Election Tales From Outside the Trenches: Our Fractured Presidential Selection System

It’s hard to call what passes for our national parties’ selection processes “systems.” Selection processes are fractured, inequitable, and chaotic. From the proliferation of so-called debates on cable news, it’s clear someone is benefiting. Primary among the beneficiaries are big media, which tout the horse-race and “character;” lobbyists; polling groups; and campaign professionals, who drift from one campaign to another. However, citizens do not benefit. The tail now wags the dog. Indeed, most of all, our mixed caucus-primary system disrespects the citizens of these United States. And they serve as poor examples for the world for whom we strive to set an example. Watching from partial sidelines (which is to say I have my presidential leanings, but no active role in this particular election), I see even more clearly than I did from deep within the trenches last time, how severely fractured our system is.

Recently, Bill Clinton railed about the unfairness of at-large caucuses set up in workplaces. He was, in effect siding with the teachers’ union in the NV caucus litigation. However, as one NV political analyst observed, if Bill Clinton really cared about one person, one vote, he’d oppose the caucus system itself. But caucuses favor insider candidates and thus Hillary has an overwhelming advantage.

I believe that caucuses are playgrounds for much political mischief. And it is hard to believe that some court somewhere hasn’t knocked them out of political existence. In general, however, the parties have been left to figure out their nominees themselves. And history and the current campaigns show the parties cannot do it.

In 1972 I reluctantly became an alternate to the Spokane County convention. My husband was a delegate. I say reluctantly because I didn’t really like McGovern and saw him as a very weak candidate. I’ve written elsewhere about how sorely McGovern lacked interpersonal skill along the campaign trail. He was a cold, distant, and impersonable candidate. But the only other choice was to support a ‘favorite son” candidacy of Scoop Jackson, who wanted to be a power broker at the national convention. Insiders were only to happy to hand over their decision making. I, not originally, call that Banana Republicanism. Because we already have delegated democracy (i.e. a republic) in this country, I couldn’t see adding yet another layer of deciders in the process.

And so, following precinct caucuses all over the county, we duly elected alternates and delegates went one Saturday to our county convention and were promptly kicked out by the credentials committee, which wouldn’t recognize anyone but Jackson delegates. It is hard to describe the enmity Jackson created with that single move. It’s a microcosm in how not to treat the worker bees of the party. And this followed the knocking of heads convention/coronation of Hubert H. Humphrey. Humphrey cared so little about a fair process that he said nothing as Richard Daley unleashed his police state onto lawful demonstrators.

I “escaped” to a primary state – for a while. Fast forward to 1981. As luck would have it (or lack of luck, as the case may be), I wound up smack-dab in the middle of yet another caucus state, Virginia. And there I have remained. The unbelievably small number of voters who actually caucus and decide our candidates was the first real shock. Here in Montgomery County, VA, around 200 voters (out of tens of thousands) determined the Democratic nominee our last caucus year. Another was who really gets to go to the national convention. Those who work the hardest are not necessarily the ones who get to go. Sometimes it’s the people with money. Attendees also need some knowledge about how such meetings work (Robert’s Rules) and how debate can swiftly be shut down if one doesn’t pay attention. It helps to come with allies who can second motions swiftly.

However, the Democratic Party of Virginia has seen fit to “let us” have a primary in recent years. It should not be its to decide. It should go without saying that primary elections, not selections, are the way to go. Even with primaries, however, we still need one national election day. It should not be possible for the whole thing to be “over” before half or more of America even votes. One person, one vote gets up-ended. One primary, one day. Make it in June. National conventions can go on as usual, but for the purposes of platform writing and other party business. Celebrate the winners. But don’t select them before we’ve even voted!

I am sick of candidates spending a year in Iowa and New Hampshire while giving scant attention to the rest of us. 48 states get next to nothing. Why have we persisted in the political correctness of favoring the Iowa and New Hampshire? Pols refuse to speak the truth about the inherent unfairness and just play along. Two states get the presidentials even ringing their doorbells. We never see them at all, or have to drive many hours for the so-called privilege. Who is applying to work for whom? Representation shouldn’t be that hard.

Additionally, The shameful spectacle of the me-first state parties must stop. It’s calendar-derby, but it more approximates roller-derby. If the courts cannot get tough on this, the parties should do the right thing once and for all.

I’ll write more on our political system in the next of a series.

KathyinBlacksburg

 

~ by kathyinblacksburg on January 26, 2008.