Washblog

The DNC Process and Kudos to David McDonald

By Sarajane46th
Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 07:27:14 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Democrats

I was inspired to write in response to Danny Burn's Open Letter to the DNC decrying the whole process. He copied a number of news outlets.

Dear Mr. Burns: None of this is about "punishing the voters in Michigan" (or Florida).  You are working from the wrong premise. The primary is not an election and it is not an invitation for "ya'll come." Rather, it is an opportunity for (self-identified) party members to peaceably assemble and name their nominee for an office, a right established in the First Amendment. The voting happens in November.  All of your arguments come up short because you are standing on the wrong assumption, that this is about voters' rights. It is not. It is about a party nominating process.

Most of us in caucus states cherish our face-to-face tradition. Whether and how you participate is up to you. It is up to a democratically-controlled party to set the rules. You might have noticed that in caucus states such as ours, the County Elections officials are not involved.

Further, there is little or no effect of the delegates in Florida and Michigan being given half-votes. The nominee and his committee will be running the convention. The platform will be written and awaiting confirmation. Claiming that the floor votes of these delegates makes a difference is like claiming that gay marriage "harms" straight couples.  Show me.

I want to commend David McDonald from Seattle's 46th LD for his role on the Rules Committee. He brought his two decades of serving on the DNC to bear. As a superdelegate, he served thoughtfully and well, remaining neutral and above the fray. Yet on the clip I saw, his body language demonstrated his dismissal of the irrational and inconsistent arguments being made by Clinton campaign official Harold Ickes, sitting to his left.  Today David endorsed Barak Obama. He is using his role as a superdelegate exactly as I believe it was meant to be used, to help guide the party in the right direction, and in the direction of party unity.

Sarajane Siegfriedt
Seattle, 46th LD Democrats

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The DNC Process and Kudos to David McDonald | 3 comments (3 topical)
I can't give Kudos to the RBC
I can't give Kudos to the RBC.- Because of Michigan. Not the solution that the RBC proposed for Michigan, but the reason Michigan jumped ahead. Carl Levin laid out their reason at the Saturday meeting.

Michigan made it very clear that they would follow the rules if every other state did and were treated equally.

The rules clearly laid out the order- Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire. New Hampshire jumped ahead of Nevada. The DNC RBC chose to do nothing to punish them. That was the cause of the Michigan problem and it is whole the RBC's fault.

by Kelly Wright on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 10:31:42 PM PST

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Why I cannot vote for Obama?
Yesterday, I attended a WA State Democratic Rules Committee Meeting which offended me beyond repair, not just as a Democrat, but more importantly as a woman. A DNC Party Leader, and no surprise an Obama supporter (believe his name was David McDonald) stood up to explain what happened at the DNC Meetings in DC-believe it was Room 111B at the Spokane Convention. He proclaimed that the DNC's votes in DC a couple of weeks ago came down to a Beauty Contest vs. a Rules Contest! I was so furious that I grabbed my bags and stormed out of the room.

Regardless of how any one feels about Senator Clinton, I am furious that one of our so called "leaders" of the Democratic Party referred to Senator Clinton's Campaign as a Beauty Contest. As a mother to a smart female, I will have no part of a Party that refers to Senator Clinton, who I honor and admire, as a Beauty Queen running for political office. Need I remind the DNC Leaders that Hillary Clinton has a law degree and over 30 years of political experience?

Over the past few weeks, I called for all of us to be reserved about our votes until a VP decision has been made, but now, I am truly sure as to what I will do with my vote.  I shall not support the DNC until Mr. McDonald apologizes for his statements about Hillary Clinton!  

06/14/2008: Reporting from the Washington State Democratic Convention in Spokane.

by ABlock35 on Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 09:08:38 PM PST

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  • Not Sexist by gibney, 06/15/2008 12:05:22 AM PST (none / 0)
The DNC Process and Kudos to David McDonald | 3 comments (3 topical)
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