To: Democratic National Committee and Debbie Wasserman Shultz, DNC Chair
Protect our Delegates 1st and 15th Amendment Rights
This campaign has ended.
Delegates in only a few states are required to sign their vote away for the General Election
Why is this important?
This is what is happening in a few states to the Bernie delegates. Please sign this petition that will be sent to Debbie Wasserman Shultz and the Democratic National Committee in order to make this stop. While some states can support Bernie all the way others are discouraged and threatened to lose their delegate status. Some states require a pledge 'as a good democrat' to vote for whomever the nominee will be in the General Election.
Let us make it clear, as Democrats, that we support Bernie Sanders and we will not be bullied or lose our 1st or 15th Amendment rights in order to 'please' the Democratic party. The below references are from two different States.
Delegate suppression prior to being voted in...
"I am a member of the (this state) Democratic Party State Committee and a leader of the (this county) County Democratic Party and received an email with the list of potential delegates that will be voted on in (your convention). I noticed that your name was on there. As a voting member of the #th district, I would first like to commend your passion for Bernie Sanders. I honestly do. Passion is needed in this country and you have shown it. However, we members of the (this)County Democratic Party and leaders within the (#)th district are discussing the votes in (this convention) and we do have a concern. We have looked over the potential candidates vying for both Hillary and Bernie delegates. As you know, you will have to sign a document in (convention) stating that you are a "good Democrat". With that said, we have discussed your posts indicating that you would vote for (another candidate) over Hillary Clinton if she became the nominee. As you know, you would be representing us in the district as a "Democrat", not just a Bernie supporter. So, we plan on being there in (local convention) and I wanted to reach out to you to see if your posts were serious about voting for (another candidate) over Hillary. If so, then we will certainly look at that in a unflattering way. We are wanting to reach out to you to see if you would reconsider that approach so we can have the confidence in your support for our party's nominee. Thank you."
How the delegates respond after receiving this information and in fear of losing their delegate status...
"Like I've said before, I won't be a part of the Bernie or Bust thing openly because it still is a risk of being targeted. I think it is careless that you would as well but that's your choice."
These are fear tactics. Used to shut our Bernie delegates down and make them afraid to support their candidate at the National Convention too openly on social media. What if they are asked these questions at the Convention? This type of rhetoric needs to he prohibited from the National Convention and delegate process.
Currently only 3 states (that we know of) are required to sign a pledge to vote for the Democratic Nominee in General Election if their candidate does not win. This is a national campaign and should be fair to candidates and delegates all the way around. Let the Democratic Party know that when we sign to vote for a candidate in the National Convention, we should not have to sign our vote away for the General Election. If the candidate the delegates have pledged to vote for does not make it, they then have a constitutional right to vote for whomever they choose in the General Election.
All names and locations have been removed for delegate safety.
Let us make it clear, as Democrats, that we support Bernie Sanders and we will not be bullied or lose our 1st or 15th Amendment rights in order to 'please' the Democratic party. The below references are from two different States.
Delegate suppression prior to being voted in...
"I am a member of the (this state) Democratic Party State Committee and a leader of the (this county) County Democratic Party and received an email with the list of potential delegates that will be voted on in (your convention). I noticed that your name was on there. As a voting member of the #th district, I would first like to commend your passion for Bernie Sanders. I honestly do. Passion is needed in this country and you have shown it. However, we members of the (this)County Democratic Party and leaders within the (#)th district are discussing the votes in (this convention) and we do have a concern. We have looked over the potential candidates vying for both Hillary and Bernie delegates. As you know, you will have to sign a document in (convention) stating that you are a "good Democrat". With that said, we have discussed your posts indicating that you would vote for (another candidate) over Hillary Clinton if she became the nominee. As you know, you would be representing us in the district as a "Democrat", not just a Bernie supporter. So, we plan on being there in (local convention) and I wanted to reach out to you to see if your posts were serious about voting for (another candidate) over Hillary. If so, then we will certainly look at that in a unflattering way. We are wanting to reach out to you to see if you would reconsider that approach so we can have the confidence in your support for our party's nominee. Thank you."
How the delegates respond after receiving this information and in fear of losing their delegate status...
"Like I've said before, I won't be a part of the Bernie or Bust thing openly because it still is a risk of being targeted. I think it is careless that you would as well but that's your choice."
These are fear tactics. Used to shut our Bernie delegates down and make them afraid to support their candidate at the National Convention too openly on social media. What if they are asked these questions at the Convention? This type of rhetoric needs to he prohibited from the National Convention and delegate process.
Currently only 3 states (that we know of) are required to sign a pledge to vote for the Democratic Nominee in General Election if their candidate does not win. This is a national campaign and should be fair to candidates and delegates all the way around. Let the Democratic Party know that when we sign to vote for a candidate in the National Convention, we should not have to sign our vote away for the General Election. If the candidate the delegates have pledged to vote for does not make it, they then have a constitutional right to vote for whomever they choose in the General Election.
All names and locations have been removed for delegate safety.