Cleaning up the caucus aftermath
February 19th, 2008 by Jerry BurrisOnce all the ballots are counted and tabulated (and who knows when that will be?) it will be time to sort out the fallout of tonight’s historic Democratic caucus meetings and presidential straw poll.
This much is clear: Driven by a flood of newcomers to the caucus process — some even to voting in general — home-town favorite Barack Obama took the bulk of the votes and will control most of the committed delegates at the National Democratic Convention in Denver. His rival, Hillary Clinton, will take home a few delegates.
There undoubtedly will be some second guessing and even muttering about legal challenges over the balloting, which went from organized to near-chaos as the evening progressed. Many precincts ran out of party registration cards, ballots or both. Some resorted to a show of hands and an “honor system” that those who voted were, or would become, members of the Hawaii Democratic Party.
But there’s no doubt that at least some folks participated without anyone knowing for sure whether they were party members, as required by the rules.
The other issue, now that Hawaii’s “Democrats” have spoken so strongly for Obama, is what happens to the eight “superdelegates” and additional one uncommitted delegate. These folks are free to vote however they wish and some, including notably, senior Sen. Daniel Inouye, are Clinton backers. Will they stay that way or will they, as some are demanding, bend to the “will of the people” as demonstrated by the night’s balloting.
Inouye, the most super of our superdelegates, said he will stick with Clinton right through the convention if she remains — as he hopes — a candidate. If superdelegates aren’t free to vote their conscience and beliefs, Inouye asked, what is the point of having them in the first place?
By contrast, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, an Obama backer, said the superdelegates, if they know how to do anything, know how to count votes. He said he expects them to come around to the Obama cause by convention time.
Expect to hear a lot more on this debate in the days to come.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:24 am
True dedication! Cranking out the news all through the night.
I had guessed by the turnout prediction that Obama would prevail, and my guess was confirmed when my usually conservative sister called me in the evening to inform me that she was hauling her husband and their two good friends to vote for Obama in their East Honolulu caucus.
As Abercrombie stated, it’s no longer a campaign, it’s a movement.
My brother and I had decided quite some time ago that our choice was Obama. Takes us back to the Kalama Valley occupation and other local community struggles in some fashion.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
More important for Hawaii than Obama’s victory is that once power Dan Inouye couldn’t get more than 6,500 people to show up for Hillary Clinton and that his candidate lost 3-to-1. This guy Inouye used to be a major political force who called all the shots and had people kneeling in worship at his feet. But in a population of 1.3 million, and with high political stakes, he couldn’t even find enough people to fill a small parking lot. Jeez, maybe Ed Case should set his sights on Inouye, and Inouye should go take a really long honeymoon and reflect on his increasing powerlessness and uselessless.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:56 am
All of a sudden…Inouye voices that he must follow his conscience as he prepares to vote for Clinton as a superdelegate. Doesn’t he realize that he represents the people of Hawaii, who has spoken loud and clear. In any event, he is the kind of politician that refuses change and the type that plays the Washington power game. Yes…Inouye’s clout seem to be faultering…good
February 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am
As I posted earlier, sorry to disagree with Abercrombie but candidates are not movements.
The proof will be if the Democratic Party can sustain this “movement” which is doubtful since it centers on a candidate and not a platform.
It’s sort of like Jasmine Trias in American Idol. Do we really think that the same number of Hawaii residents follow the current crop of singers?
As far as Inouye, he’s been around long enough to realize that political coattails are overrated. Look at Lingle. Very popular but clearly not able to persuade voters to vote her party. They’ll vote for her but that’s about it.
As far as the superdelegates, you can do it two ways: if Obama won 75% of the vote, the superdelegates ought to proportion themselves that way. Or since Obama won, they all should go with Obama.
Seems to me the proportional way makes more sense since it’s not a winner-take-all scenario. After all, if Obama won by one vote, does that mean all the superdelegates have to vote for Obama?
February 20th, 2008 at 8:06 am
well folks, that is what democracy looks like, messy but inspiring. Has Hawaii seen anything like that in a long time?
Hope the state Democrats get the message.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Why the need to criticize Sen. Inouye?
As he said, a superdelegate should vote according to his conscience. That’s how the system was set up according to party rules. As for Ed Case…when is he going to move over to the GOP? He’s really an elephant who is disguised as a donkey for political purposes.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Me thunketh that Inouye stating the he intends to use his superdelegate vote for Clinton despite the state’s overwhelming vote is another example of the corrupted morals of our elected officials.
I hope the people of Hawaii realize what a stubborn leader Inouye is and that what he chooses to do in Washington is without care or concern of what the people of Hawaii want.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Why aren’t you participating in the byline strike Jerry?
February 20th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Just a glimpse of the future, the dismantling of the old boys democratic machine in Hawaii…once Senator Inouye is gone, so will the old boys democratic network…there is a lot of pent up hostility…as evidence by popularity of Lingle, Case, and rejection of Inouye’s call to support Clinton. The Senator should be supporting the will of the people and vote for obama…just more signs of arrogance.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Good post, Jerry. Glad to have you back in the game. A minor quibble: what happened lasat night was not a “straw poll.” A straw poll is a nonbinding survey of a group’s preferences. Straw polls do occur in politics. In some ways, yesterday’s Washington primary was a straw poll. The Hawaii “Presidential Preference Poll” is binding and determines the allocation of 20 of the delegate slots from Hawaii.
