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Black Superdelegates Report Pressure to Vote for Obama

By Jeralyn

First Missouri and California. Now Ohio.

While some African American superdelegates have switched to Obama, others who support Hillary say they are receiving pressure they don't appreciate and are holding firm.

African-American superdelegates said Thursday that they’ll stand up against threats, intimidation and “Uncle Tom” smears rather than switch their support from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to Sen. Barack Obama.

“African-American superdelegates are being targeted, harassed and threatened,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.), a superdelegate who has supported Clinton since August. Cleaver said black superdelegates are receiving “nasty letters, phone calls, threats they’ll get an opponent, being called an Uncle Tom.

In Ohio, some superdelegates are angry:[More...]

But other African-American politicians find the shifting loyalties disturbing. Video Watch how race may be a factor in this year's election »

"With all due respect to my colleagues, whoever you are, I firmly believe if you don't have loyalty and integrity, what do you have? ... I am a woman of my word. I will not leave her," said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Neither will California Rep. Diane Watson, though she said she's received not only pressure, but also threatening e-mails. "We can disagree. But I don't think that's a cause for viciousness and for launching a campaign against me," Watson said.

The pressured superdelegates don't think it's the Obama campaign who is applying the pressure but groups of his supporters, like members of Color for Change. While Color for Change says it hasn't endorsed Obama, check out the sample letter linked to on their home page that they suggest writing to members of the Black Caucus:

Dear Congressional Black Caucus Member,

Over the last several weeks, voters in CBC districts have spoken with clarity about their choice for President—they overwhelmingly support Barack Obama. But the clear mandate they've laid down is threatened by those in your ranks who as superdelegates may break away from their constituents to vote for Hillary Clinton.

The Congressional Black Caucus has worked hard to protect the political voice of Black Americans. You took the lead in 2000 and 2004, insisting that all votes be counted and that they count. Using your status as a superdelegate in 2008 to undermine the people's will would be a tragic reversal.

I'm writing to ask that you use your power as a superdelegate to amplify the voice of the informed, engaged, and diverse electorate in your district and across Black America, not silence it. I urge you to make it clear that as a superdelegate, you will support the voters' will.

We deserve elections determined by the electorate, not by insiders. And we need you to stand with us, as we speak in a strong voice about who we wish to see as the Democratic nominee.

My position on the superdelegates has been and remains, the rules are they can vote their conscience and don't have to vote the way their state or district voters did. They can apply the brakes if they think that's needed.

I don't like the system, but those are the rules. You don't change rules after the horses have left the gate. You change them for the next election.

Democrats who don't like the superdelegate rules should get on Democratic committees that make the rules and work to change them - for next time.

I don't see why Independents and Democrats for a Day should have a bigger voice in who becomes our nominee than superdelegates, who are committed and respected Democrats.

In those states where Independents and Dems for A Day pushed a candidate to victory, to require the superdelegates to follow the will of the voters would give those with the least commitment to the Democratic party the greatest say.

My solution for the future would be closed Democratic primaries in all states and no superdelegates. But those aren't the rules we have now. For this year, voters should stop pressuring the superdelegates and let them make up their own minds.

Big Tent Democrat expressed his views on the superdelegates earlier today.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 01, 2008 (boomark / email).