[statecom] Delegates at national convention

[John Andrews]

Dan, Wanda,

Shouldn't we move this discussion to the statecom-discuss list?  If
Dan would agree, we can do that.

Some of the discussion seems to be something that would be done during
vetting of the proposal by CDLC, etc.  Maybe its premature to go into
this.

That said, I do have a comment.  I am generally reluctant  to have
StateComm debate national issues and then tie the hands of delegates,
forcing them to vote the views of StateComm.  This results in
StateComm spending too much time on national issues for which we have
little background, little influence,  and may be getting a one-sided
point of view.  I think delegates at the convention can listen to the
best arguments for all sides and cast an intelligent vote.  This is
the best way to honor the democratic principle that the voters
selected the delegates to transmit their values to the convention.
The more we tie the hands of delegates, the more the convention
becomes a done deal, with the will of the voters being replaced by the
will of  StateComm.  And circumstances at the convention could be
quite different than envisioned by StateCom months earlier.   I don't
say that we should never restrict our delegates, but it should take a
really compelling argument that delegates are incapable of thinking
for themselves.    ( I don't have a problem with the requirement to
vote for your candidate in the first round since this appears to be
insurance that the will of the voters is not subverted by appointment
of sham delegates.)

- John