Though the Electoral College is antiquated, at least it’s constitutional and based on the model of a Republic. Superdelegates, however, represent a kind of oligarchy where the privileged few get to decide what’s best for the rest of us. The people who elected them to public office did not knowingly empower them to decide who gets to run for president. Superdelegates vote according to their own judgment instead of the will of the people.
If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination based on superdelegates alone, she just might lose the general election to John McCain. If the Democratic Party nominates the candidate with the least elected delegates, it should expect nothing less than apathy and dismay from voters. If the self-proclaimed party of the people does not honor the will of the people, then what’s the point of voting for a Democrat? When citizens cannot have a government for the people, by the people, some become cynical and vote for whoever is going to lower their taxes.
The rules of this particular game have been set and we must honor the outcome. I am not trying to start a revolution (though if the Michigan and Florida delegates get seated without a re-vote, you might find me atop a barricade in Denver this summer). After this election, however, the DNC needs to eliminate superdelegates from the nominating process. In the meantime, we can write letters and emails to the superdelegates, urging them to vote according to the will of the people. More than ever, every vote needs to count.
Related Story: Poll: The Influence of Super Delegates
