The "Supers"

Jazz Shaw (my Tuesday/Thursday co-host at Mid Stream Radio) has hooked up with a project to shed some light on the Democrats "Super" Delegates. The "Supers" are unelected delegates to the DNC Convention and who are not bound by their states primaries as the regular delegates are. As voters are finding out about the "Supers" they are less and less happy with their party.

Much has been said, in the last week about the "Supers" but I think this is by far the best.

Nearly 20 percent of the delegates to the Democratic convention won't be chosen by voters. These are the modestly named "superdelegates." They are delegates because of a public or party office they hold. They are the Democrats' version of the House of Lords, vested with the power to disillusion optimistic primary voters. The party that has spent seven years decrying the result of the 2000 election may get an ugly look at itself.
The superdelegates are Democratic members of Congress and statewide elected officials (such as the secretary of the state), Democratic National Committee members and the state party chairmen. They may vote for whomever they choose,
unfettered by the results in their home state.
In a close race, they are free to name any price and shrug off any burden. A contested convention is a Valhalla for delegates who love a deal.

Emphasis is mine. The author has a great point about 2000, but I digress...

The Minnesota Monitor has the 4-1-1 on Minnesota's "supers".

The superdelegates include Democratic National Committee members living in Minnesota, all Democratic members of Congress, the Democratic governors if applicable, and distinguished party members -- which could include former U.S. presidents, vice presidents or former congressional leaders. In Minnesota, that includes former Vice President Walter Mondale. The same formula is applied to the other states...Of the 14 superdelegates from Minnesota, six have not endorsed a presidential candidate: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Reps. Tim Walz and Collin Peterson, DFL Chair Brian Melendez, DFL Vice Chair Donna Cassutt and Democratic National Committeeman Ken Foxworth.
Four have endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton: Mondale and Democratic National Committee members Jackie Stevenson, Rick Stafford and Hubert "Buck" Humphrey.
Two have endorsed Sen. Barack Obama: Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum, and two have endorsed John Edwards: Rep. Jim Oberstar and Democratic National Committee member Nancy Larson.

According to the site 2008 Democratic Convention Watch the final "super" for MN is State Senator Mee Moua and only Rep. Peterson, Sen. Klobuchar, Chairman Melendez, Vice Chair Cassutt and National Committeeperson Larson are undecided so the situation is fluid.

All of the "supers" are getting a full court press from the candidates. I have to agree with Jazz and the rest of the voices who are calling for the reform of the DNC's delegate convention process. This is so very unDemocratic and definitely no way to choose a candidate.