Can We Fix It ? Yes!
Nov 6th, 2009 by Frank Knotts
This one is for T.W. . I originally posted this over on www.politicallyfrank.wordpress.com on Oct15,2009. I hope it explaines better my view of how we can make the GOP stronger here in Delaware. My reasons for feeling that the change is needed come from watching as the party has continued to lose traction by doing it the same old way, maybe it is time to change that way is all that I am saying.
” For the past several years I have spoken out against the current system being use by the GOP of Delaware for nominating candidates to run for elected office.
First let me catch new readers up on what it is that I see as being wrong with the current way that things are done.
Currently the GOP of Delaware uses a convention style for nominating candidates for the GOP . This requires delegates to be nominated and voted on at the county and state level meetings. These meeting are made up of those who happen to show up that month. Granted that you would expect these to be the most motivated members of the GOP if they take the time to show up at all.
Party leadership then canvases for potential candidates from within the party for whichever offices may be open that election cycle. The party then holds its convention , where the delegates decide who will be the endorsed GOP candidate for the upcoming election.
Let me be clear that the monthly meetings are open to everyone, so that means that anyone can come and vote , and so one could say that at the very basic level anyone can have a voice in the process. But as the process continues , it becomes more and more removed from the control of the rank and file GOP voters and more a matter of party leadership making the big decisions, such as who will be the final candidate for any given office.
There is a certain hierarchy built into the system that tends to exclude the people who have jobs and children. We tend to see a system that chooses candidates based on , “whose turn is it this time or who has paid their party dues over the years?” An old boys network if you will , where a candidate may be chosen just by who they know within the party and not because the voters will respond to him or her.
So at this point what we have are candidates that the rank and file voters had very little , if any , choice in nominating . This system also tends to leave highly motivated and equally qualified candidates feeling fustrated and wronged along with their supporters.
But wait because the GOP of Delaware does have a primary system to solve this problem. If, after the big celebration they call the convention , where they coronate the heir to the throne, if another candidate wishes to “FORCE” a primary against the endorsed candidate , then the GOP holds a primary.
This is where I feel the GOP of Delaware has gone wrong. To hold a primary after the party has endorsed a candidate , puts the challenger at a distinct disadvantage for at least two reasons. They will be perceived to be a trouble maker for not towing the party line and your lock step GOPers will vote in the primary for the endorsed candidate just because the party tells them to.
I believe this convention first , primary second system also puts the GOP at a distinct disadvantage in the general election as well. I believe that by “forcing ” a primary the party actually creates an environment for a much more bloody primary due to the fact that the challenger must fight harder to over come not only their opponent, but also the endorsement of the party. This makes it harder to heal the wounds and to move the party as a whole towards the general election.
It is my feeling that the best thing that could happen for the GOP of Delaware is for the rank and file members to demand a change to the system , that would put the power of choosing candidates in the hands of the voters where it rightly belongs.
I believe we should do away completely with the state convention . We should set up a primary system that will allow all would be candidates to throw their hats in the ring and then to be judged by the voter and without any undue bias. This would allow candidates to take their cases directly to the voters and remove the need for the back room party dealings. It would I believe , also reduce the contention among the opposing candidates’ camps, making it easier in most cases to bring the party back together so as to fight the Democrats in the general. This would also give the party more time to mount the campaign against the Democrats. Right now as it is, if there is a primary , it shortens the time frame for executing a run in the general election.
I feel that if we were to go to a strictly primary style for nominating candidates it could turn the GOP around in Delaware. It would put all would be candidates on an equal playing field, so that during the primary one would not be perceived as the “challenger”. It would give a sense to the rank and file that they are actually involved , and anytime you feel involved you are more likely to be involved. This would also create a climate that I feel would allow the GOP members to then pull together for the general election if they feel that their candidate had gotten a fair shot and had been defeated fairly within a process that allowed all voices to be heard and not just party leadership.
Now I have made these points in the past and many people from within the party have told me you can’t do it because the state has deadlines. Well the state does have deadlines for when names must be turned in , when candidates must have been chosen , so as to be on the ballot. But the state does not decide how a party chooses its candidates, that is up to the party. The Democrats use a primary system, and as much as it pains me , on this they got it right. The opposition to changing the way we choose candidates comes from party leadership who do not wish to give up the power it bestows upon them. To change the system it will require that the GOP voters demand it be changed.
The party should be there as a vehicle for candidates to move forward, to assist candidates chosen by the voters to win elections. The party must trust the voters , it must include the voters in the process , or the voters will stay home if they feel that they have no real say in the matter. We have been doing it this way long enough and we have been losing long enough, it is time to make real change in the way we are choosing candidates.
We must as a party, who claims to be for the rights of the individual, amplify the voice of the individual , we must make every member of the GOP actually feel as if they are of equal value to the party. We must if we want them to be involved at the voting booth , involve them throughout the process.”
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I think the conventions serve a purpose, bringing the party together from across the state. However I more than agree that primaries need to happen much earlier than they are currently held. If we wanted to pick a date, I would say either April or May would suit well for a primary. It is very backwards to hold a convention three months before a primary, then have only two months to campaign for the general election. The other way around would make sense. Remember that last year the Dems nominated Carney in their convention only to have Markell win the primary. The same happened to the GOP in the 1992 Lt Govenor’s race. That whole bloody primary in 2000 between Burris and Lee should have happened months before September. Yes, an earlier primary would be in order.
I could fill ten pages on the subject.
Bottom Line is the process has not produced winners. It has been almost 20 years since a non incumbent who won the convention won the general election and the statewide general election losses at the statewide level average is about 20%.
This sort of scenario hurts the entire party slate and hurts overall recruitment of candidates.
Let’s change that record in 2010.
Mike Protack
I admit my original premise was to do away with the convention, I have seen that there is a purpose for the convention. My point now is that we need to hold the primary first to allow the voters to speak first, then we could hold the convention as a way to help bring the party together for the general. This would require moving the primary to an earlier date.
My issue is with having the party endorse a candidate before the people have had a chance to voice their opinion.
I find that I get the most resistance for the change from those who have worked the longest in the old system.Not just within the GOP , but also those in the legislature, who have the power to move the primary date.
And let me say once again , I am not attacking those people who volunteer, who stuff letters and make the calls. I am challenging those in leadership roles to dare to make a change that could lead to the GOP regaining control of this state. We cannot afford to keep slogging along the same old road and getting no where. There has to be a way to make this a better process . Some will say that it can’t be done , they have already been defeated, some will say it is too hard, they have little chance of succeeding. If we are ever going to change things we need people who will at least say , let’s try.