I voted for Obama, but am breaking from the standard “talking point” about the superdelegates being “undemocratic.” They are “democratic,” but in a different way. There are 9 superdelegates. The four members of the congressional delegation were all DEMOCRATICALLY elected to their congressional seats and by a significantly larger group of people than voted last night. Those were general elections, with votes cast by the general public, but they each first won the Democratic primary, where people allegedly more committed to the Democratic Party constituted the majority of the voters.
Four more of the superdelegates hold Democratic Party elective positions: the incoming state chair, incoming vice-chair, the national committeeman and national committeewoman. They hold, or will hold, those positions because party members believe they have the experience and competence to help lead the Party. They were, or will be, elected “democratically.”
Which leaves the final superdelegate, the “unpledged add-on” delegate. I can see no justification for this delegate slot to be unpledged (not bound by the caucus results). If Hawaii deserves to be alotted 29 delegates to the national convention, this delegate slot should be pledged, perhaps added to the “at-large” delegate category.
The superdelegates serve a “conservative” role in the internal party governance, somewhat like the role US Senators are supposed to play in the Federal scheme. They bring institutional knowledge and longterm relationships to the process which tends to make the process less susceptible to short term shifts in popular opinion.
It is romantic to hold up the caucus voters as the true “voice of the people” and the embodiment of the democratic spirit. God bless ‘em for becoming passionate about Obama’s message of optimism that significant change is possible. I think we saaw that the Democratic Party is willing to remove all sorts of barriers to allow people to join them, even at the last minute and at the price of “creative chaos” of the sort we witnessed. I certainly hope many of these people truly honor the pledge they made when they signed a party card to support the principles and abide by the rules of the Democratic Party. I hope they become active participants in the Party that has allowed them into our internal decisionmaking to help pick OUR nominee for president, who will run against the Republican’s nominee for president in November.
More Republicans voted in the Democratic Caucuses last night than voted in the GOP caucuses this year! And we let them in without a problem in the hope that they are truly repelled by the prospect of four more years of national Republican rule.
These new members are honorbound to resign from the Republican Party in the next several days. I wonder if the media might follow up to see if the Hawaii GOP suffers a wave of mass resignations? Will the Republican crossover voters follow through on their obligation?
Should the Democrats turn over the important decision of who to run for president entirely to a voting base that contains a lot of people only willing to join the party for a single day? The Dems WILL turn over two thirds of the decision, but reserve almost a third to people with a longer record of commitment to the party, the superdelegates, who HAVE been “democratically” elected.
If you are STILL unhappy with this rationale, please consider how the Hawaii GOP handles this. ALL of their national delegates are free to vote for whomever they want! They are all, essentially, superdelegates, free to ignore the presidential preferences of the GOP caucus voters. I have heard NO public criticism of the Republicans undemocratic processes.
That said, I expect that Hawaii superdelegates who have not yet declared for either candidate will seriously consider the will of the caucus-goers. Danny Akaka, Mazie Hirono and National Comitteewoman Dolly Strazar have all been “neutral” so far. Senator Akaka will make his own judgment based upon his own critria, but I suspect both Hirono and Strazar will have good reason to support the will of the caucus-goers.
The incoming chair and vice chair will be elected by the May convention delegates who have been selected during this Obama surge and will likely be supportive of Obama as well.
So the superdelegate process is “democratic,” though not through “direct democracy.”
February 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Senator Inouye should listen to the voice of the people, when they give him direction it is his duty to listen and follow the lead or have a good reason for not.
As far as Clinton Inc. the fact they are being beaten by the “Tall Man” from Illinois who has run a smart, well run campaign, he has not had to loan the organization money because the donations are not forth coming, a campaign that has been mismanaged, riddled with intrigue and infighting, a husband who has been running off at the mouth calling Senator Obama names and making accusations that are unfounded and disrespectful. How can Bill Clinton call the kettle black? Who is he to make these comments?
Let us not forget another “Tall Man” who hailed from Illinois who did a great job leading our country.
Senator Inouye needs to look at the person he is giving our votes to and think do we want this person in the White House, if they cannot manage their campaign well how are they going to manage the government.
One can remember the horror stories of the workers at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel about the fights and yelling matches between Bill and Hillary while they were there; do we want this in the White House again?
Senator Inouye should focus on his marriage plans, his new wife to be, succession plans for his seat….. and not waste our delegate votes.
We need new blood in Washington, Senator Obama and Ed Case are two examples of what is needed.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Congrats to Obama, the candidate of the people, or at least the large majority of Hawaii democrats. Mr. Inouye is part of the old school Clinton power broking style of politics. He’s been in politics maybe too long, or is too diluted by maintaining the power from the inside. Oh well, I don’t think it will make a difference, but we’ll see soon enough in Ohio and Texas.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
The people of Hawai’i have spoken loud and clear, native son Barry Obama is their man. As for Sen. Inouye and those others that cling to the ways advanced by the 1954/Gov. Ariyoshi-wing of the party it is time to wake up and smell the Kona coffee. Their leadership (or I should say lack thereof)has given us the first Republican Governor since statehood, Linda Lingle.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
“the tall man from Illinois”
yup, they didn’t think much of the first one either and he didn’t have much experience if I recall.
Never made Senator.
True Abe Lincoln was a Republican but in those days they stood for something different than George Bush.
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