2 RI Progressives Take on National Democratic Superdelegate Structure
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
2 RI Progressives Take on National Democratic Superdelegate Structure
Rhode Island State Representative Aaron Regunberg (D-Providence) and former State Representative and Congressional candidate David Segal are at the forefront of the effort to dismantle the superdelegate system. The fight will start in earnest when the party's rules committee meets in Philadelphia on Saturday.
On Thursday, Regunberg was featured in a national NBCnews.com piece entitled, "Democrats Gear Up for Fight on Superdelegates."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Whether superdelegates end up tipping the election or not, the mere existence of this system leads voters to the perception that the political system is rigged," said Rhode Island state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, the amendment's sponsor on the Rules Committee.
So what are superdelegates, exactly? Patrice Taylor, the Director of Party Affairs & Delegate Selection at the Democratic National Committee, shared the following for Medium.com:
4,763 = Total number of delegate votes to the Democratic National Convention (including pledged and unpledged)
712 = Number of unpledged delegates (you may know them as “superdelegates”)
15 percent= Unpledged delegate votes as a proportion of total delegate votes
Of the battle of those opposed to superdelegates. Alex Seitz-Wald wrote of Regunberg for NBC's story on Thursday:
"Regunberg, like most vocal opponents of superdelegates this year, supported Bernie Sanders in the primary," wrote Seitz-Wald. "Sanders blamed superdelegates, in part, for his loss, saying they had committed to Clinton before the nominating contests began and did not reflect the will of the voters in their states."
Regunberg, Segal Effort
Regunberg spoke with GoLocalProv.com on Wednesday about his role in the anti-superdelegate effort.
"I've been working with a group of fellow rules committee members and a coalition that's formed of outside organizations to elevate this issue and bring this to Philly," said Regunberg. "For me, it's coming from a place that we need the structure of our party to reflect our core values and principles. And I think our party values diversity and inclusion and voting rights and yet we have a system, in the most important process of nomination, that flies in the face of those values. Superdelegates account for the same representation as the District of Columbia, the four territories, and 24 states combined."
"So I submitted an amendment to to the DNC. I have 52 cosponsors and that's over 25% of the committee to force a minority report -- and bring it to the [convention] floor," said Regunberg. "My hope is we can settle this in committee. This isn't new and it's not necessarily a Sanders [supporters] only move, there have been a number Clinton supporters."
"The goal would be to have nominating process in which delegates are pledged according to the breakdown of the vote in actual states. In Rhode Island, Sanders won significantly but our overall delegation skews Clinton with the superdelgates," said Regunberg. "Not only would [eliminating superdelegates] ensure the will of the people is reflected, it would look a lot more reflective of Democratic voters. Superdelgates have tended to skew male older and white."
Regunberg noted that a petition circulated by Segal has garnered over 100,00 signatures in support of the amendment.
Read: See the Petition HERE
"I think there's a lot of grassroots support and energy behind this," said Regunberg.
10 Ways Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump Are Actually Similar
Universal Health Care
Despite sitting on opposite sides of the aisle, Trump and Sanders essentially share the same healthcare plan. But you don’t have to take our word for it—Ted Cruz, Trump’s chief rival, said himself that Trump and Sanders “have basically the same healthcare plan," in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
"Donald Trump enthusiastically supported the TARP bailout of big banks. I opposed it. He enthusiastically supported Barack Obama's stimulus plan. He thought it should have been bigger. I think it was a disaster and a waste of money. Actually, Donald not only supported both of those, but he argued that Obamacare should be expanded to make it socialized medicine for everyone,” Cruz told Hannity
Reforming Wall Street
Both candidates have made serious noise talking about reforming Wall Street. Bernie Sanders has just about made his whole career on taking on financial kingpins, and has attracted many young fans in the process.
While the uber-capitalist Trump may seem like the candidate to take on his fellow one-percenters, his words say something different. Trump blasted hedge fund managers on CBS, saying they are “getting away with murder,” on CBS’ “Face the Nation" in 2015.
"The hedge fund guys didn't build this country. These are guys that shift paper around and they get lucky,” Trump said.
They Don't Take Money from Wall Street
It’s not just that the candidates criticize Wall Street and big banks—plenty do that. But Trump and Sanders back up their tough talk by not attracting campaign donations from those same financial institutions.
Sure, Hillary Clinton has taken aim at the major financial mavericks during her time on the campaign trail—what self-respecting Democrat hasn’t? But a closer look at her campaign financials shows that she isn’t putting her money where her mouth is.
Their Campaigns are Populist Movements
Neither Trump nor Sanders are what you would call a “party darling.” Both have taken aim at the lions and leaders of their own parties have been unafraid to make controversial statements regarding the political establishments.
Instead, their campaigns have been buoyed by passionate, typically politically apathetic people. People who have finally found someone they can relate to in the political landscape and someone they feel they can trust. Despite repeated predictions of failure, regular people continue to respond to their campaigns, as both Sanders and Trump remain near or at the polls as the primaries begin.
The Most Unusual Candidates (Ever?)
Trump and Sanders are certainly the most unusual candidates this year, as both the Republican and Democratic fields contain typical governors, senators and congressman vying for the ultimate government job. It goes one step further, however—they may be the most unusual candidates a Presidential campaign has ever seen.
Sure, Trump isn’t the first rich eccentric to take a run at the Oval Office (just google Ross Perot if you don’t believe us.) But he’s certainly the first candidate to speak about immigrants and other races as he has.
Massive Crowds
Political candidates of any variety like going where they are wanted. They make sure that there are plenty of warm well-wishers to make campaign events see exciting and full.
Trump and Sanders, however, seem to be able to attract raucous crowds that are more akin to rock concert or playoff game than a political rally. People come in costume, dressed as their favorite candidate. Teenagers, even though they cannot cast a vote, turn out in full face paint to support their candidate.
It’s happened all over the country. Record-setting crowds packed the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon and thousands filled the DCU Center to see Trump in Worcester, Massachusetts. Everywhere these candidates go, people rush to see them.
Lots of Small-Money Donations
Typically, leading Presidential campaigns are powered by big money donations, but that’s not the case for Trump and Sanders.
As Graphiq shows us below, Sanders and Trump are one and two, respectively in the amount of campaign donations under $200—a sure sign of grassroots support.
Real Talk
How often do you watch and listen to a political speaking, and find yourself drifting off to sleep or reaching for your iPhone?
That rarely seems to be the case when Trump or Sanders are on the mic. You never quite know when Trump will insult an entire religion or ethnic group in one thirty-second soundbite.
Not to be outdone, Sanders folksy and frantic style of speech has attracted attention—and plenty of jokes and memes—from all across the internet.
Slated for Failure
Since the first day that each candidate announced their campaign, the political intellectual and elite have told everyone that they just don’t stand a chance. Trump and Sanders are too controversial, their too radical and they are too inexperienced. How many times did political analysts or other talking heads say they would be out of the race before the first votes are ever cast?
Yet here we are, just a few days away from the first caucuses and primaries. Neither Trump nor Sanders are out of the race. Neither is on their dying breaths. They are thriving. And, as you’ll see in our next slide, they are winning
Leading in Iowa (and New Hampshire!)
If the latest polls are to believed these massively unusual candidates—one socialist, one real estate magnate/reality tv star, both with tons of small donations, both told they never had any chance—will be making victory speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire soon.
According to CNN, Trump has an 11 point lead among Republicans and Sanders an eight point lead among Democrats in Iowa just a few days before the caucus.
And in New Hampshire, as you’ll see below, Trump and Sanders have double digit leads as we approach the first true primary.
