It has come to my attention that a Democratic County Chairperson called and asked an Obama delegate to switch to at large so they could move an Alternate delegate up. Depending on the make up of the alternate pool in any county or precinct, there is no guarantee that the alternate moved up to take a delegate’s place would have the same presidential preference. This is called playing a numbers game and is deplorable.
(cross posted @ Daily Kos, Doing My Part For The Left, Texas Kaos
The only time an alternate being moved up is guaranteed to be the same presidential preference is an at-large delegate who has to be replaced. I am calling on all Obama Delegates and Alternates to ignore the latest ruse being played by the Clinton campaign in Texas. You were elected as a delegate to represent the people in your precinct and should be proud to do so. I am sure you can hold fund raisers in your area to help defray cost to the convention.
There is already plans being made to help with housing and the like for delegates from out of town here in Austin and I will keep you informed as soon as I know more.
A little video for your enjoyment:
a friend sent me this photo and I am laughing so hard I am crying.
Howdy. I was elected as an Obama delegate at large from Texas SD10, where I served on the credentials committee. What you’re describing doesn’t make much sense to me. Let me spell out how things are SUPPOSED to work under the rules. Forgive me if I’m telling you what you already know.
I’m sure you know about the precinct caucus at the SD convention (or county convention if you’re not in an urban county). Whatever delegates and alternates elected here are pretty much set in stone. Their names are NOT available for the nominations committee to consider for at large seats.
So, nominations gets names of applicants of people who weren’t elected from their precincts but who want to go to state. I was elected this way because I had two people in my precinct very interested in going, and two seats to fill. I told them I could probably get in through nominations and so not to worry about me. I was right, yay. Anyway, nominations selects delegates and alternates at large. Those selections are final (assuming their report is approved by the convention floor).
There is no room in the rules for any “cross pollination” of elected delegates/alternates with at large delegates/alternates. Even if one wanted to change from elected to at large, he couldn’t! If this sort of thing is actually happening right now in your county, that’s cause for the delegation to be challenged in Austin. Keep us updated here… I may have you contact me via email later if there’s sufficient reason to submit a challenge.
What county or SD are you in, btw?