to override the peoples' votes? Does anyone interpret it another way?
I was watching Tuesday night when you made that comment and I found it out of line also. I was glad that Donna called you on it. ( I think Donna is terrific, by the way, love her commentary! ) I also take issue with your choice of words in this blog: "I explained that Hillary......" as if Donna doesn't know what's going on unless you "explain" it to her.
Since you are with the opposing party, you are trying to give the impression that the primarys have meant nothing and the decision will be made by the "elitists" of the party and not the voters. That's a loaded statement meant to infuriate all of the people who have voted in these state elections and, perhaps, plant a seed that might move them to your side.
It's not going to work. After the last eight years, the Republicans are going to have a tough battle on their hands to try to win in November. Snide comments on the side will not be enough to sway voters.
I think Leslie Sanchez is wrong about Senator Clinton. She cares 100 per cent about the voters who are devoted to her. Florida's delegation should be seated. So what if they broke the rules. The rationale for their disenfranchisement is foolish and ridiculous. Just because Iowa and New Hampshire have always been first doesn't mean they should always remain first. It's silly. I'm a 53-year-old Black woman who has always voted along party lines. I will register as an Independent if this issue is not resolved, and their delegates seated. Not just their popular votes. I think a couple of guys making this decision has nothing to do with democracy.
My mother and I support Clinton. My brother is an Obama fan. My mother will ultimately vote for Obama in November. I will not unless Clinton is on the ticket. I think it is interesting that the talking heads are always saying Clinton needs Obama, but Obama doesn't need Clinton. I beg to differ. The only way this party will be reunited is if both candidates are on the ticket. While Obama supporters want change, a legislator who had been in the senate for one year, and then decides he wants to b president is too big of a change for me.
Unless Obama shows real humility, and admits he needs Clinton as much as she would need him, I don't believe the Democrats, whom I no longer claim, have a chance of reclaiming the White House. And since so few think they should control what millions had to say, I don't think they deserve the White House.
We are all diminished by the disenfrachisment of Florida's voters. Michigan is different because Obama wasn't on the ballot. I have tried to communicate with the DNC about other concerns previously, and did not receive a response. Instead they asked for a contribution. I don't think they care about keeping me in their party, any more than they care about Floridians.
SK Booker, Omaha, Ne
The Democratic party was going to have such a wonderful year. We had the Presidency wrapped up, even if we nominated Peewee Herman. But we, children that we are, could not decide, decisively, between candy and ice cream. So our parents, the DNC insiders, will decide who our nominee will be. Watch and see if they don't give us spinach, and draft someone completely new at the convention. Like Al Gore?
In my humble opinion, the Democrats need to do away with these " superdelegates".
we as a nation say one man one vote, but as we all know, are vote does not count. so are we better or worse at choosing a leader then ever nation we help. how come we can't have one election everyone on the ballet, everyone votes winner of popular vote win , like everyone else in the world.
I believe that has already been determined and only needs to be confirmed by the super-duper-delegates. The results really leave no room for interpretation – the rules are the majority of elected delegates – this has been achieved.
please help us understand every time we cry for change we put someone in office that has no clue on how washington works, bill gov. of ark., bush gov of tx. now who obama someone else with no clue. how great of a nation are we. does obama plan to put time limits on house and senate seats to get change in the future or is his plan just talk
I don't think any of us can say for sure how this race will end. It may fizzle out without much of a sound, or a brouhaha shot heard round the world! Back room deals or civil ending? I have a feeling the crystal ball is clouded for most of us.
Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.
Leslie,
There is one of many positives about Hillary , she's in this fight to the end , she should be the only one to decide when to get out , this race will be historically important to the democratic party, I think her dedication reaches far beyond the American people , it's about the larger problems as well , Iraq, our national security, the threat of our foreign enemies , her judgement and knowledge of these issues far exceeds Obama, there is not time for an internship in the White House , as a conservative I can give an objective opinion, It will take a leader with more than just a superficial rhetoric to lead the nation . I admire her commitment to the fight.
Maritza
I've always recognized that the Clintons both decided at a young age to become politicians and that they are "politicians" in the worst sense of the word. Even with that prior belief, how low she has stooped in her fight with Barack Obama has amazed me. She is one of the most arrogant, dishonest and one dimensional politicians ever and I truly think that she and Bill have the belief that, at the very least, they are owed the Democratic nomination. How can someone who puts self so completely and absolutely ahead of the needs of their country make a good president?
Those independent voters who are pretty much disgusted with all three of the leading candidates..
I predict–we see a record turn-out for Libertarians and write-ins...and Ron Paul.
My 2 cents.
While it may be true that the Superdelegates will play a role, I think it is safe to say that it will not be a controversial one, i.e one that would trump the decision of the voters' as is suggested in saying a deal will be made "among the elite in smokeless back rooms" (by the way, I thought it was smoke-filled??). Donna was probably a little offended at that suggestion because we have heard time and again from many superdelegates that they do NOT want to make a decision contrary to that of the voters and therefore will likely coalesce behind the candidate with the most elected delegates.