2016 Postmortem

-none

(1,884 posts)

47. Closed primaries allow the party leaders to disenfranchise many millions of people, by picking who

Wed Jun 15, 2016, 11:07 AM

Jun 2016

they want you to vote for. Never mind who you want to vote for in the primaries. Never mind the party is supposed to be neutral in the primaries.
The Democratic party leadership was far from impartial, starting in 2008. The intent was to steamroll this primary with their pick and they did that quite well... Pending the outcome of the numerous law suits involving election fraud.
This primary is a case in point as to why open primaries are better.

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Is it really a good idea to get rid of closed primaries? [View all] YouDig Jun 2016 OP

I believe that only registered Democrats should choose their nominee. Others are not Trust Buster Jun 2016 #1

^ This. nt justiceischeap Jun 2016 #35

^ That. nt rock Jun 2016 #49

+1000 stonecutter357 Jun 2016 #53

Florida is a closed primary state and I like it that way. Lochloosa Jun 2016 #2

I believe that all people in America should be allowed to vote, period. NorthCarolina Jun 2016 #3

Everyone gets to vote in November. Primaries choose candidates, not government officials. YouDig Jun 2016 #8

Everyone IS allowed to vote. In the General Election. auntpurl Jun 2016 #13

I do not buy the premise that closed primaries are necessary to keep Republicans from voting in them NorthCarolina Jun 2016 #18

Ok...how else would you keep Republicans from voting in them? auntpurl Jun 2016 #19

Simple NorthCarolina Jun 2016 #25

What you're describing is a semi-closed primary. auntpurl Jun 2016 #26

What I believe to be truly Democratic is for voters to simply be "registered to vote". NorthCarolina Jun 2016 #33

A permanent change in the face of a temporary dynamic is really dumb. Zynx Jun 2016 #4

Push the party to the right? bonemachine Jun 2016 #63

A lot of Bill Clinton's support in 1992 was from moderate independents and Republicans. Zynx Jun 2016 #68

You say that like bonemachine Jun 2016 #69

horrible idea - a party's candidate should come from the party members DrDan Jun 2016 #5

Kentucky is closed. We will stay closed. leftofcool Jun 2016 #6

closed primaries are for a reason and those reasons are completely justified beachbum bob Jun 2016 #7

The states will decide, no matter what comes of this discussion Dem2 Jun 2016 #9

I think we should get rid of closed primaries. MrsKirkley Jun 2016 #10

That's a valid argument. But would you still feel that way if open primaries helped Bloomberg YouDig Jun 2016 #15

I like closed primaries Gothmog Jun 2016 #11

I think they should all be closed primaries. WhiteTara Jun 2016 #12

No super-d's and closed primaries everywhere is what I'd like. NT Adrahil Jun 2016 #14

We have a closed Primary, Bernie won it by 12 points. Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #16

Bernie made a big deal of it, not me. He made a big deal of it during the campaign, YouDig Jun 2016 #20

Did Bernie post this OP? No, you did. Am I speaking with Bernie? No, I'm speaking to you. Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #22

I made this OP specifically because Bernie is calling to end closed primaries. YouDig Jun 2016 #31

Holy shit! You wrote this just because Bernie recommends open primaries? Then you admit floriduck Jun 2016 #54

Huh? YouDig Jun 2016 #57

You wrote the OP. Then you add post#31, which is contradictory. Are you still confused by my floriduck Jun 2016 #59

This business about open primaries bringing new people into the process, and also the premise... George II Jun 2016 #17

one flaw with your statistics. ONLY people who Exilednight Jun 2016 #38

Population is UP 20 million and voter turnout was DOWN 7 million. George II Jun 2016 #43

Two parties defacto control government. That makes them more than closed clubs. Tom Rinaldo Jun 2016 #21

One thing that makes them not closed clubs is that anyone can join them. YouDig Jun 2016 #34

Independents choose to exclude themselves. All they need to do to vote in primaries is register geek tragedy Jun 2016 #41

The Democratic Party is open to all eligible voters (and younger, as "Young Democrats") George II Jun 2016 #44

By why should only members of two established clubs Tom Rinaldo Jun 2016 #48

That's not true, members of other clubs can put up a candidates and get support and votes, and.... George II Jun 2016 #50

get rid of superdelegates and caucuses, states determine primary rules anyways nt geek tragedy Jun 2016 #23

I'm okay with getting rid of superdelegates. That would have determined our nominee weeks ago. George II Jun 2016 #45

let them vote on convention rules and platform, but not the prez race, maybe geek tragedy Jun 2016 #46

I finally agree with you on something, yay! AntiBank Jun 2016 #60

Yes (nt) bigwillq Jun 2016 #24

The political parties should pick the nominees themselves apnu Jun 2016 #27

Operation Chaos jzodda Jun 2016 #28

We have primaries every 2 years ... so make it TWO years to get registered SFnomad Jun 2016 #30

Yep I forgot about the midterm jzodda Jun 2016 #32

Hell no workinclasszero Jun 2016 #29

Nope, register 6-8 weeks before. bettyellen Jun 2016 #36

Here's what bothers me. Exilednight Jun 2016 #37

I'm ok with getting rid of caucuses, but I think Democratic primaries should be for Democrats CanonRay Jun 2016 #39

40% of Sanders voters in WV said they'd support Trump in Nov. baldguy Jun 2016 #40

I met some Republicans who registered as Democrats Yonnie3 Jun 2016 #42

Closed primaries allow the party leaders to disenfranchise many millions of people, by picking who -none Jun 2016 #47

No it's caucuses that do that. Lord Magus Jun 2016 #65

I like that there's a mix among the states. Chemisse Jun 2016 #51

Semi-closed is best SheenaR Jun 2016 #52

They absolutely need to go. Any barrier to voting needs to be torn down. (nt) w4rma Jun 2016 #55

Open early is ok. Closed after the halfway point, to prevent Rs from tampering if they've picked. CrowCityDem Jun 2016 #56

Establishment HumanityExperiment Jun 2016 #58

Clinton won more open Primaries than Sanders, 13 out of 23. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2016 #61

Bernie did better in open primaries than he did in closed ones, is what I meant. YouDig Jun 2016 #64

I like California's system democrattotheend Jun 2016 #62

I think independents should always get to vote in the primary of their choice. phleshdef Jun 2016 #66

I'm sure Republicans would like Dems to have open primaries so the GOP can help choose the DEms Bill USA Jun 2016 #67