TRNN brings you voices of protestors who are demanding entry into the Democratic Party rules hearing where Sanders supporters are calling for the elimination of superdelegates

Story Transcript

JAISAL NOOR, TRNN: In breaking news, protesters are demanding entry to the Democratic Party rules committee hearing, where supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders are demanding changes, including the elmination of superdelegates, party insiders that represent states during the nomination process but are unelected. Authorities at the scene say the room is at capacity. We spoke to some of the protesters. PROTESTER: We want to see what is going on in there, and make sure it’s being done fair and above-board, and that no tricks are being played on us. That’s why Bernie gets his–he has earned this. So we want to make sure that he gets what, and what we, deserve. We’ve worked hard. PROTESTER: I’m here because I’m a Bernie delegate. I believe in an open democracy. And I believe in all people being able to participate in that open democracy. JOE RITTER: I’m Dr. Joe Ritter. I’m from Hawaii. We’re here to support the Democratic platform for Bernie, including social justice. We’re against the TPP. And we came all the way from Hawaii to see that there is some social justice. We’re concerned about unemployment. We’re concerned about GMOs and pesticides. And we are very concerned about a process that’s being corrupted. Our biggest issue is campaign finance, and we are very upset to see a corrupted political system. NOOR: We’ll update the story after the rules committee meeting concludes, and we’ll be reporting all week live from Philadelphia. This is Jaisal Noor.

JAISAL NOOR, TRNN: Just two days ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, supporters of Bernie Sanders are pushing the party’s rules committee, which meets at 1:00 PM Saturday, to eliminate superdelegates, party insiders that represent states during the nominating process, but are not elected. AARON REGUNBERG: Our superdelegate system is self-evidently not reflective of these core principles. Right now there is absolutely no rule stopping superdelegates in future cycles from overturning the will of the people in the most important political decision that our party’s voters get to make. NOOR: Before the meeting, they held a press conference and delivered a petition with over 600,000 signatures demanding the party drop superdelegates. They have been defended by Democratic Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz as necessary to prevent non-viable candidates from becoming the party’s presidential nominee. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Unpledged delegates exist, really, to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists. NOOR: We asked Aaron Regunberg to respond. REGUNBERG: We would say that that’s a fundamentally anti-democratic, it’s a fundamentally elitist argument, to say that there is a group of, you know, elite folks at the top who know better than the people. That’s not the Democratic Party that I ran to be a state representative for in Rhode Island. NOOR: Superdelegate and CNN commentator Donna Brazile said she supports the idea of superdelegates, but agreed their power could be lessened. DONNA BRAZILE: Have less power, fine. Less privileges, fine. But to remove us completely, I think it would be undemocratic to do so. That’s my view. NOOR: Representatives said regardless of the outcome of the fight over the rule changes, they would continue to support the Democratic Party. REGUNBERG: I think we all support the Democratic nominee. We want to do everything we can to make sure that Donald Trump’s hate-filled, racist, xenophobic, misogynistic campaign doesn’t get anywhere near the White House. Having said that, as I said in my remarks, I can’t think of a better step as far as uniting our party, bringing us together, allowing us to put our full energy and resources into defeating Donald Trump than passing this resolution, showing a message that this is what our party is about. NOOR: We will update the story after the rules committee meeting concludes, and we will be reporting all week live from Philadelphia. This is Jaisal Noor.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.

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Protestors Loudly Demand Entry into DNC Rules Hearing

by TRNN, The Real News Network
July 23, 2016

<h1>Protestors Loudly Demand Entry into DNC Rules Hearing</h1> <p class="byline">by TRNN, The Real News Network <br />July 23, 2016</p> <p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k28KgDukHPY</p> <p>TRNN brings you voices of protestors who are demanding entry into the Democratic Party rules hearing where Sanders supporters are calling for the elimination of superdelegates</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <h2>Story Transcript</h2> <p>JAISAL NOOR, TRNN: In breaking news, protesters are demanding entry to the Democratic Party rules committee hearing, where supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders are demanding changes, including the elmination of superdelegates, party insiders that represent states during the nomination process but are unelected.</p> <p>Authorities at the scene say the room is at capacity. We spoke to some of the protesters.</p> <p>PROTESTER: We want to see what is going on in there, and make sure it’s being done fair and above-board, and that no tricks are being played on us. That’s why Bernie gets his–he has earned this. So we want to make sure that he gets what, and what we, deserve. We’ve worked hard.</p> <p>PROTESTER: I’m here because I’m a Bernie delegate. I believe in an open democracy. And I believe in all people being able to participate in that open democracy.</p> <p>JOE RITTER: I’m Dr. Joe Ritter. I’m from Hawaii. We’re here to support the Democratic platform for Bernie, including social justice. We’re against the TPP. And we came all the way from Hawaii to see that there is some social justice. We’re concerned about unemployment. We’re concerned about GMOs and pesticides. And we are very concerned about a process that’s being corrupted. Our biggest issue is campaign finance, and we are very upset to see a corrupted political system.</p> <p>NOOR: We’ll update the story after the rules committee meeting concludes, and we’ll be reporting all week live from Philadelphia. This is Jaisal Noor.</p> <p>—</p> <p>JAISAL NOOR, TRNN: Just two days ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, supporters of Bernie Sanders are pushing the party’s rules committee, which meets at 1:00 PM Saturday, to eliminate superdelegates, party insiders that represent states during the nominating process, but are not elected.</p> <p>AARON REGUNBERG: Our superdelegate system is self-evidently not reflective of these core principles. Right now there is absolutely no rule stopping superdelegates in future cycles from overturning the will of the people in the most important political decision that our party’s voters get to make.</p> <p>NOOR: Before the meeting, they held a press conference and delivered a petition with over 600,000 signatures demanding the party drop superdelegates. They have been defended by Democratic Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz as necessary to prevent non-viable candidates from becoming the party’s presidential nominee.</p> <p>DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Unpledged delegates exist, really, to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists.</p> <p>NOOR: We asked Aaron Regunberg to respond.</p> <p>REGUNBERG: We would say that that’s a fundamentally anti-democratic, it’s a fundamentally elitist argument, to say that there is a group of, you know, elite folks at the top who know better than the people. That’s not the Democratic Party that I ran to be a state representative for in Rhode Island.</p> <p>NOOR: Superdelegate and CNN commentator Donna Brazile said she supports the idea of superdelegates, but agreed their power could be lessened.</p> <p>DONNA BRAZILE: Have less power, fine. Less privileges, fine. But to remove us completely, I think it would be undemocratic to do so. That’s my view.</p> <p>NOOR: Representatives said regardless of the outcome of the fight over the rule changes, they would continue to support the Democratic Party.</p> <p>REGUNBERG: I think we all support the Democratic nominee. We want to do everything we can to make sure that Donald Trump’s hate-filled, racist, xenophobic, misogynistic campaign doesn’t get anywhere near the White House. Having said that, as I said in my remarks, I can’t think of a better step as far as uniting our party, bringing us together, allowing us to put our full energy and resources into defeating Donald Trump than passing this resolution, showing a message that this is what our party is about.</p> <p>NOOR: We will update the story after the rules committee meeting concludes, and we will be reporting all week live from Philadelphia. This is Jaisal Noor.</p> <h3>End</h3> <p><i>DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.</i></p> <hr /> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://therealnews.com/jnoor0723dnc">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://therealnews.com">The Real News Network</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/therealnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-TRNN-2021-logomark-square.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://therealnews.com/?republication-pixel=true&post=123076&amp;ga4=G-7LYS8R7V51" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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