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Originally Posted by Joemailman
My sense is that the super delegates were created to prevent someone who would have little chance in the general election from getting nominated. But do either Clinton or Obama fall into that category? It's not like Al Sharpton or Michael Moore have a chance at the nomination.
Mark Shields talked about it on PBS newshour, he was a journalist back in 1980 when the rule was instituted. He said the point was to take advantage of wisdom of party elders, act as a check against the scenario you describe. But they are expected to vote their concience in any case. Shields made a forcefull argument that the Obama people are out of line. (And he has been dogging the Clinton campaign in the past. )
I really am not upset about this issue for partisian reasons. If Clinton were to try and get the Florida vote to count, I would refuse to support her too. The integrity of the Democratic campaign looks doomed to me.
The Democratic Party has really screwed up. Ideally, Obama would step forward and say he will accept the independent decisions of the Super Delegates, and Clinton would say that the vote in Florida is null and void. Both candidates should agree on a way to seat MI & FL delegations, be it with a new vote, or a 50-50 delegate split. And all this ought to happen NOW. Things are only going to heat up.