Washington Post Op-ed: ‘Give the Elites a Bigger Say in Choosing the President’

The Washington Post is taking criticism for an op-ed published Tuesday by Marquette University political science professor Julia Azari, titled: “It’s time to give the elites a bigger say in choosing the president.”

Citing the “rocky start” to the Democratic Party’s presidential primary, Azari suggests that the process of choosing the nominee be taken from the people and returned to the politicians:

The current process is clearly flawed, but what would be better? … A better primary system would empower elites to bargain and make decisions, instructed by voters.

One lesson from the 2020 and 2016 election cycles is that a lot of candidates, many of whom are highly qualified and attract substantial followings, will inevitably enter the race. The system as it works now — with a long informal primary, lots of attention to early contests and sequential primary season that unfolds over several months — is great at testing candidates to see whether they have the skills to run for president. What it’s not great at is choosing among the many candidates who clear that bar, or bringing their different ideological factions together, or reconciling competing priorities. A process in which intermediate representatives — elected delegates who understand the priorities of their constituents — can bargain without being bound to specific candidates might actually produce nominees that better reflect what voters want.

BREAKING: Swalwell’s Campaign Paid for Room at Hotel Where He Allegedly Raped Lonna Drewes – Same Timeframe, Same Address

Colorado highway descends into chaos after massive 75-vehicle pileup, amid hazardous winter weather

Former UCLA gynecologist sentenced after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting patients at school

Docs show migrant accused of killing Loyola student was flagged as flight risk before release

Two Congressmen Resign Hours Apart, Underscoring One Basic Commandment: Don’t Commit Adultery

Former Swalwell ally says longtime friendship with him ‘clouded my judgement’ as rumors swirled in DC

NY Nuns Fight Back After Kathy Hochul Orders Them to ‘Abandon Their Religious Beliefs’ or Close Their Nursing Home

Appeals Court Slaps Down Judge Boasberg’s Targeting of Trump Admin, Citing ‘A Clear Abuse of Discretion’

Senate GOP eyes midterm calendar ahead of Samuel Alito retirement decision

Dem fundraising giant in the hot seat as GOP lawmakers demand answers over dodged subpoena

Josh Hawley seeks DOJ abortion drug investigation amid FDA safety review

DOJ moves to vacate Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders

Erika Kirk cancels University of Georgia TPUSA event appearance over ‘serious threats’

‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement

Thom Tillis slams Trump’s proposal to impose tolls on ships in Strait of Hormuz

Azari suggests that the parties should use what she calls “preference primaries,” which would “allow voters to rank their choices among candidates, as well as to register opinions about their issue priorities.”

After a perfunctory voting process, wlites would be able to choose a nominee based on information about what the voters want.

She acknowledges that the idea is “labor-intensive and a little risky.”

The Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who is the world’s richest man. The paper’s slogan, adopted as an intended rebuke to President Donald Trump, is “Democracy dies in darkness.”

That phrase was trending on Twitter on Wednesday morning as readers reacted ironically to the op-ed.

The headline right below “democracy dies in darkness” is some A+ work

— Greg (@gwiss) February 19, 2020

>"Democracy dies in darkness"

>"Do people actually want more Democracy in their lives" pic.twitter.com/p7fPf5dFVX

— ｓａｌ🌹🏴🏴‍☠️ (@ProjektVayo) February 19, 2020