Like many self-proclaimed conservatives I know, the grating, wily "Queen of Tusla" is actually warming the icy layers of my libertarian heart. There are lots of things to admire in her tenacity, but the Terminator is tenacious too. But the reason I find myself in stunned admiration is that she is actually striking the profession, principled position in terms of navigating the DNC process governing the Navigation.
I reach this conclusion through my intercept of a dialogue between a representatives of Hillary's campaign (a "Hillarite") and a concerned Super Delegate ("Super D").
Super D: Cut the BS, why is Hillary still in this race?
Hillarite: No one has won enough Delegate votes to win the nomination and she's kicking Obama's backside by unprecedented margins. Who quits a race when they are winning states by 35% and 41%? More importantly, Hillary is FAR more electable in November.
Super D: But cut the BS. You know Hillary CAN'T win
Hillarite: Why not?
Super D: She's 200 Delegates down and there aren't enough Pledged Delegates left to win. Obama only needs a handful more.
Hillarite: Not true. Obama only needs a handful more until Michigan and Florida are seated, because the current counts of what constitutes the "majority" of Delegates doesn't include these two states. That issue is getting addressed this weekend, so we'll all know what is happening soon enough. But everyone expects MI and FL to have some of their Delegates seated at the Dem National Convention. When that happens Obama will actually need more Delegates than what he's likely to win in the 3 remaining contests. Thus, when all the popular voting is completed, neither of us will have won enough Delegates.
On Michigan and Florida:
Super D: Cut the BS. All this pushing on MI and FL is a bit unseemly. You agreed that those states shouldn't be counted. You agreed not to campaign in them.
Hillarite: Yes, we did agree. Yes, we did obey the rules and did not campaign in either state. But, we also stated publically that neither state should be cut out of our process. They both held legal votes. In fact, all names were on the ballot in FL and the FL Secretary of State has officially confirmed the popular vote there. Are you saying a fair, legal election shouldn't be counted?
Super D: Well, ok. Maybe FL. But Obama wasn't even on the ballot in MI. He obeyed the rules. Hillary did not.
Hillarite: Wrong. No DNC rule required candidates to remove their names from the ballot. Obama jumped the gun and limited his options by removing his name. Hillary showed more political judgment by leaving her options open. No one has filed an accusation that she broke ANY rules. In fact, watching how the two campaigns handled this issue provides another excellent insight as to why Obama won't make a good national leader.
On Obama as Frontrunner:
Super D: OK, I'll grant you MI and FL, but we Super D's HAVE to vote for him.
Hillarite: Why?
Super D: Cut the BS. Obama has won more states.
Hillarite: Number of states won is not a criterion for success under ANY measurement system. North Dakota is just not that important.
Super D: Cut the BS. Obama has won more popular votes. The voice of the voters must be heard.
Hillarite: No he hasn't. Hillary has won the popular vote if MI and FL are added. As we already discussed, there is really no argument that FL shouldn't be added and it isn't Hillary's fault that Obama mistakenly removed his name from the MI ballot. Besides, forecasts of the remaining contests show that Hillary will further increase her popular vote lead. It is very, very likely that Obama will NOT have won the majority of the popular vote when everything's done.
Super D: Ok, but cut the BS. Delegates are what matter and Obama is WAY ahead in Delegates.
Hillarite: Yes, Obama is ahead in Pledged Delegate count, but we don't know that he will be ahead once Super Delegates cast their votes in August.
On the Popular Will:
Super D: Cut the BS. Super D's are mostly elected officials. They have to vote according to the will of their constituents.
Hillarite: Wrong on 2 counts. First, if this were true, why are Senators Kennedy and Kerry supporting Obama? Hillary soundly won Massachusetts. If what you are saying is true they MUST support me. Second, if what you state was true, why would we even have a Super Delegate system? The ENTIRE purpose of having Super Delegates is to allow consideration beyond the foundational proportional distribution of Pledged Delegates.
Super D: Ok. I'll grant you this in concept. But come on. Cut the BS. Super Delegates must follow the popular will.
Hillarite: What popular will? Hillary has won, is winning and will win the popular vote! The only "popular will" Obama is winning is the will of the Media. Are you suggesting the Media should select our candidate? Not the voters? And not other considerations?
Super D: There you go again, mentioning "other considerations". What "other considerations" would justify overturning a major lead in Delegates?
Hillarite: What "major lead". If you remove the Super Delegates, wait for the MI and FL decision and forecast the final 3 primaries – then Obama is still ahead in Pledged Delegates, but not by more than 2 or 3%. At that point, Hillary may be ahead by 2 or 3% in the popular vote.
Super D: Cut the BS. You know Super D's have already stated their support for Obama. So you can't just separate them when you look at Obama's Delegate total.
Hillarite: There are several more months until the Convention. No Super Delegate votes until then. Until the Convention, they are free to change their mind. After all, there are several Super D's who changed their stated support from me to Obama. Why isn't it ok for Super D's to switch their votes from Obama to me?
On "Other Considerations":
Super D: Ok, but you haven't answered, what "other considerations" would justify such a switch.
Hillarite: I'll tell you, but first, please remember, there isn't some MAJOR justification needed for a Super D to support someone who is winning the popular vote. Now, that being said, this cycle is compressed to an unprecedented degree. We've never seen this before and will be studying it when all is done to learn from mistakes made. Voters may already be doing this. Consider, since March 4th, Hillary has massively won the popular vote and in Pledged Delegates. So, the longer voters have to think, study and assess their options, the more they vote for Hillary. We even saw this in early primary states. Late deciders nearly always broke for Hillary by a huge percentage.
Super D: Is that all? Hillary's done a better job of campaigning, finally, so she's performing better. That's your argument? Vote for Hillary because she finally fixed her campaign?
Hillarite: No, there's much more. Hillary is winning all the states Democrats must win in November. She is polling ahead of McCain while Obama polls behind or even with him. And she has the larger, more stable coalition of supporters. Obama's is very narrow in terms of the general election. If it wasn't for Hillary's admitted mistake not to contest the primaries in a few small states (most of which McCain is guaranteed to win anyway), she would be even or ahead in Pledged Delegates as well.
Super D: Interesting. But cut the BS. Super D's can't go against the will of the people. . .
Hillarite: Have you listened to anything here? The ENTIRE purpose of Super D's is to make decisions on the larger parameters of what will help the Dem Party win in the General Election. The ENTIRE purpose. Hillary is the best candidate on all of these parameters. Obama's Delegate lead only seems large because of Super D's which could change their votes. Hillary is ahead in popular votes by about the same margin as Obama is ahead in Pledged Delegates – Delegates from states which won't decide the election.
Super D: Interesting argument, but cut the BS. Obama is black. This is historic. We Super D's can't deny such a historic moment.
Hillarite: So, the first female President isn't historic? Being "Black" is more important than being "Female"?
Super D: Well, the media would crush us if we Super D's reversed the popular will and voted for Hillary.
Hillarite: WHAT POPULAR WILL?????? Hillary will win the popular vote. Arghhh! Cut the BS. As an elected official, you are going to "lead" according to the media's vote. Doesn't that make the media unelected "Supder Delegates" of the Dem Party?
Thus, the feckless Dem’s will nominate Obama because the media won’t “let” them do otherwise. Mainstream Corporate Media - the real Supder Delegates. . . Welcome to the Democrat's version of democracy.
On Principle,
CBass
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