WulfCry Weblog

Those of you who have talked to me know that I am generally a fan of open primaries. Indeed, I was very upset that I wasn’t able to vote on Super Tuesday, since I am a registered Independent. Allowing Independents and moderates to vote helps ensure that the options are not as polar as they have been in the past, and generally gives more people a voice. In addition, the votes of Obamacans have helped Obama succeed where he otherwise may have not.

The results of the Republican Primaries, however, have made open primaries in the remaining races more treacherous, though. Now that McCain has more or less sealed the deal, Republicans have little motivation to vote in their party’s primary, and every incentive to f*** with the democratic race. Indeed, some conservative bloggers have proposed doing just that.

Fortunately, Ohio is closed, but Texas is wide open. In a race against Clinton, McCain would likely pull most of the independent and moderate vote. In addition, with Clinton as such a divisive figure, many democrats may stay home. Considering also that Obama is likely to get both Obamacans and many independents, as well as the fact that he has far more potential to get college kids off their asses to vote, that means that Republicans have a much better shot in the general election if Clinton gets the nod.

I foresee shenanigans in the Texas primary. It is far more tactically sound for republicans to cross the line and vote Clinton in Texas. It’s also disingenuous, though, and would disenfranchise liberals and moderates. I hope Republicans will do the honest thing, instead of the politically expedient thing.

Regardless, I am forced to reconsider my stand on open primaries, at least in the late races where there is so much potential for a farcical outcome. Perhaps the answer is semi-open primaries, where registered Independents can vote in either primary, but Democrats are precluded from Republican races and vice versa. I still like the option to choose, though. Hopefully, people will do the right thing and vote for who they most want as president (even if it means a protest vote for Romney) rather than trying to set up a dishonest victory for their candidate by voting for a vulnerable opposition.

The results on March 4 should be interesting.

“Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.”
–Paul Valery (1871 - 1945), Tel Quel 2 (1943)