The Presidential Primary System And What To Do About It
By Jon N. Hall
October 19, 2009
Page 2 of 2
Our current primary system serves no one but incumbents. But with our new system, an incumbent would be required to present himself at the convention along with challengers. Which means: Delegates could decide not to run an incumbent. Also, delegates could reconvene and take their nominee, including an incumbent, off the general election ballot at anytime. The ability to withdraw a nominee is especially important to the fate of a party if a cloud, such as an indictment, comes over their nominee. (Think Ted Stevens.)
If some think our proposal undemocratic, they might think again. We wouldn't be changing how we elect our president; we'd only be changing how we select nominees. Anyone and everyone could still run for president, but not necessarily in any party. If opposition party members don't like it that they can't vote in the primary of another party, who cares. If unaligned voters (Independents) don't like not having a say, let them form their own parties. And if party members miss voting for a candidate in their primaries, let them vie to become delegates.
There is one not-so-little snag in our proposal, and that is election law now on the books. Changing these laws would be difficult, and met with stiff opposition. So until these laws are thrown out, I propose that convention delegates ignore the result of the primaries, forget that they're "pledged" to a certain primary candidate, and engineer open conventions where they can choose, or perhaps draft, the best person.
Just what is a party? And how much autonomy should a party have?
A party is an exclusive club of like-minded individuals. Sure, a party can be a "big tent", but it can't allow too much heterodoxy lest it loose its identity. It is the party that should choose its standard-bearer, not the public. And it's nobody's business but the party's how a party chooses its delegates and its nominee.
Professional politicians aren't going to like our little proposal one little bit. But it is in the interest of the country that every party runs its very best people, and this just isn't happening. I contend this is because of the presidential primary system. Let's junk it.
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Jon N. Hall is a programmer/analyst from Kansas City.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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