Government should not pay for political party voting

by

Kenneth Matinale

The Democratic party is going into its usual wimp mode because of Florida and Michigan. It was made clear in the fall of 2007 that the schedule of presidential primaries would be determined by the national party, not by individual state organizations. The rules were set. Many states tried to make their primaries or caucuses early in the process to gain influence. The national party held to the old part of the schedule that kept the Iowa caucuses first and the new Hampshire primary second. I don't like giving so much weight to such odd states but that was the rule. Florida and Michigan should not be given what they sought: increased influence with a do-over, in this case far more influence by being the last than if they had been the earliest. Both Florida and Michigan defied the national party and moved their events earlier. The penalty was that the delegates would not be seated at the convention that the party is trying so hard to keep meaningless by settling on a winner well before that. Denying a state its delegates is the only way to maintain discipline. If the national party caves in, watch what happens in 2012. Without adequate sanctions it will be chaos.

However, voters are not being disenfranchised because this a party vote, not a general election. It seems mainstream only because it involves one of the two major parties that set the rules in each of the fifty states. If it were the Communist party, Nazi party, Ku Klux Klan party nobody would be concerned if party members were denied delegates. In terms of access to the state voting machinery there is no difference.

Political parties may have arbitrary rules for membership and process. They are not part of the government. They may limit membership on race, creed, gender, national origin, sexual orientation. Their nominating process may be by party bosses, convention, primary, caucus, lottery, bribe. Who cares? They are not part of the government. To expect fair voting rules and procedures is silly.

Why should any party be allowed to use state general election resources for selecting candidates for any office? The current debate concerning Florida and Michigan illustrates the arrogance of the two major parties. The Republican governor of Florida is merely making mischief in trying to set policy that only effects the Democratic party. The actions of any party are private matters. The parties should pay for their processes using their own resources, not those of the government. The fact that the parties have been getting away with this for so long is a disgrace and should be stopped immediately. See my post: Electing the President: a new system.