'Disgusting!' Lawmaker buried for suggesting delegates could overrule Biden's nomination
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) made an eyebrow-raising claim on X Friday: that delegates to the Democratic National Convention have power to remove President Joe Biden from the ticket if they so desire.
This comes as Biden, fighting the fallout from a low-energy debate performance and whispers among some Democratic leaders about replacing him, remains defiant that he is not going anywhere and doubles down on interviews and public events.
"I look forward to seeing President Biden’s taped interview with George Stephanopoulos. It’s important that the President also have an extended LIVE interview as soon as possible," wrote Sherman. "Counter to popular belief, the rules of the Democratic Party do NOT require that pledged delegates vote for Biden at the convention. Party rules require delegates’ votes, 'reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,' at the time the delegates cast their ballots. Democratic Primary voters have one overarching sentiment: We need a candidate who will beat Donald Trump."
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It's unclear whether Sherman's argument here is correct; in recent years, faced with criticism over the nominating process, DNC officials voted to reduce the power of so-called "superdelegates" with the power to vote against the choice of primary voters by state.
Many commenters on social media were unhappy with Sherman's implication, calling it tantamout to overturning the will of voters.
"The voters chose where those delegates are supposed to go," wrote the account @CeliaFateEsq. "If this little tweet thread is suggesting the voters dont matter & the delegates should defect, subverting OUR votes ... let's just say we will remember in November... Disgusting!"
"Hell hath no fury like Dems being told their votes don't count," wrote the account @LyftLady11.
"Yeah let’s do 1968 again and see what that gets us. You’re basically saying the primary doesn’t matter then. Such a great defender of democracy," wrote the account @SGyrados12722.