The
Trump and Sanders campaigns recently have started singing a whiner’s song about
the byzantine delegate selection process which hasn’t delivered an easy victory
to either candidate so far.
The
primary slog for delegates has been frustratingly inconclusive so far. All of
us, of all political persuasions, can agree on that.
The
simple fact is that the surprisingly murky process—almost virtually and
remarkably different in every state—is or should be completely transparent to
the political operatives staffing all of the presidential campaigns. In brief,
there are no surprises here for the pols.
So,
nasty public complaints about how the delegates are awarded are so much
bellywash. Trump, in particular, should be hooted away from the microphone when
he complains that the nomination may be “stolen” from him if he fails to secure
a majority of delegates. If you don’t get a majority, you don’t win. It’s not
rocket science.
On
the point that the delegate selection process is obfuscated beyond all human
understanding, I have more sympathy with the whiners.
As
explained more fully in the April 10 Sunday New York Times, it’s
more or less true that no state permits voters to vote in a primary and
literally, directly choose party convention delegates who are committed to vote
for their preferred candidate.
Typically,
the folks who get the primary votes are the first group of candidate advocates
who take part in a multi-stage, state-by-state process for selecting convention
delegates. The process is more or less unique in every state.
In
plain terms: the typical voter really has no idea who he or she is sending to
the party convention to choose a presidential nominee. In some states, it’s
distinctly possible that your primary vote helps to select a convention
delegate who really doesn’t want your candidate to get the nod.
Is
this “fair”? Make your own call.
Admit
this: the process is the 21st century incarnation of the way party
insiders have always used the smoke-filled rooms in the back of the hall to
keep their political power intact.
See
if you can figure out who represents your primary vote at your party’s
convention this summer.
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2016
All rights reserved.
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