Some Democrats in Rhode Island want to get rid of the Super-delegate system in their party. They're not alone. This a very common opinion right now among Democrat voters around the country.
That makes sense, right? Super-delegates are elitists who get more votes at the convention than regular delegates. The whole idea of some people getting more votes than others is extremely undemocratic (and, ironically, they call themselves Democrats).
Super delegates are just the Democrats' way of telling the grass roots, "send money, vote for who we tell you to, and sit down and shut up."
The Super-delegate system became extremely unpopular on the Left after Bernie lost to Hillary in the 2016 DNC primary. Ironically, the super-delegate system was bemoaned in 2008 when the national party wouldn't let Hillary Clinton challenge the super-delegates who were pledging to Barack Obama. So, in 2016, she worked very hard to lock them up so Bernie couldn't get them. But that's a story for another time.
But, just as some Democrats are pushing to do away with the system, other Democrat state party leaders are floating an extremely creative idea to defend their super-delegate status.
Naturally, not everyone is onboard with getting rid of the super-delegate system and one of those people is west coast elitist Bob Mulholland.
Mulholland is the California Democratic Party's senior advisor and long time chief spokesperson.In the past he became well known for intercepting registration cards of voters in the Green Party and sending them a letter (on state Democratic Party letterhead) asking the voter to reconsider their change of party.
Mulholland thinks Russia, not grassroots Democrats, are behind the effort to do away with super-delegates in the DNC.
Right now you're probably thinking, "Russia?! Seriously?! Is there any proof to support that claim?"
No, there is none. Mulholland has exactly zero pieces of evidence to support his theory, but who needs evidence when you have farfetched claims and accusations?
Ok, so suggesting Russia is behind a national effort to eliminate the DNC super-delegate system is just a nutty thing to say, but is there at least some basis for his remark?
No, not really, but he claims there's a low level Green Party activist in West Virginia who is promoting the changes and Mulholland claims to have seen this person at two national party gatherings in the past.
“I concluded someone is picking up her expenses but there she and others are, demanding we change our Rules,” Mulholland said. “The Putin operation is still active.”
You mean you saw someone somewhere and, since you don't know how they paid for their airline ticket, you think it might have been Putin?!
It's nuttier than a squirrel on his birthday, but that's what Mulholland is saying.
He also doesn't seem to know what this person's name is (or, if he does, he won't say).
Then he said, “I’m a big believer that Putin has not let off the gas. Anyone who thinks Putin would not be interfering with future elections needs to have their head examined.”
Well, there ya go, folks. If you don't agree with the opinions of high-ranking Democrats and you're a grassroots activist, you must be funded by Russia, according to Mulholland. Of course.
This news came to us courtesy of the Huffington post. I had to check three times to make sure this wasn't The Onion. It's not.
From the Huffington Post:
Under the party’s current system, superdelegates automatically get convention seats and a vote, and they are not bound to support a candidate based on their state’s primary or caucus results. Superdelegates ― who include Democrats serving in Congress and other key party officials ― comprised close to 15 percent of the overall delegate number at the party’s 2016 convention, and most supported Hillary Clinton. That was a bone of contention for supporters of the insurgent nomination bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and the continued existence of superdelegates remains a major sticking point for many of these activists.
All pigs are equal, but Bob Mulholland is more equal than others.
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Ken Webster Jr is a news radio producer and personality from Houston, Tx.