DNC Day 2 - The Half-Vote Dilemma

I've written before about the half-vote delegates that Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Americans Abroad receive in the Democratic Presidential primary process. For me this is just another sort of way in which the island is included and excluded, how it is never made a full part of the United States, but instead treated to small token gestures to make it feel more American then it really is.

But this is my view on things, a member of the Guam delegation, Taling Taitano, a Democratic National Committeewoman and a superdelegate looks at it in a different way. She says that the rules have been such, with half delegates for a long time and isn't sure where the rationale comes from. But it is actually a bonus for territories such as Guam, which have small populations and are so far away from the United States. With half delegates, they can send twice as many members. If they received full delegates, then only four people, in addition to Guam's five super delegates would be. And since it is such an honor to be here and participate its important to be able to share it with more people.

If it was her decision on whether Guam delegates should be treated equally and be given four votes or continue to have half votes, she would absolutely chose half votes. According to Taitano that is the Guam way, to try to make sure as many people can join in as they can.