Even if you support Clinton, you should also be appalled by the media Bigfooting the voters [View all]

[Armstead]

Democracy is a process. The processes are annoying and frustrating. But they are there to provide a backstop to keep everyone accountable.

News is news. If Clinton is ahead, she is ahead.

But the media just set a precedent to take a step like declare the "presumptive nominee" on the night before Big Primaries and before other smaller primaries. It has short circuited the process. Comcast, the AP and otehr Big Media are not supposed to be the arbiters of that.

Let's suppose the show is placed on the otehr foot.

Let's say in late October, on the eve of the election. Trump is significantly ahead of Clinton. The media decides to "Call it" for him while the campaign is still underway. They put his picture up with a little checkmark -- simply because the indications and polls indicate that he is the "likely winner."

"We have to report this because it is the news," they say.

And thus they imply it is all over before the votes have been cast. Thus helping to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, depressing Democrats, and making it likely that many will just stay home rather than waste time on a lost cause.

Would you be happy? I don't think so. Would you complain and challenge it as undemocratic? Probably.

This is no different. Sanders is behind, and Clinton has been the likely winner. But the process ensures that everyone has a chance to weigh in. That's why we have a democracy. Or used to.