Just how is the Democratic Party not "open"?

[RBInMaine]

I am very glad that Senator Sanders says he intends to work to have his campaign take on a new life beyond this election and for the longterm. I hope he is true to this and puts together what needs to be done to create a real longterm progressive political movement. His call for people to stay engaged and run for office at all levels is great. I also really like that he wants the Democratic Party to be the party of the people, built on small donations from millions of people, being strongly populist. All for it. Good.

However, where I disagree with him is on the continued talk about the Democratic Party not being "open." That just doesn't hold water. First, if you want to be a member of the party it is very, very simple. Just go to your registrar of voters, however it is done where you live, and register with the party. Then, if you want to become active in the party, just join your local Democratic Committee and take an active part. Run for a party office at the local or county level. Get others to join. Join in helping the party at the local level. JOIN THE LATEST CAMPAIGN effort. Go volunteer. They'll snap you up in a heartbeat. It is SO easy.

As to primary elections, just make sure you are registered with the party before the deadline. But I am totally against these "open" primaries. That means Republicans, third party people, and Independents with no actual membership or stake in the party can come in to vote in OUR party primaries and leave again in a heartbeat. This makes for spoilerism and cynical voting. And that is a bunch of CRAP. The whole POINT of having a political party is in fact being a PARTY. Want to participate in our primaries? Then JOIN THE PARTY and STAY THERE. Simple as that.

Next, if you want primaries to be more democratic then get rid of caucuses which are very difficult for many people to attend. Just have primary elections and not those cumbersome time-limited caucuses that have MUCH lower turnouts than actual primary elections.

There you have it.

[liberal N proud]

1. He must be going on and on about the closed primaries

Which is someone wanted to vote in a Democratic Primary, all they need to do is register as Democrat in those closed primary states.


But as far as I know, anyone can join the Democratic party or declare they are a Democrat.

It really is a Big Tent.

[RBInMaine]

2. The whole point of being a party is in fact being a PARTY, not a free for all. If you want to join

the party, then just go do it and get involved. What could be more "open" than that?

[Duckhunter935]

14. Then please pay for your closed primaries

If the party wants a primary, it's easy, pick up the tab and pay for it.

[LongtimeAZDem]

16. If the state only payed for one party's primaries, you would have a point

But the state pays for all primaries, to make sure election laws are followed.

No one is legally prevented from registering for any party; some states make it more difficult than it should be, IMO, but that has nothing to do with cost.

As long as there is sufficient time to register with the party of your choice, there is absolutely no reason to register as an independent, and doing so only muddles the process, and allows for interference voting.

[Duckhunter935]

18. There are more than two parties that people

Choose to belong to. Funny how only two primaries get paid for. So you want to force people to join a party they do not want to, some choice.

[LongtimeAZDem]

19. Nobody is forced to join a party they dont want; however, they do only get one vote

So, again, as long as as they are given ample time to choose their party, their choice is not limited.

Edited to add: I agree that all primaries should be paid for by the state, but thresholds for recognition are reasonable.

[MaggieD]

3. This is spot on!

I have been a Democrat my entire voting life, and active politically for well over 15 years. Like you said, they will welcome you with open arms. The Democratic party is not closed in any way whatsoever, except, as you suggest those states that have caucuses instead of primaries.

I live in WA where there has been a concerted effort to have a caucus process even though the vast majority of voters have made it clear they prefer the openness of a primary. And I can assure you with 100% certainty that it is the "activists" of the party that want it closed because it gives them more power.

Oddly we did not hear any complaints about caucuses from the same faction claiming that independents should get to choose our party's nominee. I find that hypocritical in the extreme because the caucuses are designed to exclude.

If there is one reform the party needs it is to get rid of caucuses!

[tonyt53]

4. You betcha on those caucuses. They are undemocratic and are not representative of the voters.

[RBInMaine]

6. Yes, they are minimally democratic and should be entirely eliminated in favor of primaries.

[RBInMaine]

5. Absolutely! In Maine we all want to get rid of the caucus too. They are NOT as democratic.

Exactly. Those who want a more "open" process should be hollering like crazy to do away with caucuses which are very inconvenient and limiting. Many people don't have time to attend them.

[Chathamization]

15. It seems you answered your own question. N/T

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. K&R. I couldn't agree more.

[RBInMaine]

8. Thanks

[Hortensis]

9. Agree, except forgot to mention, want to run for president

as a Democrat? Just jump through the usual hoops required of all candidates and get around to actually registering as a Democrat at the last moment before the first caucus.

[RBInMaine]

10. Yup.

[DemonGoddess]

11. The Democratic party IS open

to say that it's not, is disingenuous.

What we, and so many other Democrats have an objection to, is our PROCESS being open to all and sundry.

[brush]

12. I don't get the "not open" critique. Didn't we welcome Sanders with open arms into the party?

It was available for years but a certain someone stayed independent until . . .

[geek tragedy]

13. exactly zero people voted for Sanders because they preferred open primaries to closed ones nt

[Orsino]

17. By its being ruled by Big Money.

Anyone can join the NRA, too, but does the organization work for its members or for gun manufacturers and merchants?

Openness is about so much more than who gets to sign up or cast a ballot.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. Let me carefully re-read the TOS before I craft an answer. n/t