Practicing Democracy
by Brian | May 9th, 2008 |About a month ago I remarked, “Will this race end already?!?!” John McCain had secured the GOP nomination and I saw the continued Democratic primary as self-destructive and distracting. The Republicans have been gearing up for the General Election while the Democrats “drag this out.” I was annoyed and just a little self-righteous. Recently, I am singing a different tune.
While the Republican nominees dropped away and rallied behind John McCain, Senators Clinton and Obama continued campaigning. Voters across America continued voting and the discussion continues. Even as Obama seems more and more to be the likely nominee, I am excited that the primaries have persisted.
This is democracy in action.
In recent years, “we” have complained of hanging chads, stolen elections, and meaningless votes. This year, voters in nearly every state play a role in deciding who the nominee will be. Matt remarked on Wednesday that the North Carolina primary counted for the first time in his life. I made my first political contribution well after Super Tuesday.
This nomination process has not been quick and easy. It is protracted, messy, and emotional. Some polls indicate that supporters for each of the remaining Democratic contenders are so loyal that they will not vote or vote for McCain if their candidate fails to secure the nod. But at the end of the day, the Democratic party will have a candidate that the party–the whole party–has chosen. I wonder if the in-the-moment emotions might change as delegate counts continue to come in. This time, at least, we know what the country is saying. There were no early drop-outs in exchange for benefits. There was no political engineering amongst political players. There has been election after election, caucus after caucus, debate after debate.
If I learned anything from Equality Ride, it was that governing through consensus is not easy. On our bus, we had differing opinions, emotional discussions, and deeply-held convictions. It would have been easier to fall in line and follow the orders of a few, but it would not have been nearly as enriching. The 2008 nomination process has been draining but at the end of it all, we will know that we did it right. And that is reason enough to support either candidate.
4 Responses to “Practicing Democracy”
Then why not just have a one-day nationwide primary — perhaps with a top-two runoff one month later?
The idea that this bass-ackward system, crafted by party apparatchiks (who elected Donna Brazile?) committed not to logic but to a near-manic obsession with some abstract notion of “fairness,” somehow constitutes “democracy in action” is, to be kind, youthful idealism on your part. Enjoy it while it lasts.
I, on the other hand, pat myself on the back every morning for refusing to play any part in the farcical circus that is the two-party system. I have my fun strictly in November (and on my blog).
By KipEsquire on May 9, 2008
I admittedly have a touch of optimism, but I don’t think it is naiveté that sees value in the next President of the US visiting more states. I don’t think it’s naive to be excited by scores of voters registering for the first time to engage this process. I don’t think it’s naive to appreciate a protracted airing of the issues. In my own life, I have seen value in struggling with issue.
Perhaps we could have a nationwide primary. Months of campaigning, a day of elections, and watch the cards fall where they may. Perhaps there is value in working through the process, with drawing it out, with opening the closets and allowing the muck to come out.
I don’t know. I’m not even sure if there is a “right” answer. Politics is complicated.
However, I do know that given our current system–with months of primaries and caucuses, delegates and super delegates, and the electoral college–I am excited, not dismayed, by on going race.
By Brian on May 9, 2008
There’s also the factor that a single day, nationwide primary would be so skewed in favor of the independently wealthy, high name recognition candidates that it isn’t even funny. Granted, we’re arguably there already… but on the other hand, we’re not. If this were a nationwide primary, we’d be looking at Romney vs. Clinton for the general. I don’t much agree with Huckabee ever, but he got it right when he said that the nature of the campaign in Iowa - small town conversations, buses from place to place, frequent debates - really proved that money doesn’t have to buy elections in this country. If Huckabee’s win in Iowa didn’t show that, McCain’s come from behind in New Hampshire sure did.
Anybody who is even remotely pleased with how the primaries are shaking out results-wise - a Republican who political insiders said was so hopeless last summer that they laughed at invitations to hang out with him versus a young, formerly unknown Senator from a hard blue state in the middle of flyover country whose rhetoric inspires the formerly uninterested, should be singing the praises of this system.
Or don’t - just be aware that the alternatives are worse. I guarantee you, in a national primary, you’d wind up with regional splits, states that never even heard of most of the candidates, let alone saw them, and a lot - a LOT - of ugly October surprises thrown at un-vetted candidates. Just a little realism from another young idealist over here.
By Casey on May 9, 2008
I’m actually, partly in agreement with Kip, ya’ll. Not on the point that we need a national primary, but definitely on the point that we need something changed.
Our election system is broken. How? I don’t know. The way to a fix? I don’t know.
Too much money. Too much time. Too many resources. There has got to be a way to effectively and fairly streamline the process.
By Matt on May 9, 2008