[statecom-discuss] [statecom] Delegates at the national convention

[Merelice]

Moving this to the discuss list.
Merelice

On 2/18/08, Daniel Melnechuk <isis at isisdesign.com> wrote:
>
>  >
>  > Committed
>  >>  delegates to a candidate who is seeking the endorsement for
>  >> president
>  >>  of the Green Party or will not be running as the Green Party
>  >>  presidential candidate in the 2008 Presidential election are
>  >>  considered to be released from that candidate and can vote as an
>  >>  uncommitted delegates.
>  >
>  > This is the provision that would be illegal under state law which
>  > indicates that delegates can be released only by the candidates.
>
>
> I think what i read is that they must vote in the first round under
>  state law. But state law is talking about a candidate that is running
>  for the nomination as the party's candidate, not running for the
>  endorsement! So we would not be breaking any state laws.
>

How and when would it be determined that a candidate is seeking
something other than the nomination? And who would make that
determination?

Further -- given that seeking an endorsement was an anomaly unlikely
to be repeated and that we have no way of guessing what other creative
tactic could be used at the convention -- why should we take time to
discuss making a change in our delegate selection plan to accommodate
something so specific and unlikely? Do we think it will make a
significant difference in the convention's outcome?

I'm concerned about spending time on this, when there are more
important things to get done and when we can expect our delegation to
behave as well as it did last time. Also, I accept Elie's comments
that there have been enough indications from the Nader camp to believe
there will not be a repeat of 2004.

Merelice